The Open University ( the Open University ) or the OR with the the United Kingdom were founded in 1969. It is only the Université of remote Enseignement of the country. Its administration is with Milton Keynes, in Buckinghamshire but it operates 13 regional centres. The university gives the licenses, the Diplôme S and the Certificat S, and also the Master S and the Doctorat S.

With more than 180,000 students in 2005, it is the largest educational establishment of the country. The majority of the students are in the United Kingdom, but there is more than 25.000 who study everywhere in Europe, in Africa and Asia Orientale. Since it was founded, more than 3 million courses followed there. A national survey of the students in 2005, carried out by the British Government in England, with the Wales and in Northern Ireland, found that its students were most satisfied.

Foundation

Open University was based by the Labor government of Harold Wilson on a vision of Michael Young. Planning started in 1965 with a committee which included directors of the other universities, experts in the field of education, and the representatives of BBC.

The election of the preserving government of Edward Heath in 1970 involved a reduction of the budget (by Iain Macleod which was at the time, Minister for the Economy and Finances, and which formerly declared that the idea of such a university was “nonsenses méprisables”). Nevertheless it opened its doors with 25.000 students in his first year in 1971, with the intention to be available to all. Its methods of teaching were sometimes considered radical. At the time the number of students in the established universities was of 130.000.

Since its foundation, it OR inspired the foundation of many other institutions in the whole world.

Students

The students of Open University are of any age and are very diverse. For the majority of the courses, it is not necessary to pass an examination; it is only necessary to have the capacity to study on a suitable level. In general, the obviousness of the studies or the experiments in the life is necessary for the courses above the license.

Approximately 70% of the students are workers with full-time, who study for a first (or second) license in order to advance or to change their career, of which more than 50.000 are financed by their employer. The university is also popular among those which cannot attend a traditional university, that is to say which they are Handicap are, in overseas, in Prison, in the Armed forces, or that they deal with other members of their family. Meadows of 10.000 students are handicapped.

The majority of the students are ripe adults but, because of the reduction by the government of active for the students in the traditional universities, it OR attracts also the young people of secondary education who can study on their premises, in order to save. During years 2003 - 2004, approximately 20% of the students had less than 25 years. For the period 1996 - 1997, when the government allowed the universities to impose expenses to the students, they was 12.5%. OR with some school S works to familiarize its pupils to be studied for a license.

Among the many students and famous professors are Joan Armatrading (graduate), Gordon Brown (former tutor and from now on Chancellor of the Exchequer in England) and studying it Jerry Hall.

Methods of teaching

The teaching of Open University is “excellent” according to le' Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (the agency for the quality assurance of higher education).

Open University uses several methods of remote teaching, including materials written, recordings Audio, Internet, Logiciel S, and emissions of Télévision on the BBC or of more-in-more DVD. The material used is written either by the lecturers, or by academic outsides, or he is laid off by thirds with the use of the students.

For the majority of the courses, the students are supported by Tuteur S, which give them councils on their studies, either by seminars, or by Téléphone, or email. For a certain number of courses of short duration, carrying a value of 10 points, there are forums on line which are supported by the Modérateur S instead of the tutors.

In the years 70s, the emissions of Open University on the BBC have creates almost a national icon of the lecturer OR in his pants of widened corduroy and its very broad Cravate. The emissions of today use the style of the documentary in general or are more avant-gardists. Since 2005 they all are diffused during the first part of the evening and attract large audiences.

See too

External bonds

  • Web page of Open University (in English)
  • Bonds with the ESC Rennes (National college of business of Rennes)

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