Exhibition: 50 Years of the OU Students Association

The first Open Days

The first OU Students Association Open Day was on 7 June 1975. Over 1,000 students, staff and their families were invited to attend. It was reported that there was a real buzz of excitement for the Open Day, with lots of friendly and fun festivities planned to encourage students to meet and get to know each other. Campus tours started at Walton Hall and were run every 15 minutes to show students around the amazing campus at Kents Hill, Milton Keynes. This was an opportunity for the many distance learners to finally see their university campus.  

Exhibitions were on display from the Association, departments from the OU and societies showing students all the great work they do, and refreshments were provided throughout the day with a bar open all day to enhance the relaxed atmosphere. As if this was not enough, sporting activities were also organised including cricket, football and a road race. The Open Day went on well into the evening with a barbeque and dance organised until midnight that night. This was organised to be a truly family-friendly event and really captured the whole ethos of The Open University and the Students Association. 

The popularity of the Open Days continued throughout the 1970 and 80s, where students and staff continued to meet and enjoy a day of leisure together, whilst seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Later Open Days featured fairgrounds, discos, hog roasts, computer games for children and more, and a massive 5,000 students attended the Open Day in 1984.