You Said, We Did

How your voice has made a difference

Accessibility statement

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.

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.

Select a topic

You said...
Tutors aren’t always aware that students are studying towards an Open Qualification

We did...
We have raised this issue with IT systems colleagues to flag Open students to tutors.
Open Qualifications
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
Are Open students being unfairly disadvantaged with module cappings and quotas?

We did...
We undertook analysis of this and were able to confirm that Open students weren’t being treated differently to other students on named qualifications. We were also able to confirm that only a small number of Open students had been affected by module quotas
Open University
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
You wanted more options for starting routes for physics qualifications.

We did...
The Integrated Masters qualification (MPhys) will have three different starting routes to match the background, experience, and interests of our students. Psychology
Physical Sciences
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
You would like more information about applying for a PhD

We did...
Produced an OpenLearn short course to provide further information about studying for a research degree and support for develop an initial idea for a PhD into a proposal Applying to study for a PhD in psychology
Psychology
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
When studying at full-time intensity, clashing or close deadlines is the biggest challenge

We did...
In addition to providing assessment deadline resources for modules across the psychology programme: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=206348&cmid=1378010 We have planned new Level 1 curriculum to avoid clashing deadlines for FTI students (due to present in 23J)
Psychology
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
You would like more opportunities to gain focused psychology and counselling careers guidance.

We did...
Provided a virtual careers fair with representatives from psychology and counselling professional bodies including the British Psychological Society and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Live events such as this are designed to complement existing psychology and counselling careers resources found here: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=206348&cmid=1252638
Psychology
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
You disliked not having the same tutor for each tutorial/day school, and to tutors’ variable skills in the use of Adobe for delivery of tutorials/day schools.

We did...
The Director of Teaching (DoT) and Director of Student Support (DoSS) have asked AL managers and disciplines to make sure practice in the use of Adobe Connect forms a key part of staff development in 21/22. Tutors at level 1 have around 24 hours of tuition, and at level 2 and 3 only 16 hours, so the same tutor providing day school/tutorials is not feasible. Most modules at level 2 do provide an opportunity to meet with your tutor in a dayschool/tutorial in each block of the module.
Social Sciences and Global Studies
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
You disliked tutorials that seemed to repeat content without the opportunity to gain deeper understanding of, and that you didn't have enough time to ask questions in tutorials

We did...
The Director of Teaching (DoT) and Director of Student Support (DoSS) is working with academic colleagues to ensure best practice in tutorial provision is a key element of staff development with ALs/tutors, and that the SSGS Associate Lecturer (AL) best practice guide (written in 2020/21 for use by ALs/tutors from Autumn 2021) is widely disseminated.
Social Sciences and Global Studies
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
That you liked the general blend within modules, but online resources were quite text heavy and you felt these were often better in books

We did...
Director of Teaching has liaised with Associate Dean (Teaching and Students) regarding the FASS teaching model and its ongoing development and the continued role for books within this, and online teaching materials that are interactive and specifically designed for the VLE.
Social Sciences and Global Studies
Posted on: 14-Apr-22

You said...
You liked the smaller tutor group sessions for more informal discussions

We did...
These now form a part of the new FASS tuition policy, with a tutor group tutorial at the start of modules. Many modules have now gone beyond that to offer tutor group drops in alongside larger cluster events
Social Sciences and Global Studies
Posted on: 14-Apr-22