Historical OU TV and Radio

The Open University has produced a number of series to inform students and a wider audience about the University. Series such as 'Open Forum' and 'Countdown to the OU' covered various topics such as methods of teaching, information about modules and guidance on areas such as summer schools. The OU Digital Archive Historical Television and Radio collection includes a small sample of the archive. The collection will grow as more contents are added.

Image of Historical OU TV and Radio
Thumbnail Title Description Date
audio record of Edison and the Electric World (programme 7)Thomas Edison was the most prolific engineer who ever lived. He was committed to electricity as a...
audio record of Telford and the Lost Engineer (programme 3)Thomas Telford is regarded as the father of civil engineering. But the Society of Civil Engineers...
audio record of Bessemer and the Creators of Steel (programme 6)In the mid-nineteenth century the Bessemer process for making cheap steel revitalised industrial...
audio record of Brunel and the atmospheric caper (programme 4)While the focus of popular attention has been on engineers who produced ever greater achievements...
audio record of Early television (programme 2)'Diamonds, Rust and a Handful of Sand', our series on the history of electronics now moves into...
audio record of Radar (programme 3)'Diamonds, Rust and a handful of Sand' is an 8 part radio series about the historical development...
audio record of Quartz (programme 5)An examination of the natural mineral and its ability to add precision timing to electronic...
audio record of Whose right to intervene? (programme 4)Following the Biafra war a group of French doctors founded Medecins Sans Frontieres, a new kind of...
audio record of Refugees - who cares? (programme 3)The United Nations High Commission for Refugees was set up in the aftermath of the Second World...
audio record of Making the world secure? (programme 7)Surprisingly little is known about the UN Security Council, yet it is in fact the executive body of...
audio record of Whose knowledge counts? (programme 5)Development aid has typically been a question of experts, often white, going to a country and...
audio record of The benefits of war (programme 6)Wars (you thought) are fought to be won. But is that really what most modern conflicts are about?...
audio record of Smart Johannesburg - leading the African renaissance? (programme 8)This programme investigates the development of Johannesburg as a global city, from a rather shaky...
video record for C.I.M in the workplace, TV12 C.I.M in the workplace, TV12
video record for Open Forum 1989 : May Open Forum 1989 : MayRound-up of University and education items in the news for May. Jean Rowton reports on training on...
video record for Open Forum (1989) : June Open Forum (1989) : JuneRound-up of University and education items in the news for June. Kent County Council invest in a...
video record for Open Forum 05(1971) : Assignments Open Forum 05(1971) : AssignmentsDiscussion on assignments, exams and the teaching system and on the role of correspondence and...
video record for Open Forum 115(1986) : It's never too late....The OU's mature students in close-up Open Forum 115(1986) : It's never too late....The OU's mature students in close-upInterviews with some of the more mature OU students in which they give their views on why they are...
video record for Open Forum 127(1988) : The Open Lectures at the Durham Summer School Open Forum 127(1988) : The Open Lectures at the Durham Summer SchoolLecture given by Robin Wilson at the M101 Summer School at Durham. With the aid of postage stamps...
video record for Open Forum (1989) : August Open Forum (1989) : AugustRound-up of OU and general education news for August. A visit to Aberdeen University to see how...
video record for Open Forum (1990) : magazine programme February edition Open Forum (1990) : magazine programme February editionThe programme looks at the plans for higher education, training for small businesses, a new...
video record for Open Forum(1974) : inserts Open Forum(1974) : insertsPilot study on summer schools. Policy group to discuss the likely political eventualities on the OU...
video record for Open Forum (1990) : magazine programme March edition Open Forum (1990) : magazine programme March editionThis programme looks at the Students Loan Bill and students profile, research equipment, HD TV at...
video preview image for Countdown to the Open University 1(1985) Countdown to the Open University 1(1985)
video record for Open Forum 03 (1973) Open Forum 03 (1973)Excerpt from OUSA council meeting. Aims, structure and activities of OUSA discussed. Desirability...
audio record of Open Forum 16 (1973)Jennie Lee Library. Early history of foundation of OU and Jennie Lee's work connected with this....
