How your voice has made a difference
This page provides an opportunity to see the valuable feedback received from students across a wide range of communication channels, and to see what the OU has done in response.
Please note this video is now a couple of years old so some people no longer have the same title. The current Students Association leadership can be seen on their website.
Choose a topic from the drop-down list below to see how students can have an impact on their university experience and be empowered to help shape the University. Next time you are asked to give your opinion, you know that the OU is taking this feedback seriously and will respond.
You said...
You wanted more opportunities for student voice.
We did...
We offer regular open forums between students and members of the school management team. The health and social care programme will include ‘you said-we-did’ information on their subject website.
Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
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You said...
You had difficult fitting study demands with personal circumstances.
We did...
while the minimum number of hours which constitute a 60-credit module must remain within guidelines, the school is careful not to overstuff its modules. Going forward, the school recognises the particular challenges experienced by fulltime students and will revisit the scheduling of assignments and try to prevent any clashes between modules. It will prepare joint study calendars for common ‘companion modules’ and will direct students to tools which they can use to better manage study demands.
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You said...
You wanted better advice on which modules are right for you.
We did...
Starting in the 20/21 academic year, the health and social care programme will be offering a module chooser event for students selecting their next module.
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You said...
There was confusion over where the assessment descriptors were and how marks were allocated.
We did...
Pointers were added in our module-specific induction programme to direct students to the right page, and screencast videos made to explain how they are used by tutors when marking and how students can make use of them for self-evaluation.
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You said...
You felt a lack of opportunity to practice and the feeling of being isolated
We did...
We set up an online room called LAL Student Common Room on Study Home site for you to host events so all the students in the School can attend.
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You said...
You wanted to be able to apply to extend the time limit for the Qualifying Law Degree during your studies, instead of at the end of the degree.
We did...
We amended the LLB qualification regulations to allow students to apply at any time during the law studies to extend the time limit for the Qualifying Law Degree.
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You said...
You wanted further support for collaborative and reflective assessments on your law level three modules. You also wanted these skills to be introduced earlier in the law degree.
We did...
We amended the assessments and / or provided further guidance and support for students on collaboration and reflection in the existing level three modules. Collaboration and reflection will be introduced in levels one and two in the new law degree, which starts in October 2021.
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You said...
You would like more clarity about the amount of science and maths in Q71
We did...
We updated the description on Study@OU to emphasise the science in the qualification and its modules
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You said...
You would like more support for full time study
We did...
set up a full-time study page/forum on the Science study site. This includes TMA submission date calendars for the most commonly studied combination of modules.
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You said...
You would like more opportunity to develop practical skills via lab schools.
We did...
we now offer five lab schools at our labs in Milton Keynes as well as a number of Field Schools run by the Field Studies Council. We are also exploring the feasibility of offering day schools for our new modules/qualifications. Reflecting the cancellation of the lab schools in 2020 due to Covid-19, we ran a Chemistry Online Summer School. As a result of your feedback we will be running a similar school in 2021 covering both chemistry and biology.
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United Kingdom and online
United Kingdom and online
At home / online
