Unfortunately I was unable to attend the last Senate due to a clash with work, but I have now received the minutes of that meeting and hope you’ll forgive me for this short précis of a major issue.
I remember well when the OU came into being, it was often commented that anyone from any financial background would be able to study for a degree and how wonderful it was that these educational opportunities would be available. I had my very early courses in the 1970s paid for by my local authority and without that I wouldn’t have afforded them. Many people who had thought themselves unlikely university students were encouraged by the financial support to study for a degree. More importantly, the open door policy of the OU meant that people with limited or no qualifications, were accepted for study.
In those days the starter, or foundation courses as they were known, were few; probably no more than half a dozen to choose from. As a consequence there was a waiting list to enrol so it was essential to apply on the first day of applications to have a hope of getting a place. However it is not now the limit on places which holds us back from further study but the financial outlay.
The OU is not to blame for the founding model becoming unobtainable, but its aim is to keep as near to the original ideal as possible, in these difficult times. The precedent has always been to offer a good student experience and this is still priority for the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Tait.
The ‘Study Experience’ programme, also driven by Will Swann (director, Students) sees an intensive period of work ahead, if the proposed changes are approved by Senate. The focus on developing named degrees, which were introduced twelve years ago, needs to ensure students make the best decisions when taking on study leading to qualifications. There are great cost implications for incorrect or regretted choices, as the price of choosing the wrong course will now be so much higher. Consequently, clear information, advice and guidance are all essential, to help students in making correct decisions.
Professor Tait also recognises the OU will be judged, in particular by those making future loans, on the way in which it delivers on promises made to students. The main aim is to improve the student experience, qualification completion rate, and the effectiveness of study on employability not only in vocational areas but throughout the whole curriculum.
There are two models of delivery, which are linked with the reasons for students taking up OU study. One is for students who study for personal development, where they may only study a single module if they wish. These students do not necessarily want to progress to a degree qualification but may be either studying for their own interest or personal development, without wanting to take on any further study. These students also want the flexibility offered by the OU to take a break in study due to family or work commitments. Their decision to stop studying should not be seen as a failure to complete as it may never have been their intention to do so. They need to be viewed differently from those in the second model of students who register for qualifications, and commit to completing the whole course.
I hope I can report of further progress from the next Senate later in January, but meanwhile please contact me if you have anything you wish to comment upon or comment via the Graduates' forum on Platform. I would also be interested to know if there are any other issues that you as graduates may be particularly interested in, as I realise the current issues around student experience may not be particularly pertinent to you.
Last but not least, I hope you all have a great 2012 and that some of you think about returning to the OU as students, even if it is to sample a short course on something new, or to use the free OpenLearn website, which offers you courses for free – now that is truly in the spirit of the originators of the OU!
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I would really appreciate your comments.
It would be helpful to know from you as OU graduates, if you are aware of the OU’s role in Open Media. Perhaps you have noticed the OU mentioned in a number of television programmes, or discovered the OpenLearn site.
As a graduate, did you know for example, that you can also access OU materials through YouTube, iTunesU or Google Book store and Apps store? Have you accessed OpenLearn? If so how do you use these sites?
If this is all new to you then I would also like to know! It would be helpful for example, to know what percentage of the 6-8 million visitors who engage with OU educational materials through Open Media are OU graduates.
Maybe you can talk about how ideally you would like to access OU materials, and in which way you would use them.
Is there anyone who has found that taster courses on OpenLearn have encouraged them to convert to the main course?
Please feel free to contribute - every comment is valued.
Dear Petrina,
Many thanks for your excellent work on behalf of graduates - we're very fortunate to have the benefit of your undoubted wisdom and skill. As a graduate, I have some contentious issues to raise. I'm sorry to be a bit of a stirrer - I assure you that I'm no troll. I have raised the issues I'm about to outline here in the OUSA Matters forum in the VLE.
1) I am greatly impressed by the Alumni Association - every time I have had dealings with it, the people I have encountered have been creative, professional, and courteous to a fault. I have always assumed that they are one of the reasons why PLATFORM is such an impressive spectacle. HOWEVER, I feel that their name is misleading: they sound like an association of alumni, but they're not. Surely, they are the alumni relations office of the university? Their role is essential but they're not really an alumni association with an executive answerable to its members - I wouldn't want them to change anything other than their name.
2) Given point (1) above, to what extent are alumni/graduates allowed to make an independent input into the life of the university? For example, were you yourself appointed by an organisation of alumni or by the university? If the latter, doesn't this compromise your own ability to claim to represent the alumni/graduates? Having said this, I am NOT criticising you personally, and I will happily support you in your present role however you are appointed.
