Liam Kerr

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Liam Kerr first started studying with The Open University (OU) in autumn 2009 to improve his French language skills and has since completed a number of different courses with the university, both as a leisure pursuit and to support his career development. 

Liam explains that he first decided to study with the OU because “the OU offered flexibility and a learning environment that would fit with my extremely busy lifestyle, which at the time included a new baby!”

Other courses that he has studied for pleasure include Exploring History: Medieval to Modern 1400-1900; Creative Writing; and Understanding the Weather. 

He later moved on to study for stage 1 of a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) after being attracted by “the impressive credentials of the Business School, the established learning structure and the calibre of the teaching staff, and the cost was significantly below that of the more traditional universities.”

This led to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration, followed a year later by a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration.

Studies at time and place that suit

Although balancing work, family life and studying can be difficult at times, he comments: “The reality is that it is one of the key unique selling points of OU study that you study whenever and wherever suits. Be that during travel, late at night, early morning, or whatever.”

The MBA is hugely important in understanding the finances and economics of not just businesses but also the public finances of Scotland.”

When the politician was unable to sit an exam due to parliamentary timetabling, he found that the OU was very supportive and “made a considered and appropriate attempt to accommodate me and ensure I could sit the exams”. 

The MSP for North East Scotland has found that studying for an MBA and the OU’s course on Crime and Justice have helped him to “advance my legal career and make myself more effective in the parliamentary role I was doing at the time”.

“When studying and after the criminal course, I was Shadow Justice Secretary!” he points out. “Also, the business course, the MBA, is hugely important in understanding the finances and economics of not just businesses but also the public finances of Scotland. More MSPs should do this course.”

He adds: “Several modules in the Crime and Justice course directly influenced my thinking in justice, not least in relation to penal policy and the purposes underlying imprisonment and alternatives to it.”

He has also studied OU courses on Strategic Human Resource Management; Corporate Finance; and The Dynamics of Strategy.

Liam was then awarded a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree in 2020. 

He received this at a degree ceremony in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in autumn 2023, when he also spoke to assembled graduates.

Liam has found studying with the OU a “first class” experience, explaining: “The ability to self-manage my study fitted with my extremely full lifestyle.

“The materials have been consistently excellent and the cost of courses considerably lower than expected.”

Friendly, accessible tutor support

He adds: “The OU consistently provides friendly, accessible tutor support, which can be accessed both formally in tutorials and informally by email and sometimes phone. For some this will be invaluable during an adjustment to a system of remote learning.

The OU is set up to be helpful and make things work for people, taking account of all their different circumstances and challenges.”

“Meanwhile the regular assessments and forum tasks on the user-friendly OU course platform ensure that any difficulty in keeping up can be supported, by the tutor but also by peers and colleagues.”

Based on his experience of studying with the OU over the years, Liam says access to flexible, part-time learning opportunities is “hugely important in all times” and believes “the OU’s product has never been more important” as Scotland looks towards economic recovery post-pandemic.

To anyone considering studying with the OU, he urges: “Do it. There is no downside I can see and innumerable upsides. The OU is set up to be helpful and make things work for people, taking account of all their different circumstances and challenges.”

As for his own learning journey, Liam has now signed up for a degree in International Studies and says: “It’s been a great 14 years of study, and I’m not finished yet!”