{"id":13844,"date":"2019-09-25T15:41:43","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T14:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=13844"},"modified":"2019-09-25T15:41:43","modified_gmt":"2019-09-25T14:41:43","slug":"whats-your-motivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/around-ou\/whats-your-motivation\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s your motivation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the new intake of OU students embark on their first\nmodules (and others continue with the next one) it\u2019s timely to look at what draws\nthese hard-working scholars to study. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do they put in the hours to pour over pages of reading\nmaterial, analyse stats, share in online debates, do home science experiments\nor spend time viewing a landscape of Mars through an online telescope (all of\nwhich OU students do).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universities UK\u2019s<\/a> latest research shows<\/a> that students cite a broad range of benefits when defining the value of a university education. Their poll * undertaken by ComRes<\/a>, revealed only 1 in 3 (34%) of those polled decided to go to university to get a higher salary than they otherwise would have, and 8 out of 10 (79%) agreed that the government should do more to promote the broader benefits of a degree or university study, irrespective of potential salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Skills gained by OU study are attractive to employers <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the poll, of which almost 5% were OU students or recent graduates, found respondents actually decided on university for a broad range of reasons, such as to enjoy study and learning, because of an interest in their subject and as a first career step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For OU students the reasons for choosing to study with the OU are also broad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insight from the OU\u2019s own surveys consistently reveals students desire to study is for personal or vocational reasons and sometimes a mix of both. For example, a recent study * showed the top five answers to the question Which of these best describes your reasons and motivations for studying<\/em>? were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-improvement 60%
\nTo gain a qualification 40%
\nTraining 34%
\nTo \u201cprove I can\u201d 33%
\nCareer promotion 31%<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And as many as 19% also spoke of the reason being \u201cregret\u201d \u2013 wishing they had studied earlier in life. (Source<\/strong>: Brand Strategy Quant Research conducted by The Nursery 2016 among a sample 435 current students)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OU study has focus on self-management <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Universities UK poll also considered the skills that students cite as being among the benefits they gain. The majority of students surveyed were at a traditional brick university but there were some interesting cross-overs with the benefits from studying at a distance, as OU students do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research from an employability survey (*) among OU alumni in 2018 showed that self-management is a key area of development, with communication and literacy and problem solving also high on the skills which our OU alumni noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Many OU students balance caring responsibilities and study<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

OU students, mostly studying in their own homes (or wherever\nthey rock up with their laptop and books) do have some slightly different\ntake-outs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those for instance who balance a working life and perhaps a\nfamily with OU study cited \u201cmanaging personal development career and work life\u201d\nas a worthwhile tool they gained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are skills which impress employers too. PWC<\/a> have stated that \u201cbalancing OU study with other commitments gives students flexibility and time management skills particularly valued by employers\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Liz Marr, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students)<\/a> said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our students come to us for a wide range of reasons and we know their aims on completion are just as varied. They fit their study around existing commitments, many juggling alongside family and full-time work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some having a degree with the OU enables a career change or that first step on the ladder, while others get a confidence boost they never even imagined possible.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFifty years ago this January the first cohort of students \u2013 our pioneers – began their journey with the OU and we\u2019re very happy to offer today\u2019s counterparts the same chance of life-changing learning.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our research showed that learning can lead to positive changes throughout<\/em> the learning journey not just at graduation or completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n