A little background history to the OU

The concept of an Open University began in the UK in the 1920s with the idea that university teaching could take place by means of communications technology – initially on the radio and TV and so on – without the need for a specific campus where students had to attend, as is usually the case for university students. In the 1960s the Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson appointed Jennie Lee as Minister for the Arts and her commitment was the driving force behind the creation of the OU whose first students began in January 1971. About a quarter of a million students to date have gained degrees with the OU, and qualifications are followed by the word ‘open’ eg B.A. Hons (Open).
The OU is subject to the same teaching and learning quality assessments as other UK universities. The Open University is described as the world’s leading e-university.
The OU Business School opened in 1983 and has been followed by other new schools such as Law.

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