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One University, Four Nations The OU delivers world-class, flexible education to people across the four nations of the UK, Ireland and worldwide. England In England, we are the largest provider of
• Being one of the top three Space Science Research Centres in the UK; pioneering an inclusive innovation approach to international development research; and having worldwide influence on innovations in learning technologies to deliver digital education at scale • Providing free educational resources to teachers and healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa and India, reaching over two million people • Our world-leading Business School, which is part of the top 1% of the global business schools that are triple accredited by the world’s leading management education association. We play a unique role in society, making higher education open to all and promoting social justice and social mobility. We are innovative, leading the learning revolution, placing innovation at the heart of teaching and research, continuously seeking new and better ways to inspire and enable learning, and conducting world-class research and teaching. We are responsive to the needs of individuals, employers and communities, and dedicated to supporting our students’ learning success. Location The University has its headquarters on a purpose- built campus of approximately 110 acres in Milton Keynes. It also has national headquarters in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and Dublin, and bases in Manchester and Nottingham. Teaching and learning As well as hundreds of accredited higher education courses, from access modules to doctorates, we provide free courses on our OpenLearn platform, many linked to our partnership with the BBC. With over, 11,000 employees, we are a large employer in a wide range of professional areas. About half of our employees are associate lecturers, who provide
the small group tuition that is a key feature of the OU’s teaching and learning model. Others include academics, researchers, student advisors, specialist administrators, IT specialists, designers, editors and a wide range of support services from marketing and communications to finance, estates and governance. Leadership and governance The University received its Royal Charter on 23 April 1969. It is an exempt charity registered in England and Wales and regulated on behalf of the Charity Commission by the Office for Students. It is also registered as a charity in Scotland. The University’s governing body is the Council, which focuses on the University’s overall strategy, finances, property and staff, and is supported by a number of subcommittees, such as Finance and Audit Committees. The Council has the ultimate authority within the OU, but it must respect the views of the Senate in academic matters. The Senate is the academic authority of the University, responsible for academic strategy, policy, priorities and performance. The University’s Chancellor is Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho and its Pro-Chancellor (who also chairs the Council) is Malcolm Sweeting. The Vice-Chancellor is accountable to the Council for maintaining and promoting the efficiency and good order of the University.
Scotland The Open University in Scotland is funded for the delivery of learning and teaching by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). Each year we submit an outcome agreement to the SFC demonstrating what we deliver in return for public investment in line with Scottish Government policy priorities, particularly in relation to widening access, skills development, economic recovery and lifelong learning. We work in partnership with the education sector, employers, trade unions and community-based organisations to deliver knowledge and skills across Scotland. We have partner agreements with 15 regional colleges and we deliver a national schools programme in all 32 local authority areas which helps final year pupils transition to FE/HE study. Ireland In Northern Ireland the Open University is working with the Department for the Economy and elected representatives to support the current Higher Education Strategy and the new “Skills for a 10x Economy” ten-year strategy to identify how our model of higher education can continue to enhance the lives of citizens. We have enhanced engagement with employers, developed new partnerships with the further education sector, implemented a successful widening access plan and developed knowledge exchange capability – all of which are priorities in this strategic period. In the Republic of Ireland, we have built strong partnerships with employers, like national broadcaster RTÉ, and with Enterprise Ireland through our innovative ‘Open for Growth’ scheme for growing businesses. We are well placed to grow our student numbers and to contribute to the University’s international work with Dublin as a base for our work within the European Union.
undergraduate part-time education. As is the case across all four nations of the UK, we are highly rated for student satisfaction, and through our scale and reach we make a major contribution to addressing widening participation and access to education. We work with employers in both the public and private sectors to address important skills gaps and continue to invest in new learning pathways for students and employers, such as higher and degree level apprenticeships as well as higher and technical qualifications. Our cost- effective model of flexible and lifelong learning is a key way for the UK government to meet the economic and social challenges ahead, equipping students with the skills they want and need wherever they are. Added to that, we continue to offer a wide range of free educational resources via our OpenLearn platform which extends our reach as well as local relevance via dedicated partnerships such as with the Department of Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus network. Wales The Open University in Wales is building on successive years of student growth following the introduction of part-time maintenance grants by the Welsh Government in 2018. We’re looking to become the provider of choice with employers, particularly in terms of health and education courses – as well as degree apprenticeships, postgraduate and continuing professional development. We work with many partners across Wales to help widen access to part-time education in line with HEFCW and Welsh Government aims. We remain committed to our social responsibility, and place a significant emphasis on equality, sustainability, and reaching more people through our civic mission work.
More information More information on the OU’s leadership and existing structure can be found at www.open.ac.uk/about/main/ governance-ou/executive-team
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