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’. He said: “Often students don’t realise what they have benefits. learned. We need to ensure that programmes are designed to The New Learning Oppor- give them a chance to gain evidence of the achievements in Effects of debt uncovered tunities award was one of ten these areas – which are extremely marketable.” presented by the National Institute He also argued for ‘assessment reform’, which was more HOW much does the fear of debt Education Research and Information of Adult Continuing Education important than ever in view of the national drive to bring more influence which courses students (CHERI), which is trying to discover (NIACE). Openings won the “pro- people into higher education. Said Peter: “Many people get test take? Does the thought of owing whether being in the red – and working to gression onto HE category. anxiety. Impending assessments can encourage people to drop money influence whether they study pay their way out of it – have an effect on Universities UK, which out and poor assessment results can dishearten. There is some full- or part-time? And where they current students’ academic performance. sponsored the OU’s award, said: evidence that people from groups less used to higher “The Openings programme at the study? Project manager Brenda Little, John education are more vulnerable to test anxiety. Assessment Brennan and research assistant Alejandro OU provides a valuable example reform is needed, partly to ease test stress, but also to steer These are just some of the questions of the imaginative projects that are being asked in an OU-based survey to Duaso are also trying to determine learners towards slow and complex learning achievements.” whether, as a result, students with being developed so that a wider find out the impact of debt on higher edu- range of adult learners can What are your views on recognition for key skills and assess- particular socio-economic characteristics ment methods? Let S e s a m e know... send any comments to: cation in the UK. The study, commissioned benefit from the opportunities are inclined to follow particular methods S e s a m e, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, by Universities UK, is being conducted by which today’s higher education MK7 6AA or email: [email protected] the OU’s London-based Centre for Higher of study. system has to offer.” Update Women ALs beat gender barrie r s

By Malini Sen was commissioned by the UK’s ATHENA Project and the OU as part of a national drive to improve the recruitment, retention art-time employment as an OU and progression of women in science, engi- Associate Lecturer and the profes- neering and technology in HE careers. Psional development offered in that The report’s findings demonstrate how the role have helped to overcome some of the OU, due to its flexible employment career barriers met by women in higher patterns, restores women’s confidence in their education. abilities, and assists in actively developing That is one of the findings of a major their careers. national report produced for the UK’s ATHENA project commissioned to look into the problem routes of retaining women staff in higher education. Gender barriers are particularly acute within science and technology academic For many women this part-time AL work has careers: evident in the workplace directly been a way to remain in HE while taking a through pay and conditions and indirectly career break or has been a route to (re-) through constraints imposed on women by the enter conventional HE careers. “An obvious commitments of primary childcare, including attraction of AL work for many women, the detrimental impact of career breaks. particularly those with childcare respon- sibilities, is the flexibility the hours offer and the fact that most of the work is based Teams rise to challenge leaky pipeline at home,” said Barbara Hodgson from the Institute of Educational Technology. HERE’S your starter for ten – which higher education institution won both the student According to the report, the Open University “Role-based training, professional and per- and staff trophies at a recent University Challenge competition? ‘mops up’ women who have been siphoned off sonal development is offered so that ALs can OU representatives on the Isle of Man scooped top prizes in both categories in a contest which from higher education careers through the so- develop as higher education teachers,” she featured teams from all seven HE institutions on the island. called ‘leaky pipeline’. added. Tutor counsellors Bob Smith (social sciences), Margaret Burrows (maths) and Jill Quirk “The ‘pipeline’ approach has been used fre- “A challenge for HE institutions – if they are (humanities) and Isle of Man OUSA chair Claire Cooper are pictured above (right to left) on quently to provide an analogy to the supply of serious about increasing the number of women their way to claiming the staff prize at the Douglas event, which was covered by Manx female scientists. However, the multiple hurdles they employ in science, engineering and newspapers and the local radio station. that women have to face results in a leak through technology – is to devise strategies to retain The student section saw an all-OU final, with Tim Kenyon, graduate Sue Peers and husband the pipeline rather than a smooth flow down or re-employ these women,” said Elizabeth. and wife Karl and Nicki Gaskell defeating David Allwood, Donald Brown, Donald Quick and his an ever-narrowing pipeline,” said Elizabeth The full report is available on the IET (non-student) wife Mavis. Whitelegg from the Centre for Science Education. research website: h t t p : / / i e t . o p e n . a c . u k / The other OU student team could raise only three players, but that didn’t stop Vicky Hurst, The Associate Lecturers in Science Report research/projects/index.cfm John Walmsley and Phil Older claiming the third spot in the preliminary round. Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 5 News Ha ve your say at News in brief Lottery cash boost LO T T E R Y cash will help researchers discover how online learn- Ea r th Summit ing can help disadvantaged groups take part in education. The Open University in the East of England and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education joined forces to secure n individual can’t change the world alone, but the them formulate their projects with a coherent voice.” a grant of £396,199 from the Community Fund for a three year OU is launching a website to give voice to people The chance for people across the world to ‘meet’ online and study into ‘Overcoming Social Exclusion through Online around the globe who want to influence the join debates on topics such as emergency aid, fair trade, Learning’ . UN’s World Summit for Sustainable Development. initiatives for peace and schools for sustainability is ‘too AWhen world leaders and an expected 60,000 delegates meet important an opportunity to miss’, given our failure to arrest in Johannesburg in late August to negotiate a global climate change and the increase in poverty since Rio, he added. plan of action, the agenda may have been shaped by online dis- “This is a great example of active democracy. It can present Fl e xible rou t e to top cussion on the ‘Earth Summit for All’ website created by OU the views of a schoolboy in China alongside those of the house- NINETY per cent of students who achieved an MBA with the Technology Senior Lecturer Gary Alexander (h t t p : / / e a r t h wife in Manchester or the academic in Milton Keynes. OU this year reported at least one work-based promotion summit.open.ac.uk). Other features of the OU-funded project include software during or on completion of their studies. “Earth Summit for All is an educational web portal to enable allowing contributors to vote on issues and rate the quality of More than 1,500 people from 17 countries completed the general public to participate in and learn about the Jo’burg comments. the course with the University’s Business School, which summit – the first one of the internet era,” explained Gary. Said Vice-Chancellor Professor Brenda Gourley: “We cannot attracted 40 per cent of all distance-learning MBA students. Unlike the 1992 Rio Summit where the emphasis was on all be at the World Summit. A great many of us, however, can More than 60 per cent of those who graduated were treaties between governments, the outcomes of the Johannes- participate in discussion and polling that will help develop sponsored by their employers. OUBS Dean Roland Kaye said: burg event will include partnership projects bringing together proposals for the Summit to implement. “Students come to us because we offer a flexible route to a top, the non-governmental interest groups. “The internet gives us a really powerful tool to co-ordinate accredited management qualification.” Said Gary: “Most of the delegates will come from ideas and present a case from a much broader base. It organisations like development agencies, trade unions and is a forum for expressing views, sharing information and environmental groups. The Earth Summit for All site can help playing a part in world affairs.” New OUBS course A COURSE to develop leadership skills in the workplace is to be launched nationwide by the Open University Business School. Leading For Results aims to “develop individuals into leaders who can create a cohesive, motivated, well-managed Awards honour students’ efforts and well-led workforce where all employees are striving for the same ends”. A student who was awarded her difficult personal circumstances. tumour and surgery, says her BSc (Hons) Pilot schemes encouraged 60 staff at the Newcastle City degree as she lay in a coma has been “My studies helped me enormously,” in Social Sciences has given her enor- Health Trust and the 3Ns Mental Health Trust to relate theo- honoured with a special OU award. said June. “They really kept me going. It mous confidence in all aspects of her life. ry and concepts of the course to aspects of their own job and June Davies was days away from the was either that or flounder in self-pity “The course itself helped me to under- organisation. Students reported that the 12-16 week part-time deadline for her final dissertation when and I certainly didn’t want to do that. stand people’s reactions to me, and I course left them better able to motivate staff, gave them more she was rushed into intensive care with “There are thousands of OU students learned that the more confident I was, confidence and taught them how to achieve objectives. a life-threatening, flesh-eating disease – with thousands of stories,” she says. “I and the more in control of my life I David Hicks, 3Ns’ head of education and training, said: having already battled breast cancer and have a husband who has supported me appeared to be, the more they would see “There was a huge learning curve. People adopted new styles skin cancer during her studies. every step of the way. What about single me just as a person and the less they of working and feel more comfortable in their job.” Knowing how hard she’d worked for mothers who look after their children, would notice my disfigurement. For more details, contact Nicci Carr at the OUBS Corporate her BA (Hons) Humanities, her husband have to go out to work and are still able “But I have really felt, while I have been Development Unit on 01908 659196. John asked the OU if assessors would to do a degree? I take my hat off to achieving my degree, a great boost in my accept her 6,000-word draft and her notes them. They make my efforts pale into general self-confidence and self-belief – instead of a finished TMA. insignificance.” it’s had a really positive effect.” La n g u a g e winner They did, she earned her degree Fellow recipient Ann Selley hopes A further Sir John Daniel Award, LITERATURE student Michelle Allan has been awarded this and now 68-year-old June from Torquay her story will encourage people to presented to the person who attained year’s Sue Roseveare prize for her ‘immensely perceptive is the recipient of one of the annual look beyond someone’s disability. The the highest marks in the online course responses to language’ and essays that ‘are a real pleasure to Sir John Daniel Awards, set up in 2001 planning department office manager at T171 You, your computer and the net, read’. to acknowledge the special efforts Shropshire County Council, who has a was won by Cardiff student Catherine The prize is awarded annually in the West Midlands region OU students make in their studies in facial disfigurement as a result of a Kennedy. in memory of Sue, who was an inspirational tutor on arts foun- dation courses until her death in 1991. Many former students contributed to help fund the prize, given to the arts foundation student showing the most promise in writing about literature. Sh a ke s p e a r e Misplaced in OUSA A P O L O G I E S to Amanda Ryan, Assistant Registrar (Examinations Operations), whom we wrongly placed in OUSA at summer in our story ‘OUSA member card identifies you in exams’ (Sesame 208). sch o o l s Study guide success HI G H street book store Waterstones have named the OU’s Th e Good Study Guide in its top 500 titles. The accolade means Students Paul Gladwin and Sarah Knight are once again the book will feature prominently in each of Waterstones’ bringing their distinctive version of Shakespeare to this 200 bookshops. It also confirms the experience of suppliers summer’s residential schools. Open University Worldwide, for whom the Good Study Guide The duo, who when they are not studying with the OU run series has been its bestseller, both through its web shop and The Principal Theatre Company, were one of the highlights telephone sales. of last year’s AA306 S h a k e s p e a r e school with workshops demonstrating how actors and directors get to grips with roles and interpretation. Opening your Eyes This year they will be bringing animated sessions on Tw e l f t h N i g h t and M a c b e t h into OU classrooms, giving participants C A T C H up on news of OU graduates, latest research, and the chance to contribute their ideas and see them translated a range of special offers exclusively for the university into action. community, in the latest Open Eye magazine. Produced for For those not attending the Shakespeare residential schools the university’s alumni, the magazine is also available free of it is still possible to catch the action when Principal takes charge to interested students. Write or ring for your copy to: Twelfth Night to the grounds of Grovelands House at the Alumni Relations Office, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton North London Priory Hospital for a spectacular open air Keynes MK14 7AJ. Tel +44 (0) 1908 653815. performance. The performances run from July 25 - August 10 with half price previews on July 23-24. Said Paul: “Everyone knows this is the Queen’s Jubilee Year See Se s a m e on l i n e th but not many people realise this is also Twelfth Night’s 400 M O R E of your favourite features, plus the latest news anniversary. Our production is set in the rip-roaring 1920s and views appear on S e s a m e’s website: w w w . o p e n . and incorporates plenty of comedy, song and dance.” a c . u k / s e s a m e – which aims to keep you up to date between Box office Tel: 020 8807 6680, or visit: w w w . p r i n c i p a l - issues. You can also click on the site if you prefer to read your theatre.org.uk . Sesame online. 6 Sesame June/July 2002 Issue 209 Focus Help for those with a

