Back the OU
Help back the Open University's campaign
The Open University needs your help to stop £30m worth of funding being cut from our teaching grant. This site will explain what has happened, what this means for the Open University and how you can support our campaign to save our funding.
News
28.01.2008 University funding changes: funding council report disappoints
04.01.2008 OU Vice-Chancellor to give evidence to Parliamentary Committee on ELQ funding
13.12.2007 Secretary of State visits The Open University
What has happened?
The Government has announced that, as of the next academic year, it will no longer be funding students in England and Open University students in Northern Ireland taking any Higher Education qualification that is equivalent to, or lower than, one they already hold. These students are being referred to as ELQ (Equivalent or Lower Qualification) students. This decision will have major funding implications for the Open University as ELQ students represent a substantial percentage of our student numbers.
There are some exemptions to the new draft policy including initial training for teachers, nurses, social workers and all foundation degrees. But we are convinced that across the sector the higher fees that institutions may have to charge will deter many graduates from university-level professional development. In our opinion discouraging institutions and students in this way runs counter to the Government's priority to re-skill the nation's workforce – a priority that we entirely support and currently excel in delivering.
How does this affect the Open University?
We stand to lose a significant part of our teaching grant. HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) estimates that £31,628,519 of OU funding will be phased out. This decision will be phased in over three years to help institutions adjust to the reduced income.
The Open University is working to minimise the effect of the policy change on the University and its students. We are trying to get the policy reversed and we need your assistance to help convince the Government to change its mind. We believe we have a strong case but need the support of students, staff, alumni and those with an interest in Higher Education and lifelong learning to take this argument to Government.
3 things you can do to help
There are two quick and easy things that you can do to help support the Open University campaign:
Sign the Downing Street Petition: the Open University Students Association has tabled a petition on the 10 Downing Street website. Adding your name to this petition helps draw our issue directly to the attention of the Prime Minister: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ELQFunding/.
Write to your local MP asking them to write to John Denham MP, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills passing on your concerns about the funding changes.
The funding cuts will potentially affect thousands of OU students. Help show your support for the Open University and lifelong learning by joining our Facebook Group.
Case Study
Mark McBride achieved a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Ulster in 1991. This is essential to his current career as a test and maintenance manager with an electronics company in Northern Ireland. He is currently studying for a BEng with the OU.
He is studying to broaden his skills base and to improve his understanding and knowledge of the latest fields of engineering. This will improve his skillset and also give him a formal qualification to enhance his position within the company.
In the light of a diminishing manufacturing sector in the UK, he believes it is imperative for him to maintain a modern and adaptable skillset that would be easily transferable to other technological careers. He is also eager to maintain his current level of understanding in manufacturing.
He is receiving no employer funding for his studies. He said: "The Government itself has identified that there is a skills shortage across many trades and is currently encouraging apprenticeship schemes to try and correct the shortfall. The same applies to the engineering skill base where student numbers in universities are falling. To make it more difficult for students to study engineering is a contradiction of the educational policies that are coming from Government".
"It would have been impossible for me to commence study of these courses had they been more expensive. My professional development would also have suffered."
Lobby your MP
To reverse the Government's decision to cut £30m of OU funding we need the support of your Member of Parliament. The Open University has students in every UK Parliamentary constituency.
Enter your postcode here to find out who your local MP is and send them a message asking them to oppose funding cuts to the Open University.
