Key issues in open and distance learning

Will SwannDirector, Students, The Open University, UKPresident, European Association of Distance Teaching Universities

The Open University

• Founded in 1969• Over 200,000 students• Nearly 7,000 part time tutors• 1,200 academic staff• More than 3,500 administrative and support staff

Key issues

• Scale• Access• Cost• Open-ness• Student-centredness• Quality based on outcomes• Technology enables and liberates people …

but it’s just a tool

Open University students

4

• Aged from 12 to over 90 with an average of 32

• 70% work and study• 44 per cent without

standard HE entry qualifications

• 18% live in the UK’s 20% poorest areas

• 12,000 students with disabilities

Where the students are

167,000

15,700

8,400

4,200

8,800

6,300

Mia

6

David

Deborah

Bobby

What do you like about the OU?

9

Socio-economic profile

New UK undergraduates, by IMD quintile

Age profile

New UK undergraduates, 18+

1999/00 2004/05 2009/10

Under 21 3.7% 5.2% 6.5%

21 - 24 10.2% 14.0% 14.3%

25 - 49 75.8% 70.6% 68.7%

50 and over 10.3% 10.2% 10.5%

What makes for successful teaching?

12

Learning materials

Student support

Business systems and processes

Annual volumes

1.25 million telephone calls 580,000 emails 240,000 registrations (33% online) 500 courses and 200 qualifications 800,000 student assignments 125,000 examinations 87,000 end-of-course assessments 33,000 qualifications awarded

14

Learning to learn at a distance

15

Structure andorganisation

16Support from real people

17Supporting tutors

18

Information and support online… and offline

19

Managing relationships with students

Rank UniversityPercent satisfied/very satisfied with overall

quality of course

1 Open University 93%

2 Buckingham 92%

3 Cambridge 92%

4 Oxford 92%

5 Bath 91%

6 Exeter 91%

7 Heriot Watt 91%

8 Keele 91%

9 Kent 91%

10 Lancaster 91%

UK governmentNational Student Survey, 2012