A forum to discuss development and enviro n- ment issues is the aim of the Open University hidden disadvan ta g e Development and Environment Society. The club also provides a place for students to share any study difficulties. Trips are a popular part By Peter Taylor-Whiffen of the programme and the club always wel- comes new members and ideas for events. B e l o w, club member Janet Sharp, re p o rts on sylexia is defined somewhat OUDES’ latest study tour – to South India in blithely by the Oxford English January. DD i c t i o n a r y as ‘abnormal difficulty in reading and spelling’. To those who have it, it can mean ed by two OU tutors, we were a group with widely short-term memory weakness, an ranging interests: from development management, inability to be organised, a lack of fine Lthe environment, health care, education and culture motor skills and so much trouble right through to photography and birdwatching. We putting down or deciphering written learned a great deal from each other’s areas of words or numbers that tasks others expertise, and the various enthusiasms were infectious. take for granted can take hour We began at Chennai, formerly Madras, in the state of Tamil upon frustrated hour of intense Nadu, where on the day of arrival, wrestling with jet lag and concentration. bewildering first impressions, we held intense intellectual dis- Which means any OU student with cussions with a society of Indian graduates from British even mild dyslexia has to put in enormous universities. Next morning some of the group travelled for an extra effort for the physical task of overnight visit to an integrated rural development project, some studying – even before trying to under- on a field visit to a village environmental project, while others stand the concepts and ideas behind their visited a village project undertaken by members of Chennai’s course material. They go through an St Andrew’s Church. The day was rounded off by a lively extraordinary struggle to get their evening discussion with local novelist Shreekumar Varma. degree. This hectic pace set the tone for the following days. At “There are a wide range of aspects you Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka, we found a planned and could link to dyslexia,” says OU Assistant ordered city, its smart buildings, swept streets and flowered boule- Director R04 and convenor of the OU vards a contrast to the rubbish strewn Chennai. India’s growing Dyslexia Working Group, Vicki Goodwin, IT industry is based here, and we found many signs of prosper- who has worked in the field for more than ity, not least in the ultra modern technology park where we vis- 12 years. “Everybody displays some ited a call centre servicing US companies. However, there are of these. Some of us are clumsier than stark contrasts in Karnataka between the haves and the have- average, others can’t remember lists of nots, with large city slums and only 30 per cent literacy statewide. letters or numbers like a cash card PIN, Kerala, we discovered, provided yet another of the multitude and many people have difficulty spelling. of surprising contrasts we encountered throughout our trip. On their own, none of these makes us With an impressive 97 per cent literacy rate, and much less dyslexic. However, if you display a obvious poverty and inequality, its success is linked to a suc- considerable number of indicators, cession of democratically elected communist and left-wing State you are probably dyslexic or severely governments, building on an enlightened matrilineal tradition dyslexic, which can make your life of the maharajas of Travancore. However, its teetering econ- incredibly difficu l t . ” omy relies heavily on the fragile tourist industry, and we found More than 1,000 OU students have government austerity measures such as education cuts and declared dyslexia, but Vicki and her power rationing were already in place, so it is debatable colleague Bonita Thomson are convinced Vicki Goodwin (left) and Bonita Thomson whether its current success will be sustainable. there are countless others, many of whom will be suffering the problems of study in ‘wrong’ writing hand. “This exercise intelligent – and could see they were silence. automatically makes the non-dyslexic strong in other areas. But they struggled concentrate so hard on the physical act to write their ideas down and, crucially, of writing that they’re not even able pass exams. In some cases they may huge effort to focus upon what the speaker is have shown their frustration by being saying,” says Vicki. This experience disruptive in the classroom, earning them “The label can be a relief for some, mimics some of the difficulties that the label ‘trouble-maker’ – which made because it makes them realise there’s an dyslexic students may have. Their efforts learning even more difficult. explanation and they’re not ‘thick’, but are so geared to getting down the “For many, difficulties at school led to others are horrified by the dyslexia tag,” transcription of symbols, remembering limited career choices: going for the ‘safe says Bonita. “Sometimes they are not the matching of letters to sounds, that option’, careers in which they knew they aware themselves that they may be they have little memory left over to cope wouldn’t be put in certain situations dyslexic and, despite huge effort, they do with the content of whatever is being said. which would frustrate or embarrass not do themselves justice, particularly in Many – though not all – dyslexic OU them,” says Bonita. “Many who come to exams.” students have tales of how they came to the OU are very determined, given their To give yourself a little insight into the university after leaving school early experience at school.” some of the difficulties such students face, because they simply couldn’t cope with try taking down dictation with your it. They and their families knew they were Our second base in Kerala was beside the sea at Kovalam, support then to a remote tribal area to see photovoltaic cells bringing solar lighting to isolated communities. The high-tech solar The university is constantly trying to panels seemed incongruous on the palm thatched mud huts, find ways of giving better support to furnished with nothing but a few cooking pots and, in pride of Living with dyslexi a dyslexic students. There is a printed place, two low energy light bulbs. But this technology had made Dyslexia Toolkit, which is also about to a lot of difference with the opportunity to generate income It took an OU course for Jan Margetts to discover the reason she’d go on the OU website, to help students through weaving during the evenings. with strategies and encourage students My own personal highlights of the trip were the opportuni- struggled at school – she was dyslexic. Jan was attending a summer school in York as part of her psychology degree and tutors to work together. Through ties to talk to an impressive array of authors and poets, whose when her tutor identified the condition. “As you can imagine, that thrilled me on DSAs (Disabled Student Allowances) works filled in for me so much of the background and expla- the first day of a course …” students can also get help with reading nations for what we were seeing and experiencing. Meeting But the discovery helped to solve a lifetime’s mystery for Jan, who had always aids such as coloured overlays which Kamala Das, the controversial Kerala poet and writer who was thought she was, as she put it, “a bit thick” at school. “I managed to battle through enable some to read more clearly, and nominated in 1994 for the Nobel Prize in Literature, was a dif- but it was always difficult.” can ask for longer to take exams. In ferent experience. Her playful manner camouflaged her courage It was Jan’s struggle at school that had prompted her to come to the OU because addition Bonita and Vicki are currently in flouting convention by writing about feminine sexuality. The she believed she would do better if given more time to study. This year the 33- running a course to help OU staff under- most rewarding cultural experience for all, however, was on year-old from Giffnock, Glasgow will collect her OU degree. stand dyslexia. our last evening, in a garden strewn with garlands of marigolds, Jan has been an insurance clerk for 14 years and is determined her dyslexia But dyslexics still have problems with lit by clay lamps and filled with the scent of jasmine, where the will make no difference to her work – or the way her colleagues treat her. the mountain of written material that poet Ayappa Paniker gave an enchanting reading of his poems. “I don’t want anything to change at work,” she says. “Before I knew about the comes their way – right from the first I had not expected to discover so much about being a human dyslexia I used to make an excuse to read memos in my office so I could get a ruler prospectus and the registration forms. being. out to put underneath the words. I suppose I considered not being able to read Many exams still rely almost exclusive- If you would like your society to be featured properly, which is what this is, as a weakness. ly on literacy skills, which is insufferably frustrating to someone who knows all the in a future Spotlight please send details to “But I still go out of my way not to draw attention to it. I sit at my desk with my back to the wall so people can’t look over my shoulder.” answers but cannot translate those ideas [email protected] Tel: 01908 652451. into words on a page. Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 7 OU-NHS partnership Part n e r ship is pre s c ri p tion for he a l t hy future By Jane Matthews

