Rehana Awan

Rehana is the Open University's (OU) first Academic Lead for Interdisciplinary Studies. She started this role in June 2024 and is working for half of her time to research what interdisciplinary studies means and looks like at the OU. She is bringing together the different areas who design and deliver interdisciplinary curricula with a view to developing an overall strategy for interdisciplinary studies. This role aligns well with Rehana's own interdisciplinary background and research interests. Rehana is also a Lecturer in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Implementation in the School of Computing and Communications in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. In this role Rehana supports the school with identifying, designing and delivering improvements to student support, curricula, and resources to close degree awarding gaps. 

Rehana joined the OU in September 2008 working as a Regional Coordinator for Openings in the Centre for Widening Participation in East Grinstead. Openings were entry level courses designed for students with little or no previous learning/educational experiences. Since she has held a number of roles including Access Presentation Manager supporting the Senior Manager, Curriculum, Senior Manager in AL Support and Professional Development, Open Programme’s Manager, Communications and Engagement and the first Staff Tutor/Lecturer for Open and Access in 2019. As a Staff Tutor/Lecturer she was responsible for the Open Programme, Open Modules ('Open Boxes') and Y031 Arts and Humanities (having also looked after the largest Access module YO32 People, work and society for 2 years). As Academic SST lead for the Open Programme, Rehana represented the Open qualifications during the University's Periodic Quality Review. She was commended for her ‘breadth and depth of [her] knowledge and experience’.

Before joining the OU Rehana worked in a local Further Education College as Head of Teacher Training, and Access to HE. Prior to that she worked in training and management development in the private sector.

Rehana was co-chair of the Black and Minority Ethnic staff network (2020-2024). She chaired the first ever event for South Asian Heritage month, was part of the team that set up the Race and Ethnicity Hub, and was Chair of the group looking to improve support for Black students with mental health conditions. She also set up a peer mentoring scheme for racially minortized students, and contributes to the student pipeline group as part of the OUs submission for the Race Equality Charter.

Rehana is also an Associate Lecturer and has been since 2008. Currently she supports students on DD102 Introducing the Social Sciences and she tutored on Access for 11 years. Rehana has demonstrated her commitment to leading and managing teaching and learning as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association (FSEDA). 

As a professional doctoral student, Rehana is researching student narratives and degree awarding gaps at the OU, and she has set up a Community of Practice for other PGRs also investigating awarding gaps. Apart from race and education, her other research interests include multi and interdisciplinary study, transitions to HE, and widening participation.