3) I am aware that creating a medium through which alumni representatives can be accountable to such a huge body of alumni would be very hard indeed - but I think we need to be giving it some thought.
I raise these issues because I believe that we alumni are stakeholders in the university: we want to see the value of our qualification maintained and defended - and there will be times when we can give the university vital information about the barriers of prejudice or bureaucracy that can sometimes be put in the way of OU qualifications. We want to see the University succeed and, having benefited from it, a huge proportion of us are fiercely committed to the ethos of inclusion - we don't want to see the ladder pulled up behind us.
BTW, I am merely an armchair soldier in this particular cause - even if I wanted to, I know that I cannot contribute much more towards alumni representation other than the voicing of some opinions in fora like these. I am NOT a "hack" in waiting!
Best wishes
Peter
Hi Peter
Thanks for you comments. Petrina will post a reply soon.
Jenny
Platform Team
Hi Peter,
Thank you so much for your very salient points. The questions you ask are indeed relevant and I will answer what I can. However please excuse me for passing on the issues of the Alumni to the Alumni Office as I do not have that information, although maybe I should. I am sure they will be able to answer the very relevant point regarding the structure of the Alumni and issues regarding its association status.
1) As far as I know the Alumni is run through the OU, and the office members are appointed by the OU . The AOUG (Association of Open University Graduates) however, is run mainly by volunteers and if you go on to their website you will see that my articles are also on their website asking for feedback. I am a member of AOUG myself, and it runs independently with an elected Executive Committee. Their website gives you all the detail you need regarding their make-up and history, AGMS etc. http://www.aoug.org.uk/
2) I can honestly say I am independent of the university in that I am not, and never have been employed by the OU. I am a graduate myself and my work is voluntary, which is why I can't always answer immediately. I was appointed through interview with the Alumni office, having answered a plea for a volunteer. Platform is free to edit articles, however I would ask for it to be removed if that ever happens (as I have done in the past when submitting an article, before my Senate role). If I put my name to anything it has to be my work!
3) The idea of using Platform as the medium through which Alumni and Graduates have a voice, is only option I have been given. However there are links to Facebook and Twitter. Any other suggestions would be really appreciated as we would like to have more response and discussion to take forward to Senate.
I agree it is confusing as my title is really Graduate Representative on Senate, which sounds as if it excludes Alumni who have not graduated, but it does not. All I can say is that all Alumni and Graduates are invited to comment on Senate matters via Platform. I then take their concerns to Senate and voice them at the relevant moments. However this rather limits responses to just Senate matters. Alumni and Graduates both need to give greater voice as I don’t get nearly enough feedback through Platform.
My specialism is Education, so I approach Senate with that passion in mind. Having started my courses in 1976 I too feel passionately about the OU and have a deep understanding of its history and original ethos. I am not a journalist – nowhere near! I really appreciate the time you have taken to respond and hope I have answered at least some of your points.
Peter
Thank you for your positive feedback on the work of the Alumni Relations team and in particular on Platform and your enthusiasm for the University’s future
The OU has named its group of Alumni the Alumni Association some time ago, following suit of many other Universities and OU alumni are now used to the title so I doubt we will change it. You are correct that the communications which feed the Association are run by us here in the Alumni Relations team so I can understand your point that this represents an ‘OU view’ on life.
However comment in Platform is open. We do moderate the environment as it is our responsibility to do so, but with a very light touch removing the few expletives that arise and responding to correct information if it is wrong. Sometimes we really get challenged in Platform and this is a good thing. We need to understand what our students and alumni really think.
Petrina has an open floor here, and as she has said herself, would not respond well to us censoring her, so apart from not wanting to we wouldn’t dare! She mentioned using twitter or facebook as an alternative to explore. Given the large OU facebook and twitter community this would be worth investigating I would say, and we are happy to help if needed.
The selection of the graduate representative for Senate is as democratic as we can, quite literally, afford to be. The post is advertised for nominations to all contactable graduates. The selection process is chaired by the Head of Alumni Relations, with four randomly selected graduates forming the remaining panel. The chair’s vote is only applied if there is no consensus. On the two occasions we have run this process, the chair’s vote has not been necessary.
Please do continue to be passionate about the future of the OU, our commitment to being open, and do get involved. You can feed your thought in to Petrina (to take to Senate meetings), add comments like you have on Platform in the Graduate forum, or do contact the alumni team directly (alumni@open.ac.uk) as we will take your questions forward to find the answers for you.
Best wishes
Roz Allison
Head of Alumni Relations