ost hospitals and health centres cases more than staff nurses who are tied up are built of concrete. But it’s the with other things, but in the past we have not ‘concrete ceiling’, which most been given the opportunity to progress.” concerns a number of health Family circumstances prevented colleague Mtrusts and their Open University partners. Grant Baker from progressing within the Just a few months after nursing’s profes- Mental Health Crisis Resolution Team, where sional body gave its approval, a handful of he is an outreach worker. “Working full-time healthcare assistants and NHS support with a family to support the other options like workers opened the page of their first university or college were not open to me. K100 Understanding health and social care “I really enjoy the work I do but I can’t go textbook – the first step on a journey which any further until I’m qualified.” will enable them to practice as registered nurses under the pre-registration nursing Leland Graham entered the health ser- programme. vice only seven years ago, after careers in mechanical engineering and transport At Oxleas NHS Trust in South London, where management. He says: “Nursing never 15 mental health support workers are now came into my mind when I was at school working towards nurse registration with the but I don’t think, at 16, I would have been OU, Head of Nursing Practice Geoff Brennann mature enough. I am finding the course says he could have filled the places twice over. really interesting and it is helping me “The great thing for me is we are now able understand the system and the impor- to take someone right through to being a nurse tance of inter-disciplinary care teams. in the Trust. These are people who are already doing very high level work. They have been in The OU’s flexibility is a key feature of the the service for a long time doing unglamorous programme, which students will normally work. They are workers who deliver good complete in four years. It is also a chance for nursing care. What we are doing is giving them the university to revisit its mission, according a stepladder.” to programme director Viv Martin: “This is Added Geoff: “In the past there has been not allowing access to higher education and a so much a glass ceiling as a concrete ceiling.” professional qualification through a new route to adults who wouldn’t have been able to access Vicky King has been working as a health it before. If you look at the social work Healthcare assistant Vicky King is looking forward to achieving nurse registration care assistant for almost 20 years. She diploma and how that has transformed says: “In those days you were looked training you can see the potential of this go abroad to recruit, and others saying what growing in confidence. “I have seen them down on. I couldn’t train as a nurse programme for widening participation. more can we do for health care assistants. The develop from being quite quiet to being eager because I didn’t have the qualific a t i o n s “It is a watershed for nurse education.” idea of growing your own is what has grabbed to learn. It’s wonderful that they can actually and because of my family circumstances, Another significant element for all partners people.” begin to link theory and practice, and not just but I always felt my potential wasn’t being in the venture is the amount of support in their own specialism because they bring used. Chris West left school to train as a such a wide range of backgrounds to the “I’m being paid to do this so I’m going available in the workplace. Geoff Brennann points out: “It’s a very big secretary. “That was what you did when course. to grasp the opportunity with both hands. I was growing up but I always wanted to Already my nursing practice has changed. jump for many mature students from a job to “The other thing is they have had to think be a nurse. The course is a real challenge about themselves having spent so many years In the past I would speak my mind. becoming a faceless student in a university. but it is giving me real insight. It makes looking after other people – and they are now I know how to challenge things to Here they remain in their work area with their you think about nursing and healthcare get positive results.” friends and colleagues who are interested in and realise that things are not black and beginning to feel good about that.” what happens to them so they have an in-built white. There’s so much more to it. My The programme is in its early days For each of the 15 the fabric of that barrier support mechanism.” older son is doing his A levels so there’s involving only staff from the South London and is different. John Blovey left school with no Not only are the courses being funded lots of banter about who’s doing their Maudsley and South Bromley Hospital Trusts. q u a l i fications and worked in a wide range of through the South East London Workforce homework and lots of support. The But there are plans developing all over the UK jobs before, he says, “I found my niche in Development Confederation, the students are qualified nurses are really supportive.” for organisations to work in partnership with mental health care; being part of helping also granted study leave and time to attend the OU. Viv said: “Organisations are linking people to interact with the community in the tutorials. “The whole idea is that the Interestingly, while the ultimate goal of with us to design development programmes for way most of us take for granted is brilliant.” employer is a partner in delivery,” says Viv. achieving registration looms large for some of groups of employees to develop healthcare He recognises the substantial lifeskills he “What we at the OU can bring is our expe- the students, Geoff Brennann homes in on that assistants and others to become registered can bring to his work, but was blocked in his rience of supported open learning, enabling notion of growth. “This isn’t about registration nurses. ambition of becoming a registered mental adults to grow and develop, which may be one but about giving people what they need where “At the moment, the programme is only health nurse by entry requirements. “We do a way of addressing the recruitment crisis in they need it; giving students and workers the available to employees in organisations that lot of key working with the clients, in some nursing. You have got some trusts having to confidence to know they are doing a good job become sponsoring partners – but there is no for the service users. harm in asking your organisation to find out “I think the health service has been ‘over- more if you think it would work for you!” initiatived’. What we require is people coming All enquiries to: Betty Morris, Information to us and saying what do you need, which is Assistant, School of Health and Social Welfare, what the OU has done here.” The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA. Tutor Esther Kusi-Mesah’s observations T e l : 01908 653743, fax: 01908 654124, email: of her group provide evidence that they are [email protected] Boost for Scots NHS Managers Two hundred health study the Professional necessary skills to improve managers in Scotland Ce r t i fi cate in Management. patient care in Scotland.” are taking part in a pro- “In line with our commit- “We are excited by this fessional development ment to ensuring all NHS new initiative and see this scheme run by the Open staff continue to learn and as a template that can be develop their skills, this is used by other regional University Business an important new opportu- health authorities to devel- School with the Scot- nity for managers,” says op NHS managers,” said tish Executive Health Elizabeth Kelly, head of the Claire Newbould, OUBS Department. Strategic Change Unit. Development Manager. Managers across the whole “We consider lifelong “The programme is very of Scotland are being offered learning to be an essential practical and skills 100 per cent bursaries by way to equip NHS staff with acquired during the course the Department’s Strategic the right knowledge and can be put into action at Change Unit and OUBS to provide them with the work immediately.” Esther Kusi-Mesah (back row, left) and Geoff Brennann (front row, left) with some of the Oxleas students 8 Sesame June/July 2002 Issue 209 OUSA Conference 2002 Pri o r ities for OU S A unvei l e d

