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About the OU > Admin and governance > Executive Team > Director, Students

Director, Students

Will Swann

Will SwannRole

The Director, Students, is head of the University’s Student Services Unit. He is responsible for the development, delivery and evaluation of services to students and associate lecturers in support of our  teaching and widening participation objectives, as well as for the recruitment and retention of students. Key responsibilities include:

  • the University’s relationships with its students
  • information, advice and guidance to enquirers, students and their sponsors
  • student support
  • the management and development of Associate Lecturers
  • assessment and award processes
  • services to students with disabilities and other special requirements
  • financial support to students
  • student complaints and appeals
  • student discipline.
     

Career

Will Swann was appointed as Director, Students in 2004. He joined the OU in 1977 as a Lecturer in Education. In the 1980s his research, publications and teaching were in the area of inclusive education, and he chaired the University’s first course in this field.

In 1991 Will left the OU for three years to work as a primary teacher. Returning in 1994, he led the development of the OU’s programme for primary teaching assistants and researched their role and training. In 1998 he was appointed as the Dean of the School of Education, and later oversaw the creation of the Faculty of Education and Language Studies, of which he was the founding Dean.
 

Contact

Will Swann
Director, Students
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
United Kingdom

Email: Director-Students@open.ac.uk