{"id":2805,"date":"2016-04-26T09:22:08","date_gmt":"2016-04-26T08:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=2805"},"modified":"2016-04-26T09:22:08","modified_gmt":"2016-04-26T08:22:08","slug":"ou-celebrates-47-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/around-ou\/university-news\/ou-celebrates-47-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Open University looks to the future as it celebrates 47 years of transforming lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vice-Chancellor of The Open University (OU) has\u00a0called on the organisation to draw inspiration from its \u201cglorious\u201d past as it marks the 47th<\/sup> anniversary of receiving its Royal Charter.<\/p>\n

A series of special events have been taking place\u00a0across the OU, including keynote speeches from Peter Horrocks<\/a>, as well as the University\u2019s Pro-Chancellor, Richard Gillingwater.\u00a0 The day has also seen the OU showcasing some of its world-leading technology at its Milton Keynes campus, as well as the official launch of a new Digital Archive to mark the centenary of\u00a0Harold Wilson, one of the leading figures behind the creation of The Open University.<\/p>\n

Inspiration<\/h2>\n

Addressing the university via video-link from the OU\u2019s main lecture theatre in Milton Keynes, the Vice-Chancellor\u00a0drew inspiration from another of the university\u2019s founders \u2013 Lord Asa Briggs, who died earlier this year<\/a> and who served as Chancellor of the OU for fifteen years.\u00a0 Asa Briggs predicted that \u201c\u2026more personalised communication, more scattered and two-way communication will become increasingly important and the OU should be in the lead.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u00a0told the University:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can and we will have that ambition again.\u00a0 To have leadership in digital innovation, to grow our student numbers, to proudly say we are the UK\u2019s most popular university, the one that makes the biggest difference to the lives of its students.\u00a0 I am confident the university can reclaim that ambition. \u00a0And we can do it, with a little bit of love, and quite a fight.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We’ve been running live updates throughout the day as it happens:<\/p>\n

12:00 Peter Horrocks delivers opening address:<\/h3>\n

Peter Horrocks has wrapped up his opening address by drawing inspiration from Asa Briggs’ passion for the OU as he looks to the future:<\/p>\n

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VC @PeterHorrocks<\/a> draws inspiration from Asa Briggs\u2019 passion for the OU as he looks to the futurehttps:\/\/t.co\/353D1QJFVG<\/a><\/p>\n

— The Open University (@OpenUniversity) April 26, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n