Inzajeano said: \u201cI\u2019m proud to have worked with The Open University by capturing the authentic distance learning experience in the UK. Representation in front of and behind the camera is important to me as i\u2019ve dedicated my career to unearthing places and faces that are all too often invisible. This campaign showcases students from diverse backgrounds, in their own study spaces, and it\u2019s a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of flexible learning for all.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The photographs are launched in partnership with Alamy, the world\u2019s most diverse stock library, who are also working with The Open University to increase diversity and inclusion in stock images by encouraging submissions that reflect life from the perspective of Black and South Asian students in the UK. The portraits aim to inspire the development of an ongoing legacy collection that can be used by other organisations in their marketing materials.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found that too few relatable stock images portraying Black and South Asian students are available to purchase from image websites and we want to create a collection that would provide a legacy, open to all institutions and organisations to find more authentic images to use in their marketing materials,\u201d commented Melissa Thermidor, Programme Director at The Open University.<\/p>\n The legacy collection of stock images will be available via Alamy.<\/p>\n Like many South Asian students, Halima felt huge pressure to achieve a degree at a traditional university but found that The Open University better suited her ambitions.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been able to mould my studies around my real life which I feel has helped me and it’s made me a lot more confident than I would have been if I went to a brick university,” says Halima.<\/em><\/p>\n Through attending The Open University, she was able to finance her studies upfront and has been able to set up her own business, travel and get married, things she feels would have been hindered by a traditional degree.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Open University has showed me education never stops, as long as you’re growing you could still study. You could still learn something new and I think with The Open University I will continue my studies, I’d like a PhD one day.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Read Halima\u2019s story in full.<\/a><\/p>\n Ali transferred his credits from a modern apprenticeship to a degree with The Open University while keeping his full-time job as a chemistry lab technician.<\/p>\n Ali has finished his studies and secured a job as an Organic Geochemistry Technician and is currently working on research papers he hopes to have published. He was delighted to support the photography initiative:<\/p>\n \u201cPeople from my community do have that sort of hesitancy because they prefer going to, physical universities, but hopefully things will change. Especially after COVID you know everything is online and most universities went online anyway, so a lot of people had to do everything remotely, so they now have understanding that things can be done differently as well.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Read Ali\u2019s story in full.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s significantly more affordable than red brick universities, and the convenience of being able to work full time alongside studying and the application process was just so easy.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWe asked the students to describe their individual journeys<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Halima<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Ali<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"OU](\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ali-crop-e1671461392187.jpg\")
Ali also appreciated the financial and lifestyle flexibility The Open University allowed him.<\/p>\nCandace<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Candace](\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Candace-crop.jpg\")
Candace chose The Open University due to its flexibility and affordability options, having already left home and had a career for six years.<\/p>\n
![\"NHS](\"https:\/\/ounews.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Joe-crop-scaled.jpg\")
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