Opening up the future - together

At The Open University, our mission has always been to make learning possible for anyone, anywhere. For over fifty years, we’ve been driven by the belief that education can transform lives and communities, and that belief remains as powerful today as ever.

Now, as we look ahead, we’re developing a new University Strategy: Opening Up. It’s about building on our proud heritage while reimagining how we open up learning, opportunity and connection for the future.

This is your opportunity to help shape that future. We’re inviting our students and staff to join the conversation – sharing your experiences, ideas and ambitions as we explore what the OU should stand for in the decades ahead.

Together, we’ll ensure that our teaching and research continue to change lives, create opportunity and empower communities everywhere.

Your voice matters. Be part of shaping the next chapter of The Open University’s story and help us open up the future, together.

Hear more from our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dave Phoenix, as he discusses the emerging University Strategy, how it fits within the wider Higher Education context, and what it means for The Open University.

A transcript of this video is also available. Download the transcript by clicking here.

Work to date

Over the summer, the Vice-Chancellor's Executive began exploring what the next chapter of our University could look like. This exploration resulted in the identification of some strategic themes, emerging priorities and an initial framework for our future Strategy, which is built on what we know and have already heard from students and staff.

You can find out more about the emerging strategy in this short video.

A transcript of this video is also available. Download the transcript by clicking here.

Strategy framework

A transcript of this strategy house image is also available. Download the transcript by clicking here.

The strategy framework is like a house – each part of the house represents a key part of the emerging strategy:

• Roof: our overarching vision to be recognised as a transformative institution that delivers for the 21st Century, through high-quality, digitally enabled education, research and partnership.
• Pillars: our strategic objectives that support the vision. Each pillar represents a strategic theme:
  • Creating societal impact - reaching underserved groups and tackling real world challenges.
  • Advancing social mobility - supporting every student to realise their ambition.
  • Empowering communities through partnership - working with employers, educators and others to co-create solutions and re-write the rules of learning.
• Foundation: this is what supports everything – our heritage, cultures, values and enabling capabilities. The foundation keeps the Strategy grounded and sustainable.

Shaping the Strategy

We recognised that we were not starting from a blank page, and while we started with our strategic thinking over the summer, there was plenty for students, colleagues and external partners to shape and influence.

We wanted to hear from you, our students. We asked you to tell us what you thought about this emerging strategy.

This consultation was not about the precise wording of the pillars and enabling capabilities, it was about seeking your input into the OU’s future direction. We asked you to share your views on whether you thought this emerging strategy:

• will keep the OU relevant in the face of fast-paced change in the world around us
• will help us advance our mission to be truly open to all
• includes what you would expect from The Open University of the future
• Puts us on the path to being recognised as a transformative institution for the 21st century — delivering high-quality, digitally enabled education and research.

Thank you for all of your feedback. It will help us shape our thinking and ensure we continue to advance our mission so that more people and communities can benefit from the transformative power of learning.

The Student Voice can help shape the next chapter of our story, as we look to the future with confidence and purpose.

Student Voice Week

As part of the introduction to Student Voice week on Saturday 15 November, Open SU president Natalie Baker and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students Ian Pickup ran a session sharing details of the emerging strategy and there was an opportunity for students to tell us what you thought about this emerging strategy. We asked if it reflects your experience and ambition? Does it capture what the OU should stand for in the future?

Student Consultation Forum

We also set up a consultation forum, which ran for two weeks from 15 November. We heard from students with your views, your thoughts and your feedback on what we’ve shared about the emerging strategy.

Next Steps

Thank you to all of you who have shared your thoughts and questions during Student Voice week and through the Student Consultation Forum.

What you’ve told us about the pillars and enabling capabilities we’ve presented has been rich and insightful. You’ve provided the student view which will inform our thinking and as we continue to develop our strategy over the coming months.

We look forward to sharing the next iteration of our emerging strategy with you in the early Spring.