lison Ryan, a staff nurse from north-east Scotland, was elected President of OUSA, the largest student union in the country, at the annual OUSA Conference Ain April. Previously Deputy President, Alison joined OUSA in 1985 as a branch committee member and has held a wide range of posts at branch, executive and cen- tral committee level. She talks to Se s a m e about the importance of increasing student participation in OUSA, and what she hopes to achieve during her two years in office.

So, how many members has OUSA got? Well, out of around 200,000 Open University students, something like ten have chosen to opt out. Everyone else is a member, whether they know it or not. A lot of them may not know it. There has been more awareness since the OU started asking students for photo ID. Many don’t realise the discounts that are available to them. It is difficult for us to publicise these because they vary from region to region – in Europe, for example, with an OUSA card you can walk into places like museums for virtually nothing. In the UK it depends on the individual venue or shop – the Burton group gives discount but not if the shop is within Debenhams because Debenhams doesn’t. Some of the discount is well worth having – I can get a £34 seat at the Edinburgh Playhouse for £9 for a matinee performance. How are you setting about encouraging members to participate in OUSA? FirstClass is important, particularly for those in remote areas who may be unwilling or unable Alison Ryan, newly-elected president of OUSA to drive for an hour and a half to a branch meeting. We have seen that more people are contributing to OUSA’s conferences on FirstClass. Since we put the branch conferences into want to take responsibility for the administration. the regional conferences window the number of branch conferences has gone up from 40 to 182. Branch regeneration is important because the more members we have out there, the The only problem is that, for technical reasons, we haven’t been able to keep up with requests more activities we can do, and the more representative we are. It can be done. There were no from people wanting to have access to conferences and wanting to start new branch branches in London last year; now following a big initiative we have five. conferences. But we are doing our best. Apart from this, we are making changes in the way we are organising the branch structure, What are the main issues you will be taking up with the university on behalf of students? which we are hoping will increase participation. A lot of issues where we have made progress in the last couple of years. For example the appeals procedure against academic decisions, especially exam results. We have made some What are your other priorities for the next two years? headway but there is still some way to go. We cannot yet challenge exam marks. Getting better training for our activists. We are good at training residential school reps and No t i fi cation of students when faculties are changing the courses required for a named degree those who sit on university committees but regional and branch training is very, very variable. is still too slow. The history degree has been a particular problem. We understand why this has A lot of people won’t stand for an officer’s post in their branch because they don’t know what it to happen, so that OU students get as academically credible a degree as possible, but students entails. It’s basic stuff like how to chair a meeting, filling in finance forms, what a secretary is need to be told quickly if the course they are studying no longer counts towards a particular supposed to do. A lot of branches folded because people were happy to come along, but did not named degree, so they can decide what to do. What is your OU background? I started studying with the OU in 1984. I wanted a degree – any degree – to go into nurse teaching. My academic background up to then was mostly science. I started on the arts foundation course, and was going to go on to do philosophy but as there was no second-level philosophy course I did Fifth century Athens and the course in 16th century history instead, Bu s i n e s s and got hooked on history and classics. So I graduated last year with Honours in Humanities with History and Classical Studies. Now I am doing any OU course that looks interesting to me. Last year I did Latin, this year I am doing one of the science short courses, S191 Food and health: a chemical story – it is very School award useful for my work as it looks at nutrition and drug interaction. And what do you do for a living? I’m a staff nurse and team leader caring for the elderly in a very small hospital in Monifeith, near Dundee. I work 150 hours a month but they are flexible which helps me to fit in OUSA winners business. What motivates you to work for OUSA in addition to all the other things you have to do? OUSA is important because it is about students participating in the university; getting the university to give us the best education it possibly can. It is about influencing what is produced. I think we have more influence than other student unions – we can point to successes like named degrees. V-C urges students to aim for integ rit y