video record for Drosophilia: biology & behaviour of Hawaiian Picture-wings Drosophilia: biology & behaviour of Hawaiian Picture-wings
video record for Open Forum 03(1976) : how an OU course is made Open Forum 03(1976) : how an OU course is madeExplanation of how D231 was made, showing a course team meeting and discussing the role of IET and...
video record for Open Forum 64(1981) : 1981's Graduates meet the press Open Forum 64(1981) : 1981's Graduates meet the pressWynne Brindle introduces the programme from the Waldorf Hotel. Speeches from Dr.Horlock and the...
video record for Open Forum 96(1984) : future development in technology AD 2000 Open Forum 96(1984) : future development in technology AD 2000The Vice Chancellor reports on the future development in technology conference which was arranged...
video record for Open Forum 57(1980) : external recognition of the OU degree Open Forum 57(1980) : external recognition of the OU degreeThe programme investigates the career prospects of OU graduates by means of interviews with...
video record for Open Forum 63(1981) : towards a final abyss? Open Forum 63(1981) : towards a final abyss?Mike Pentz's career is briefly outlined by his host at Imperial College, London, Professor Franz...
video record for Open Forum 52(1980) : 1980's graduates meet the press Open Forum 52(1980) : 1980's graduates meet the pressThe theme of the programme is the attitude of industrial employers to Open University graduates....
video record for Open Forum 99(1984) : The fluid mechanics of sport Open Forum 99(1984) : The fluid mechanics of sportPart of the Open Lectures series. VC John Horlock delivers a lecture to a studio audience about the...
video record for Open Forum 1989 : April Open Forum 1989 : AprilA round-up of the educational issues for April. Coverage of the OUSA Conference at Bradford and...
video record for Open Forum 98(1984) : costs and fees Open Forum 98(1984) : costs and feesUniversity administrators and students discuss the implications of the continued rise in fees as...
video record for Open Forum 102(1985) : value of an OU degree Open Forum 102(1985) : value of an OU degreeThe personal and career benefits of gaining an OU degree.
video record for Open Forum 118(1987) Open Forum 118(1987)The first of the new magazine style programmes which will be reporting on a broad selection of...
video record for Open Forum 130(1988) Open Forum 130(1988)A look at the new proposals for classifying universities for funds for research and looking to see...
video record for Open Forum (1990) : magazine programme April edition Open Forum (1990) : magazine programme April editionThis programme covers careers advice, the launch of a new million pound scheme. In Glasgow...
video record for Open Forum 117(1987) : The Prime Minister's visit : the future of the OU Open Forum 117(1987) : The Prime Minister's visit : the future of the OUReport on Margaret Thatcher's visit to the OU and how she sees its future role in higher education.
video record for Open Forum 123(1987) Open Forum 123(1987)The programme looks at the situation facing higher education after the general election and...
video record for Open Forum 32(1978) : preparing for summer schools Open Forum 32(1978) : preparing for summer schoolsThe programme tries to give students some impressions and reassurances concerning the forthcoming...
video record for Open Forum 36(1978) : social life in the OU Open Forum 36(1978) : social life in the OUA look at social activities at the Open University for both students and staff.
video record for Open Forum 30(1978) : 5th OUSA national conference 1978 Open Forum 30(1978) : 5th OUSA national conference 1978Coverage of OUSA national conference held at Leeds.
video record for Open Forum 50(1979) : C.E.A.D. an international conference Open Forum 50(1979) : C.E.A.D. an international conferenceExtracts from the Conference on the education of adults at a distance which was organised by the OU...
video record for Open Forum 49(1979) : your home is your laboratory Open Forum 49(1979) : your home is your laboratoryThe programme shows how science and technology students can make use of experiments by means of...
video record for Open Forum 39(1979) : using TV to advantage Open Forum 39(1979) : using TV to advantageUsing examples from TV programmes, the programme looks at how television can be used and how...
video record for Open Forum 51(1980) : costs and fees Open Forum 51(1980) : costs and feesThe programme looks at the Open University's financial situation in view of the cut backs necessary...
video record for Open Forum 40(1979) : the Prime Minister James Callaghan meets OU graduates Open Forum 40(1979) : the Prime Minister James Callaghan meets OU graduatesExtracts from the Prime Minister's visit to the Open University to meet new graduates, including...