Welcome to the stakeholder newsletter from The Open University in Scotland
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Dear 

2020 has been an extremely busy year for The Open University in Scotland as we provided enhanced support to students during the coronavirus pandemic and welcomed record numbers of new students.

We now teach more than 18,000 people across every part of Scotland. Almost two-thirds of our students study for free with the undergraduate part-time fee grant. There was a 23% increase in new students in October and online registrations for February are now open.

Our expertise in supported online learning and our ability to roll out training at scale across the country was recognised in the award of £1 million of funding from the Flexible Workforce Development Fund to support small to medium sized businesses with OU training to boost economic growth in response to the pandemic. This is just one of the areas where we are proving vital support to individuals, families and businesses across Scotland with accessible learning and reskilling opportunities as featured in our new film below.

As we approach the end of a challenging year, I wish you all the best for 2021.

Susan Stewart, Director, The Open University in Scotland

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Latest news

OU receives £1 million funding to support Scottish SMEs

A £1 million grant has been awarded to the OU in Scotland to support businesses with skills training, to boost productivity and growth in response to Covid-19.

The new funding from the Scottish Government will enable small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access up to £5,000 of online training delivered by the OU.

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Graduates see £200,000 additional career earnings

A new report by London Economics highlights that graduates who start studying with National 5s or below as their highest prior qualification and go on to complete a part-time degree at the OU in Scotland are estimated to earn an average of £200,000 more in real terms over the rest of their career.

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Fully funded coding skills for the low paid or unemployed

Scots who are out of work or low paid can apply for a new fully-funded computer coding skills training programme. CodingSkills+ by The Open University is a 13-week, part time training programme providing in-demand computer programming skills. Applications are open until 6 December. 

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Celebrating success

OU aims high for student carers

Extensive work to develop support for student carers at the OU has been acknowledged with a Going Higher for Student Carers Recognition Award.

The award by Carers Trust Scotland recognises the Open University's work to support student carers at every stage of their higher education journey.

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Event highlights

Happy Birthday Jennie Lee!

The late, great Jennie Lee of Lochgelly was an MP before she was old enough to vote, the first-ever UK Minister for the Arts and a founder of The Open University.

We marked her birthday last month with a range of content on social media, including Lisa May Young, broadcaster, journalist and OU student from Fife, interviewing Susan Stewart, Director of the OU in Scotland, in an 18-minute podcast for the Scottish Ancestral Records series.

Listen now

Students voice their questions

OU Student Voice Week took place last month, celebrating the ways that our students can participate in the University's decision-making.

We held two events specifically for students in Scotland: a Student Mental Health Agreement session, and The Big Blether, which was a prime opportunity for students to put their questions to staff and OU Students Association representatives on a range of topics. 

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Spotlight

Celebrating our Class of 2020

The OU dedicated a special week in September to celebrate our graduates on social media after the cancellation of degree ceremonies due to Covid-19 guidance. The moving videos and stories included famous honorary graduates and recent graduates from across Scotland, such as Carla from Clydebank's story of how after a difficult start in life she's gained an honours degree, and a blog by nursing graduate Helen Kafantari Maciver from the Western Isles.

Appointment of Prof Paul Gray to the OU Council

Professor Paul Gray, an experienced public sector leader in Scotland, has been appointed a Council member for The Open University. 

The Council is the OU’s governing body and with Council colleagues Paul will be responsible for overseeing the University's activities across the UK and beyond.

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New Senior Public Affairs Manager

Keith Robson joins the OU in Scotland this month as Senior Public Affairs Manager.

Currently the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager for the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Scotland, Keith brings extensive experience in public affairs and education, and also served as a City of Edinburgh councillor.

New OU Students Association Representative for Scotland

Elyse Hocking has been voted in as the new OU Students Association Representative for Scotland. 

Elyse has a ‘virtual open door’ and welcomes OU in Scotland students to contact her as their representative: Elyse.Hocking@open.ac.uk 

 

 

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The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.

The Open University in Scotland

Scotland@open.ac.uk


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