Open University students can each haves and have-nots worldwide, are some of make a contribution towards finding the the consequences of our actions with which we solutions which are so desperately are now faced, she said. needed at this time in history, according The solutions will require making active to Vice-Chancellor Brenda Gourley. choices, including choosing to share, choices In a rousing speech to OUSA Conference which need to be made on moral or ethical based on the conference theme Valuing grounds, she said. Personal integrity and the Diversity, Acting in Unity, the new V-C said ability to act in unity with others are needed, Professor Derek Pugh (centre) with the award winners that there is both a greater awareness of she said. human diversity, and a greater need for dia- “To you, our students, I make a plea that you and don’t believe I would ever have had The top-performing students from the logue and concerted action, than ever before. aim for integrity. If you can find that in Business School’s Professional the confidence to move on if it hadn’t been “Globalisation, migration, integration, com- yourselves and your work, you will be making Ce r t i fi cate in Management programme for this course. In my current role I munication and travel are bringing different a great contribution to the integrity of the have been recognised with this year’s can see that people listen to me and races, cultures and ethnicities into ever planet and its healing. For integrity means that Derek Pugh awards. respect me because of the qualification I closer contact with each other,” she said. you cannot discern greed, despoliation or Overall winner was Jenny Mounter, a have.” “People can and should take pride in their corruption without doing something about project manager for CGNU in Norwich, Runners-up were Andrew Simpson from particular faith or heritage. But we can them. It means that you cannot live without a who said: “Studying has had a massive Stapleford in Nottingham, Duncan Gowing cherish what we are, without hating what we sense of civic duty and commitment because effect on my career development. I had from Coventry and Sarah Hackett from St are not.” you will have the discernment to see that been at my previous company for 10 years Peter Port on Guernsey. Enmity and conflict, environmental degra- you are not separate from what ails our dation and the growth of inequality between public life.” Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 9 Study support All you want to kn o w – online

It’s great having somewhere to go for answers on every aspect of OU study – so long as you know where to look. Which is why the team behind the Learner’s Guide to The Open University has launched a campaign to help students discover just how much advice, guidance and support is available from their desktop. Se s a m e asked prospective student Peter Tay l o r- W h i ff e n to see what’s on offer online. And, below, takes a look at developments in the Caree r s section of the Learner’s Guide.

y sister-in-law achieved her BSc it seems like that – which is a plus if you know finding time to study. It didn’t tell me how often everything – and in the unlikely event you have with the OU last year. My dad what you want, but a minus if you don’t. In that I’d say “I’ll be down in a minute” and get shout- a query that isn’t answered, of course it’s full Mcompletes his BA at the end of 2002 case the Guide helps you to identify the types ed at for leaving my tea to get cold, but I guess of email options. and my brother is two years away from of things you’re interested in by giving you that’s down to the individual. As for me, I can’t wait to get started and am earning his Masters. broad subject headings. And once you click on Now I’m not particularly fussed about looking forward to the day when, as my course So let’s just say it was time I finally made a particular category, it can steer you towards having letters after my name – excepting, of description promises, I’ll be able to ‘get by in actions speak louder than my avowals that one the type of course that not only would suit you course, that as so many other members of the a German-speaking country’. Which means the day, yes, I’d also get round to doing a degree. but also – hey, get this – you might even enjoy. family have acquired them, I’ve become the odd Learner’s Guide has helped me to begin my I logged on the OU website, and from there to I thought I’d enjoy German. I think it will be one out. But if I was after a particular qualifi- degree – and I no longer have to make conver- the Learner’s Guide, with only a vague idea useful in the coming euro-financed years and cation – say for my work – the Learner’s Guide sation by leaving my sunglasses in the toilet. of what I wanted to study. I enjoyed it at school. Another great thing about also offers advice on selecting the right option, ● This site was reviewed by a prospective I’d already ruled out courses on linear this Learner’s Guide is that it doesn’t patro- and even helps you to build, or rebuild, a career student, but if you’re a continuing or statistical modelling and artificial intelligence nise you. I remember only one phrase of around your degree. returning student you’ll also find plenty of for technology. If I didn’t understand even the German since leaving school (“Ich habe meine This is splendidly easy to follow and the helpful information. You can find the site at: names of the courses I couldn’t hope to get past Sonnenbrillen in die Toiletten gelassen” which enormous range of OU study options is set out w w w . o p e n . a c . u k / l e a r n e r s - g u i d e . In our next the first week. But the Learner’s Guide gave me has, frankly, been of limited use) so I took the in a supremely orderly, easy-to-follow network. edition we’ll be reviewing the Learning Skills area co n fi dence that maybe there was something here Guide’s advice to look at Level 1 studies. The You can check out queries (the frequently of the Learner’s Guide. for me after all – and crucially, I could handle it. information is clear and concise and I soon asked questions section is invaluable) and If you want to talk to members of the Le a r n e r ’ s Clicking on “course choices” and then knew the course I wanted. So far, so easy. I glean all the information you need to get you Gu i d e team, they will be at Open Day on June 22 “selecting courses” helped me realise two was encouraged. going. The huge range of topics includes (Berrill Building concourse). Amongst other things, things: 1) How straightforward and well But mein Gott, I have a living to earn. How “preparing for study”, “how much will it cost”, the team will be asking students what it is like laid out the site is, and 2) Just how many on earth am I going to fit all the study in? No “what’s it like to study alone” and “I left my being an OU student, and recording some of courses there are. About a million. problem. The G u i d e even helped me to work wife for a TMA”. Actually I made that last those comments on video (in collaboration with Well all right then, maybe not a million, but that out, in an area of the site devoted to one up, but you get the picture. This site has the BBC). Choice advice Get on right career track for finding you r ow to choose the right OU relevance of their courses to course to match your career particular careers. Or they say ‘I’m Hplans is among a range of new interested in this career and want ne xt course services available on a revamped to know which OU courses are careers website. relevant,” explained Ellen Jones, Tried the Learner’s Guide and still not sure which As well as showing how courses link to project officer, National Careers course to choose? Ormond Simpson, Director of the OU’s Team. particular careers the site enables Centre for Educational Guidance and Student Support, students and enquirers to go back “We are interested in helping several steps if they are uncertain which students make informed decisions has these further tips… career to choose – and work through about their future steps, whether they Choosing a course that’s not right for you can cause prob- exercises which use aptitudes and are at the start or end of their OU lems later on. So try to find out as much as you can about a interests to suggest future directions. career.” possible course from various perspectives before signing on. Other new features include: The careers website is available from ● Information on careers most-asked the Learner’s Guide area on the Can I find out what students who’ve already taken my about by OU students such as teaching, internet which means all its features proposed course think of it? programming and psychology, together – including information and advice Yes, go to: w w w . o p e n . a c . u k / c o u r s e v i e w s for their with details of relevant courses; on CVs, application forms and comments. ● Overviews of careers available in a letters, interviews, and what to do What can tutors tell me about my proposed course before I range of broad occupational areas such if you’re not successful – are start? as finance, environment and information available to enquirers as well as Again, go to w w w . o p e n . a c . u k / c o u r s e v i e w s to see their technology; students and graduates. ● views on courses they teach. If you haven’t got internet Sections for those applying in Ireland, access you can ask your region for a paper copy of student Scotland or Wales; resource comments and tutor views for a particular course. ● An online library featuring most OU careers service publications including Can I talk with other students before deciding? the Career planning and job seeking Ellen promised there will be If you use FirstClass you can try the FirstClass Course resources pack; What OU Graduates more additions to the website in Choice Fair conference (in the information centre). You’ll can do: Destinations and qualifications; future. But it is intended to comple- also find other useful information there about possible and Career resources for disabled ment not replace careers services future courses coming up in 2004 and beyond. students; offered by regional centres. She ● said: “The idea is that people can Can I get a look at course materials before I start? Links to a range of other careers sites Yes. Your regional centre will have arrangements to and services. use the website as a resource to work through themselves. If there allow you to do that. If you can’t get there, or to a local are other things people would like course choice meeting some regions have taster packs for relevance to see we would love to hear their some courses which they can lend you. Some courses, feedback through their regional particularly maths, science and languages, also have “The idea of developing the OU Study centres.” diagnostic materials you can request. and Your Career area within the site was w w w . o p e n . a c . u k / l e a r n e r s - Above all, don’t hesitate to contact your region for advice. that students often ask about the guide/careers They’ll be happy to help you in any way they can. Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 10 Holidays June – Octob e r , 3 nights fr om £127 Walk in un s p o i l t Co rf u fr om £329

