Get Involved
How you can get involved and contribute to change
Here you can explore what opportunities are available for you to get involved in developing the student experience at the OU
Student Consultation Meetings 2025 - Get involved!
Location: United Kingdom and online Duration: One off Dedication: Flexible
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Get involved in shaping your Open University study and tell us your ideas at the student consultations being held throughout April. To sign up, simply complete this form by Sunday 23 March.If you have any issues filling out this form, you can either use this form or email us: student-consultation-office@open.ac.uk.
The meetings will be hosted by OU staff. Join us in-person on the days below:
Saturday 5 April, Crowne Plaza, Leeds, 10:00–16:15 (location)
Saturday 5 April, The Open University in Wales, Cardiff, 10:00-16: 15 (location)
Saturday 5 April, The Open University in Scotland, Edinburgh, 10:00-16:15 (location)
Wednesday 9 April, The Open University, Milton Keynes, 10:00-16: 15 (location)
Saturday 12 April, The Open University in Ireland, Belfast, 10:00-16: 15 (location)
Saturday 12 April, London School of Economics, London, 10:00-16: 15 (location)
What will the meetings discuss?
We’ll be running interactive sessions where you will:
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contribute to the proposed development of a new Artificial Intelligence Digital Assistant, and explore how AI can address some of your teaching, learning, and support needs in the near future,
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examine how our digital content relating to student support can be more useful to you, and
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give your feedback on the current Student Charter and start writing a new one!
The Open University Students Association will also be there to hear your views and help you get involved. Your feedback will shape how the Association represents you and responds to important student issues.
At the Belfast meeting there will be an additional opportunity to contribute to the planned Higher Education Funding Review by Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy, where you can have a direct impact on the future of Northern Ireland’s higher education sector.
The meetings are a great opportunity to get together with other students and learners and be part of the wider OU community.
Online consultation meetings
If you can’t make a face-to-face meeting, we have an online meeting focussed on each topic, as well as a forum that will be open all week:
Monday 7 April – Developing an Artificial Intelligence Digital Assistant, 5.30-6.30pm
Tuesday 8 April – Making digital content for student support easy to use, 12-1pm
Wednesday 9 April – Student Charter, 5.30-6.30pm
Thursday 10 April – OU Students Association, 5.30-6.30pm
Additionally, we invite students and learners from racially minoritised communities to a meeting on Friday 11 April to contribute to the OU’s work around the Race Equality Charter, 12-1pm.
What happens next?
Make sure to fill out the form by Friday 7th March to get involved. If you are applying to attend a face-to-face meeting, please apply to the meeting closest to your home. We hope to let you know the week commencing 10 March if you have been allocated a place. Places are limited and will be allocated to ensure that students and learner from across our diverse student body are able to attend. In the meantime, please do keep the time free and please note, as there is often high demand for the face-to-face meetings in some locations and expenses are paid, we do expect that you attend for the whole day.
A summary of the feedback you give will be reviewed by senior staff in the University to inform ongoing improvements to your study experience. We will follow up after the meetings to let you know how your views have resulted in change.
If you wish to speak in Welsh at a Student Consultation Meeting, or have any questions, please email student-consultation-office@open.ac.uk.
We really hope you’ll be able to join us at one of the meetings, and if you can’t make it this time, be sure to join our mailing list to hear about further opportunities to be involved.
Find out moreCould you represent students in the OU Students Association's Student Leadership Team? By-elections are coming soon!
Location: At home / online Duration: Flexible Dedication: Flexible
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The Association's 2025 by-elections will run from Tuesday 11 March - Friday 9 May. In March, you could nominate yourself to be an Association leader - developing key skills and becoming part of the student leader community.
There are 9 exciting roles up for nominations. Come along to drop-in events this week to find out more about the roles.
Find out moreNational Student Survey 2025
Location: Online/Virtual Duration: Flexible Dedication: Less than 1 hour
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It’s important to us that we understand your experience with the OU – what’s gone well and what we need to do better. Please reflect on all your studies, not just your recent modules. We use the NSS to make decisions about what to improve. No-one knows us better than our students – so please help us understand what you think.
As a thank you for your time, The Open University is offering prizes for students who enter the online survey prize draw. All entries must be received by midnight on 30 April 2025. The prize for the draw is a £60 Love2Shop voucher and will be awarded randomly to 15 students. Please note that a cash alternative cannot be given in exchange for the prize. The winners will be contacted by 10 May 2025 via email by the OU NSS Team. The result of the prize draw will also be made available on email by 10 May.
The deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, 30th April 2025.
Find out moreSign up to the Student Voice mailing list
Location: At home / online Duration: Flexible Dedication: Flexible
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Sign up to the Student Voice mailing list to find out about all current opportunities that need your opinion, your voice, to make changes within the OU.
Please click on the 'find out more' button to be redirected to the mailing list sign up document.
Find out moreDo you have a passion for the environment and/or sustainability at the OU?
Location: At home / online Duration: Flexible Dedication: Flexible
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If you have a passion for the environment or a general interest in making things more sustainable, then the Students Association at the OU would love to hear from you!
Join the Environmental and Sustainability Society which is for students, former students, and staff of The Open University and others who advocate our society’s aims. “We envision a regenerative world, working together towards sustainable practices for a healthy environment, without compromising on the needs of future generations”.
The society members will support activities, events, and environmental action in the community and as individuals. The society are looking for help as it grows so if you are interested in joining as a member or a volunteer, contact us by following the link on the 'find out more' button. The link will take you direct to an article with much more information and contact details.
Find out more
