Blockbuster? with OU ● Page 7 ● Page 9 ● Page 14 ● Page 16 Esa Me June/July 2002 Reachings the Open University Community Worldwide Issue Number 209
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SNEAKPREVIEW Training New Hollywood’s Race tonic look for next for life for NHS careers blockbuster? with OU ● page 7 ● page 9 ● page 14 ● page 16 esa me June/July 2002 ReachingS the Open University community worldwide Issue Number 209 Round-up of this year’s graduation news ● pages 11-12 Sesame website: www.open.ac.uk/sesame Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 3 News Ch a n t al wins ap p r oval for OU de g ree By Peter Taylor-Whiffen elgium-based student Chantal Alenus has that two had given me such glowing reports and the opened up opportunities for students through- other had turned me down, so I queried it,” said Bout Europe after campaigning to get her OU Chantal. “It turned out there had been a mix-up and degree recognised in her home country. when the university looked at it again, it approved it.” Chantal began studying nine years ago knowing that Chantal, who was born in the Congo and brought up her BSc (Hons) would count for nothing with Belgian in Burundi before going to a French-speaking school employers, who insisted that only a Masters matched in the Ivory Coast, learned about the OU from her the country’s Licentiaat qualification. sister, who heard of it while she was at university in So all the time she was taking her biology degree, Liverpool. she consistently campaigned to government depart- “The OU is fantastic,” said Chantal, who is fluent ments and Belgian universities to recognise the OU in English, French and Dutch and can also speak standard – and after years of hard work, finally won Swahili. “In Belgium and Holland if you want to do a her battle last month. particular degree, you strictly study only that subject “I am delighted,” said Chantal, who lives and works all the way through. With the OU you can mix and in Antwerp. “I had had a couple of unfortunate expe- match so you’re always doing aspects that interest riences with Belgian education and the OU suited me you. perfectly, but it didn’t carry any weight here. “I think the education system in Belgium is “So before I began, I told the authorities what I was probably much better now than it was when I tried to doing and then I had to go to the Ministry of the Flemish learn here, but I remember passing an exam was seen Community. The people there told me to photocopy very much as a privilege which wasn’t open to every- See Muddles Youth Theatre Group at Open Day everything I had done, which they would send to four one. In contrast, at the OU I found the tutors really top Belgian universities to be encouraged me, really wanted me to pass.” assessed. They told me if three Chantal’s flexible study time also attracted a lot of of them approved, I would get interest. “I would be reading text books on the bus, or my recognition.” I’d get them out, say, in the park, and people would But even that wasn’t ask what I was doing. They were very surprised straightforward – only to learn I was doing a course at a university in Come along to three universities were Britain.” contacted and, while two Now Chantal, who currently works in her husband’s recognised the course and medical practice, is preparing to use her newly Chantal’s work as of an approved degree to gain other employment and hopes OU Open Day exceptionally high stan- her experience will help students in other parts of dard, the other returned Europe. it saying it wasn’t good “Qualifications should be recognised in different s the Open University just excavated objects from classical times enough. countries,” she said. “We live in a European Union. It a machine for churning out in the Arts marquee; have a go at “It seemed very odd just makes sense.” Icourses, or does it have a heart gold-panning and extract DNA from and soul? Open Day, Saturday plants courtesy of the Science faculty; June 22, is your chance to find out, try out the graphics calculator and when the Walton Hall campus do the self-assessment quiz to find opens its doors to all and lays out which maths course suits you bare the inner workings of the best; and experiment with different From Russia with LINK university. operating systems, internet browsers The whole-day event, which takes and educational websites for children place in and out of doors, is a family- in the Technology Faculty’s internet friendly mix of entertainment, intel- cafe. lectual stimulation and information The latest on the mission to Mars about all aspects of the OU, from project, Beagle 2, will be on display and research and study opportunities to the BBC production centre will be open services for students. It’s also a great to give an insight into the making of opportunity to meet fellow students – OU TV programmes. for the 140,000 students now using And there’s a chance to join a the FirstClass conferencing system, workshop on getting the most from it may be the chance to put a face to FirstClass. what was just a name on a computer A programme of more than 20 screen. lectures runs throughout the day, with If you’re not sure what course to do contributions from all faculties. next or what is available, the Student Entertainment highlights include a Services team from the OU in the brass band and folk group from South will be on hand all day in the Switzerland; Muddles children’s Berrill Coffee Shop to talk to you, along theatre open air performance of with staff from the faculties, and edu- A Midsummer Night’s Dream; cational and careers advisors. You can morris and Scottish country dancing; also find out about new technology for the Mahogany Hall Jazzmen and, for supporting students from the Student those making an evening of it, a Services Planning Office. And you can juggling workshop and a Caribbean hear new Open University Students Dance Band and disco. There’s lots Association President Alison Ryan for children, including face-painting, talking about OUSA’s role in the circus skills, Postman Pat and a range university in the Old Lecture Theatre of other activities organised by A decade of partnership Latvia and the Ukraine – and to regional office at Oxford where at 2.15pm. individual university departments. was the toast when the look forward. they heard presentations on From 11am to 5pm displays from all A variety of refreshments is avail- OU’s Russian partners, LINK, Their two-day programme student recruitment, student university faculties and departments able and bars are open all day. visited the UK in May. also included a chance to hear support and the differences will be open, and the emphasis is on Overnight camping facilities are avail- The aim of the 27-strong Professor Rob Paton talking about between Russian and UK tutoring. fun as well as information. So as well able but must be pre-booked, email delegation (pictured above) was the impact of management educa- Over the 10 years LINK has as sampling courses and resources [email protected] or phone both to celebrate 10 years of deliv- tion on the transitional economies delivered OUBS programmes at you can enjoy opportunities for hands- 01908 65399. More details including ering Open University Business of Central and Eastern Europe, more than 90 study centres across on exploration in all the disciplines: full programme on the Open Day web- School courses throughout Russia, plus a visit to the OU in the South eight time zones. play musical instruments and handle site at: www.open.ac.uk/open-day 4 Sesame June/July 2002 Issue 209 News Refo r m is Op e n i n g s way for war d , at t ra c t s awar d tu to r s hear The OU’s Openings pro- gramme has won a national tudents need recognition of achievements award for its work in attract- they demonstrate throughout their OU study in ing more learners, particular- areas such as self-direction, action planning, ly those with low educational creativity and networking. qualifications, into higher SThat’s the view of Peter Knight, Director of the Centre for education. Outcomes-Based Education – which grew out of the Vocational The programme has attracted Qualifications Centre. nearly 10,000 learners in 16 Speaking to an audience of course teams and tutors at a months, studying one of five short, recent Learning and Teaching Day, Peter argued that changes pre-degree level courses in arts, in the employment market mean students are far more likely social science, maths, science or to need evidence of creativity, independence and skill at technology. making a presentation than they are to need proof that they Part of the OU’s strategy to can write essays or solve routine problems. Language learners gathered in Cambridge recently to receive certificates celebrating their achievement. The widen participation in higher edu- Throughout their OU careers students notch up ‘fabulous 35 students from the East of England had all gained a Diploma in French, German or Spanish. Said staff tutor cation, Openings offers free places achievements’, he said and the university needs to look at ways Lina Adinolfi: “To know another language is a means of appreciating difference, for extending our vision and for lone parents, students with dis- of helping them identify and supply evidence of these – whether understanding.” abilities, students from ethnic for work, for going into postgraduate education, or simply ‘for minority groups and those on state life’.