xplore unspoilt Corfu Our holiday includes two escort- overlooking the tiny bays of with escorted walks ed walks (approx. four hours clear blue sea. Eand included excur- each), exploring villages, A Corfu shopping trip is also sions. The resort has always monasteries, a working bakery included in the price. The GGu u e e rn rn s s e e yy IslandIsland and the fantastic views of off- unique beauty of Corfu town welcomed its British visitors shore islands and the forbid- owes much to the mixture of and is famed for friendli- ding coastline of Albania across architectural styles left behind ness, scenery and climate. the Ionian Sea. You will walk by the Byzantines, Venetians, HHo o p p p p e e r r This holiday is offered exclu- along ancient donkey tracks Russians, French, Italian and sively to readers of Se s a m e through olive groves from Arillas Br i t i s h . for June to October 2002. through San Stephanos, Your accommodation in uernsey and its neighbouring islands Weymouth, based on travel May 30-June 26 - The road to Arillas on the Magoulades and Kavadades. Arillas is in privately owned make an ideal choice for a romantic £185; June 27-Aug 28 - £199; Aug 29-Sept 14 north-west coast wanders Also included is a full day apartments of the highest summer or autumn break and with - £189; Sept 15-30 - £169; Oct 1-31 - £127. through peaceful hillside vil- coach excursion visiting many quality, located in quieter areas G lages far from the tourist main- of the famous resorts including not more than 10 minutes’ our Island-Hopper offer you can enjoy a fly- Travel on Fri/Sat costs an extra £5 o n e - w a y , stream before descending into Kouloura and Kalami where the walk from the beach. drive or sea-drive holiday of three nights or except July 12-Sept 1 when an extra £10 one-way. olive groves and pine trees Durrell family lived and Gerald For a free colour brochure of more from just £127, saving up to 25 per By air from Southampton (with free airport car down to the clear blue sea. was inspired to write My fami - the apartments and the resort, cent on brochure prices. parking), based on 3 nights starting Wednesdays: It’s a chance to step off the ly and other animals. or to book, just telephone Our special deal with Channel Islands Up to May 29 - £199; May 30-Aug 28 - £235; Aug beaten track into unspoilt vil- No holiday to Corfu is com- Travelsmith LTD (ABTA V1290/ specialist Travelsmith includes return travel by 29-Sept 14 – £239; Sept 15-30 - £219; Oct 1- lages, pick your own oranges plete without visiting Paleo- ATOL 1917) on 01621 784666 air from selected UK airports or by sea via fast 31 - £185. Flights are available on other days and figs off the trees and drink kastritsa and the whitewashed or 0870 748 1000 quoting catamaran, a minimum of three nights B&B for an extra £10 per person. crystal clear cold spring water. monastery perched on the cliff, C100. accommodation in a 3-crown Guernsey hotel, The following excursions are available: Sark free hire car*, plus a day trip to the beautiful day trip from £19.90 per person by sea; Jersey island of Herm. day trip from £38 per person by air; Alderney day You can also choose to add on excursions to trip from£56 per person by air. Spain,Spain, France,France, AndorraAndorra De p a rt i n g the equally fascinating islands of Jersey, Alderney Extra nights’ B&B including car hire are avail- or Sark, which although they share the same able from just £21 per night. Supplement per andand thethe PyrPyreen n e e e e s s warm climate, differ greatly in both scenery and person for other airports and seaports on Wed n e s d a y character. request. You will stay in a twin/double room with pri- To book your Guernsey Island-Hopper Break 28 Aug u s t vate facilities at the Abbey Court Hotel, on the just telephone the Travelsmith reservations outskirts of Guernsey’s historic capital, St Peter line on 0870 748 1000 or 01621 784666 7 nights Port, which makes a perfect base from which to and quote reference C173/OU to qualify for explore. (Please note children under 12 are not the special rates, which are subject to half board accepted at this hotel). availability. The second largest of the Channel Islands This holiday is arranged by Travelsmith Limited offers a delightful mix of English and French (ABTA V1290/ATOL 1917). fr om only £449 culture, idyllic scenery, entertainment, restau- *Airport/harbour collection/return and based rants to tempt every palate and VAT-free on a minimum 2 adults sharing a Fiesta or shopping bargains galore. he adventure begins with a flight to amazing holiday. similar Group A car and excluding collision damage Accommodation based on shared occupancy Price per person: By sea with Condor from insurance payable direct. Reus in Spanish Catalonia. Two nights Tare spent here with time to visit the of twin-bedded rooms is on a half board basis, with two nights in Spain and four nights in Andorra. Cava wine district and the magnificent Flights from local airports to Reus. A few single monastery at Montserrat. Then it’s on to rooms are available at a supplement of £75 per Ca m ping in Jerse y Andorra for four nights in the picturesque ho l i d a y . principality surrounded by the high peaks Full details of this holiday and the optional excur- of the Pyrenees. sions available from: Preferred Travel Services, An included excursion aboard Le Petit Train 56 High St, Kibworth, Leicester, LE8 OHQ. Tel: Jaune provides a unique way to view Andorra’s 0116 279 3929, fax 0116 279 3214. Email: wonderful mountain scenery. There is also an [email protected] quote tour number 1464. optional trip available to Andorra La Vella, cap- (ABTA W3692 & G9806) ital of the principality. Preferred Travel Services is a trading name of A lengthy stop in the vibrant city of Barcelona High Concepts Limited Reg. in England No. 4000185. Reg. Office: Christopher House, 94B on the last day, with time to visit the amblas and London Road, Leicester LE2 0QS. ABTA NO. the city’s many other attractions, concludes this W3692. ATOL NO. 5537

