You Said, We Did
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...
Scholarship highlighted isolation as one of the key issues affecting students at the Open University. We considered that this is likely to be exacerbated by the lock-down.
We did...
We arranged a digital coffee morning as an informal space where students can 'meet' virtually and have a social chat with one another. This is arranged across the law school programme so students have the opportunity to discuss issues across different modules, compare and contrast study etc. This was the second digital coffee morning we have arranged in the last 2 months. At the first digital coffee morning we asked students what was the most difficult three things they found about OU study and almost all students mentioned isolation as one of these three things.
Law
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You said...
You wanted more support in moving from level 1 to 2 Law modules.
We did...
We have developed a range of 'bridging materials' on Law Study Home to assist you with this transition.
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You said...
You wanted resources to assist with your wellbeing whilst studying law.
We did...
We have introduced two new videos on Law Study Home focusing on top tips for maintaining wellbeing whilst studying at a distance and whilst studying law.
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You said...
You said you wanted to feel part of an academic community.
We did...
We agree that as a distance learning student it’s very important to feel a part of an academic community. We provide students with a range of opportunities to get involved and connected, such as tutor group forums in modules, Student Hub live and Facebook Live sessions, and the Student Café on our Business Study Home site. Additionally, we’re working with our student representatives in developing the OU Business Associate Society (OUBAS) to help students learn from one another and to have more opportunities to get involved in a number of activities. This is a great time to get involved with the OU’s 50th anniversary.
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You said...
You said it wasn’t clear how your feedback is used.
We did...
Your feedback is heard by a number of people working in the University. We receive feedback through our Student Support Team, as well as through your tutors and also the student satisfaction surveys you complete, and all of this is fed back to individual modules, tutors and the programme team through our Student Experience Managers and module teams. This feedback has resulted in improvements to modules and feeds into staff development and programme changes. For example, student feedback about the limit of choices in Level 1 resulted in the opening up of options for students studying Level 1 specialisms in our business management qualifications.
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You said...
You said you wanted to have fewer assessment clashes.
We did...
We understand that many students want to study more than 60 credits per year, and this means that module schedules need to be better aligned to reduce assessment clashes. As a priority action this year, we are already mapping assessments across our qualifications in order to adjust timings and provide clearer advice and guidance to students calling into our Student Support Team. When planning assessment for new modules, we look across the qualification to identify any potential conflicts. We’re also considering any impacts on students who want to study full time.
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You said...
Students commented on the need for more ‘real life ‘business examples especially where students are self-employed.
We did...
This issue is being raised with module teams to look at current use of case studies. We will further encourage best practice by tutors in drawing out ‘real life’ experience in tutor groups. This will also be taken forward when planning future curriculum content.
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You said...
Some concerns were raised about the preparatory phase and design of the final module of the MBA B839 –The management initiative.
We did...
On closer investigation many of these concerns were raised by students on the MBA Technology Management. The nature of their final management projects can be more technical and fit less well with the standard design and structure of the B839. We will work with STEM Staff Tutor colleagues to consider what improvements might be helpful.
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You said...
The policy of limiting access to the module website to three years after study of the module should be reviewed.
We did...
It is OU policy to prioritise resources to managing current sites rather than historic ones. We do provide access on an ad hoc basis in response to requests and will make this clearer to students and tutors.
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You said...
Several students commented negatively on their Tutor Group Forums (low levels of activity, lack of engagement, slowness of interactions).
We did...
TGF activity is routinely monitored as part of peer review processes. Levels of activity do vary in part with the dispositions of different tutor groups. We are continuing to look at ways of encouraging greater activity within TGFs and this will be considered within on going learning design.
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