unny, friendly Jersey member of a small group of FREE. Children under 12 also is ideal for a relaxed elite 5-pennant Premier Parks travel FREE (based on a ratio Eu r opean City Brea k s family camping holi- selected by the AA and featured of 1 child to 1 adult) on all S 3-star Rivoli hotel in Paris and day and now you could save in their Best Parks guide. Portsmouth and Weymouth urope has never been include flights from Heathrow up to 46 per cent off Facilities at the site include departures, on Poole depar- sa ve up to so accessible or so a swimming pool, free hot show- tures up to July 4, with £49 or Gatwick and bed and break- brochure prices including Eaffordable – and with ers, games room, cafe/restau- thereafter, and for just £69 on fast hotel accommodation . free car transport or car 25 per cent our special offer you can rant, site shop and laundry Southampton departures. choose from a selection of These European City Breaks, hire* and free child places! room, plus the services of If you travel by sea you can two-night city breaks, flying organised by Travelsmith UK Ltd Prices for our seven-night Travelsmith representatives. take your car FREE and if by air (ABTA G5222/ ATOL 1917) can holidays start at just £89 per on scheduled British Airways The site is ideally placed to pick up a FREE hire car* on be taken up to October 29 adult with travel to the island services and saving up to 25 explore the beautiful island of arrival. 2002, subject to availability. by ferry from Portsmouth, on Jersey. per cent off brochure prices. To take advantage of our Jersey Extra nights can be added and the Condor high speed jet Prices are per adult (based Camping Offer, just telephone Whether you want to cruise catamaran from Weymouth on 4 adults sharing tent) the canals of romantic Venice other hotels may be available the Travelsmith reservations on request. or Poole, or by air from via Portsmouth, Weymouth, line on 0870 748 1000 or or fairytale Copenhagen, explore For further details or to book Southampton, where free car Southampton or Poole. There 01621 784666 and quote historic Lisbon, take in the sights parking is available. is a £20 per person supple- reference 5D150/OU to qual- and sounds of newly-vibrant your European City Break just You will stay in a well- ment for 2 or 3 adults sharing ify for the special rates, which Berlin or stroll the beautiful telephone the Travelsmith reser- equipped, ready-erected tent on all dates. Prices for travel are subject to availability. boulevards of Paris – there is a vations line on 0870 748 1000 that can comfortably accom- from other airports are avail- *Car transport based on a pri- holiday to suit you. or 01621 784666 and quote modate 4, 5 or 6 people at able on request. vate car not exceeding 5m in length Prices start from £155 per reference C167OU to qualify for the Beuvelande campsite, a All children under two go and 1.85m in height. person for two nights at the the special rates. 11 Sesame June/July 2002 Issue 209 What you Graduation had to say Ce l e b r ating our about OU 2002 achi e ver s stu d y Ten thousand people are donning academic The Courses Survey is sent out annually after the robes at 28 graduation ceremonies acro s s October examination period to around 30,000 the country this summer. S e s a m e h e a r s students inviting feedback on the quality of the f rom just a few of those collecting their hard - teaching and learning experience and the servi c e s won qualifications. And (below) celebrates p rovided to students by the university, whilst those joining the OU community with honorary studying a specified course. At present it is degrees. university policy to survey a sample of students across a range of courses. Alison Ashby, head of lympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave heads the own charitable trust, which he hopes will raise £5 million for the IET Student Statistics Team, re p o rts on the latest list of outstanding achievers to be awarded children’s charities. OU honorary degrees this year. Peter Kindersley, who founded the home reference compa- results of the October 2001 survey. O The five-times gold medallist joins other household names ny Dorling Kindersley, is also honoured, as is Oxfam honorary including author Bill Bryson, former Northern Ireland secre- president Professor Amartya Sen and former Age Concern n 2001, we sent out questions to 29,537 students on tary Mo Mowlam and Poet Laureate Andrew Motion who will Director- General Baroness Greengross OBE. 115 courses and achieved a response rate of 65 per receive the honour at graduation ceremonies throughout 2002. A full list of those receiving honorary degrees is available on Icent. Sir Steve will be in London in June to receive his doctorate the Sesame website www.open.ac.uk/Sesame. for a ‘notable contribution to the educational or cultural well- Politician and lifelong campaigner Barbara Castle, who died The findings for 2001 show a generally high level of being of society’. As well as being the only competitor ever to in May, was to have accepted an honorary degree in Milton student satisfaction with OU courses. 90 per cent of students win gold at five successive Olympiads, he has also set up his Keynes. were satisfied, 49 per cent very satisfied with the overall quality of their course. The majority of students report a balance between vocational and personal development (44 per cent) as their main reason for study, a further 40 per cent responded either mainly or completely personal and 16 per cent responded mainly or completely vocational. Ho n o r a r y award fits Bill 36 per cent of students stated they would have preferred to start the course in a different month. Of those that wanted The buzz and excitement around Under, and America, Notes From a Big people. I would have paid a lot more atten- different times 56 per cent chose September, with another 20 Open University graduation cere- Country and Made in America. tion at school if I had known how much per cent choosing October. The percentage of students with monies is intoxicating. Family Bryson’s writing conjures vivid pictures luck, blundering and bad decisions went access to a computer for study purposes has continued to rise members fixing the hoods of robes, of the countries he visits and the people, into a lot of this stuff.” gradually every year, 88 per cent for 2001 in contrast to 87 per children leaping and wriggling, and cultures, and habits he encounters – This must have been what inspired him cent for 2000. though there are plenty of times when he to become a writer, the need to portray a chatter swirling through the foy- has left residents fuming in the wake of realistic picture of the world. “No,” he ers. In all the excitement do grad- helpful his comments. He described Liverpool as replied, “what inspired me to become a uands pay any attention to the hon- a “festival of litter”, and decided that writer was a mortgage and raising a small orary graduates attending their “Bradford’s role in life is to make every family.“ Fo u r - fi fths of students (81 per cent) were satisfied with the ceremony? Eulina Clairmont place else in the world look better by Bill Bryson came to England from the quality of the tuition from their tutor and face-to-face tutorials was at the Portsmouth ceremony comparison”. US in 1973. He worked as a sub-editor on were considered the most helpful form of study support. Students to meet one recipient of OU hon- “Sometimes people do get genuinely a Bournemouth newspaper for two years who attended tutorials rated the quality of tutorials highly ours, travel writer Bill Bryson. hurt by my observations and that is unfor- before moving to London to work on The but nearly a quarter did not attend any tutorials (24 per cent). “I really love the Open University,” said tunate. If I go to your home town and I T i m e s and, later in his career, T h e As in previous years the most common reasons for not Bill Bryson as he sat waiting to be robed. didn’t have a good experience, people Independent. attending all tutorials were inconvenient times and tutorials “I think it is such a great thing, the idea sometimes get upset about that – with “I started writing magazine articles just too far away. of a university that anyone can go to is some justification,” he said. to generate a little extra earnings. I grad- Students were generally satisfied with contact made such a Utopian ideal that I think it is just ually discovered that I really liked this and with the OU. 89 per cent of students found it very easy to get wonderful.” one of the great things about writing is that through by phone while 86 per cent of students reported Of course, his admiration of the OU is complicated you can decide what you write about.” receiving a quick response to their letter. The vast majority of no surprise. In his book, Notes from a What advice does he have for any OU students (96 per cent) reported that they never encountered Small Island, the writer refers to the OU “The world that I am writing about is student who fancies themself topping the any difficulties that had lead them to make a complaint. 87 per as one of his favourite things in Britain. completely different from the one I was best-sellers list? cent of students said they would recommend their course to a But Bill Bryson deserves this honour taught about in school. Everything I was “The only thing about writing for pay friend. for more than his glowing opinion of the taught at school in the United States was is that you just have to write something OU. He is a world-renowned author: No t e s painted as a pretty picture and was that somebody wants to publish. That is important from a Small Island has sold almost one straightforward – but life is more com- the only trick. It either has to be so good million copies and spent three years in plicated than that. Things didn’t always or so different or have a subject that is so unusual that somebody somewhere will Workload for students is still an important issue for both The Sunday Times best-seller’s list. The go right for explorers and inventors and same observational humour made equal they didn’t always have a happy outcome. say, ok we’re going to publish this and we students and the university. Just over one half of the will give you some money. students (52 per cent) who responded said that they had spent successes of his look at the eccentricities “When the pilgrims went to America of life in Australia, Notes From Down there has never been a less prepared “When I first started writing, travel a little or a lot longer than they had expected on their studies. books tended to be written by people who The university is working on improving ways in which acted as if they knew everything. They workload is quantified, including directed and non-directed never got lost and they never missed a study time. train. Travel can be great but it can also These figures only provide a very high level summary of be the most stressful thing we go through the results. Overall results are reported to Student Policy voluntarily. You’re tired and you’re a long Board and a summary is provided for Senate. Individual way from home, you don’t know if the course teams receive a full set of the results and the IET train is going from that platform over Student Statistics team write detailed reports for each there or this one over here. I just write academic unit and meet with it to review the results. Our future about my experience, I try to always think plans include summaries at the course level for publication to that I am writing a letter to a friend or my students. brother.” The IET Student Statistics Team would like to thank all So what is next for Bill Bryson? those students who responded to the end of course survey, sent “I am doing a book that is not a travel out by the Institute of Educational Technology at the end of book, I am trying to understand how the October 2001. The information you provide is a key element in world works – how the earth got to be how our internal review of courses and services and helps us it is.” identify areas where we are successful and areas where we I recommended the OU science course need to improve. S267 How the Earth works; the prospec- ● And thanks to the many readers who have already tus is in the post. Maybe we will soon see responded to Sesame’s readership survey in the last edition. Bill Bryson picking up another degree We expect to have results by July and will report back in the from the OU. next available issue. Pictured left: Eulina Clairmont and Bill Bryson Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 12 Graduation Dublin Honours Neither the wind nor the rain could dampen the spirits of the 383 OU students gathering at O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin on April 27. Since 1973 over 10,000 people throughout Ireland have graduated with OU degrees. Sesame’s Sheila Forman reports.

As a radio officer based at Malinhead, the most northerly point in Ireland, John Hegarty (pictured right) often has good reason to feel on top of the world. Now he has another, for in between his life-preserving work maintaining the coast radio station, he has been studying for an Open University science degree and that, he says, has changed his life. “Now I have applied to do a full time MA in Archaeology at Queens University, Belfast,” says John, who stepped up to the platform at O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin to receive his BSc (Hons) in He started working at Malinhead Natural Sciences. in 1980, doing similar work from the FRONT PAGE STORY John, who is 52, went straight shore out to ships at sea. from secondary school to attend a He first got involved with Open marine radio college in Dublin where University study after a colleague he gained a PMG (Post Master began a social science degree in 1989. General) certificate in radio teleg- “I decided I would give it a try too. raphy and radio telephony in 1970. “I was attracted to Earth Science “I went to sea immediately with immediately and picked courses the Merchant Navy and spent 10 that I felt I would enjoy. years travelling on board ships “I’m amazed that I’ve come this Among those gathering at the Dublin as a radio officer. My job was to far and how the OU has changed ceremony was our front cover graduate send and receive messages by my life,” he said. “I am eternally Elaine Ruby, from London, who collected her Morse code and maintain a work- grateful to the people who have MA in Culture and Media Studies at O’Reilly ing radio station,” he said. made this possible.” Hall.

Poet James Berry with Professor Dennis Walder Be r ry: ‘I want a un i ve r sity in me’

mong those receiving both challenged and transformed the honorary degrees this year culture that excluded him. Ais one whose struggle against Like many other Jamaicans, James circumstances and self-doubt to Berry left his country to work briefly realise his potential will strike in the USA, before emigrating to the chords with many OU students. UK in 1948. He worked in the Post Office for over 20 years, before the From a rural Jamaican childhood tutorials in Belfast, and hardly ever missed one. Pat, a where he says ‘he read nothing award of a C. Day Lewis Fellowship Family has always been very important to Pat and was taught nothing positive released him to become writer-in- Dwyer from Waterford – so when it came to his customs and excise officer, said he hoped to carry on about my people’, James Berry’s residence at a London comprehensive, graduation ceremony he just took the whole lot and do more courses with the OU. “The courses are just evolution into one of Britain’s most where he developed the taste for with him. excellent. I really enjoyed my studies but it has been a distinguished poets represent pre- multicultural education that has Pat graduated with a BSc (Hons) under the approv- big commitment and my family have had to put up with cisely the vision and ideals of the become the hallmark of his achieve- ing gazes of no fewer than 23 members of his family who a lot for me to get to this point, especially my wife Mary. university’s founders, according ment – helping others to realise what made the 200 mile round trip. This is no distance at all I am really pleased that so many of them are here to to Professor Dennis Walder, who they have to say, and how to say it, in for Pat who clocked up 400 miles a time travelling to his celebrate with me today,” said Pat. presented his honorary doctorate their own words. at the Brighton ceremony in April. James Berry responds:” Below, we print extracts from Ahmad Jaber fulfilled his promise to his At 17 years old I suffered an father-in-law when he watched his wife Professor Walder’s citation and intense“ depression with a kind of des- James Berry’s acceptance speech. perate panic. Suddenly it was like Fatima graduate with a BA in Literature Proffessor Dennis Walder: knowing oneself strangely lost. In real- at the afternoon ceremony. “I promised A pioneer of Black British writing ity, I see now, I was stuck. I had no con- her father before I married her that she James“ Berry has won many awards tinuing education. The shock of an would continue with her higher educa- for his books and anthologies, and is unreachable development possessed tion,” said Ahmad who is a GP in Dublin. widely known for his poetry work- me. Yet, doors would open for me mag- Before coming to Dublin Fatima, who is shops, his school readings, his appear- ically, gradually. originally from Palestine, had been studying ances at festivals and, not least, for his A few years ago, a poem prompted for three years in Doha, Qatar, an Arabian role in raising the awareness of OU itself to be written. It became a long Gulf state where she had moved with her fam- students at our literature summer poem I called Letter to you Mother ily to escape the troubles in her own country. schools to the value of poetry in A f r i c a. Set in that painful 17th year “I became pregnant with my daughter Nora general as a humanising experience, the poem had a repeating line, saying almost as soon as my OU studies began,” said and to the value of the Black British ‘I want a university in me’. That Fatima. “It has been quite difficult studying voice in particular, as an enriching meant, surely, I yearned for my full with a new baby in a new country but my part of the diversity of cultures in this participation. husband has been a great help. country. Now, in my 78th year, I have been “The hardest part for me was studying Life in Jamaica during the 1930s was called here, and just listened to alone. Because Nora was a baby I got excusal narrow and limited. ‘We felt shut away Professor Dennis Walder celebrating from residential school and then my other from the world,’ he recalls, enduring what for me would have seemed almost courses didn’t have one so I missed out on long spells ‘alone in the fields, in the impossible happenings. Hearing that interacting with other students,” she said. presence of of animals, overawed by list of information about me I am “After I have completed my MA, I hope to be nature’. What little formal education moved beyond description. To all able to work in the teaching field, he had generated an anger that led responsible for this moment, my many, perhaps doing something with foreign eventually to poetry; poetry which many, deep-feeling thanks.” students.” 13 Sesame June/July 2002 Issue 209 £50 goes to the writer of any Travellers tales published Travellers tale High road to an eco-frie n d l y ho l i d a y

Heather Ramirez Fonseca f rom Manchester is the latest S e s a m e reader to take up the invitation to describe a trip which helped her OU studies. And what better choice for a masters student of environmental policy and society than an eco-friendly journey to Scotland?

co-tourism is the latest buzz- great British countryside in its West Highland line, which links word in travel. As we all UKOK campaign. Glasgow to the western ports of Eknow, gas-guzzling jets, Five months into a masters Oban and Mallaig and is a remark- road-clogging cars and the dissertation and bogged-down at able feat of engineering, traversing general tourist stampede put work, any holiday was ‘OK’ by me. some of the most remote, inhos- an unmanageable strain on Armed with head-to-toe waterproofs, pitable and downright boggy terrain local resources and ecosystems clutching a week-long rail and in the country. It is also unrelentingly thereby ruining the very beauty ferry pass and feeling ever so eco- beautiful. and tranquillity we seek. friendly, I rallied to the cause and Leaving the suburban sprawl All very well, but what are the headed for the Scottish Highlands. behind, the train climbs rapidly alternatives? Can a week knee-deep My Andean-born husband’s eyes into the hills, offering tantalising in mud in the UK really match up to bulged slightly at his first sight of glimpses of Loch Lomond far below. package-deal promises of sun and ‘men in skirts’ at Glasgow’s Queen This is certainly the way to travel, sangria? In these post foot and Street Station – the kilted crowds the scenery more gripping than any Loch Eilt, near Glenfinnan Picture: The Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board mouth and September 11 times, the indeed a proud and formidable sight in - fl ight movie and none of the stress government is keen to convince us on their way to the afternoon’s rugby of driving: just ever-higher heathery with frogs, forcing us to pick our way trekking are all available locally. to don our macs and explore the match. Undeterred, we boarded the peaks, sometimes a waterfall, along the path to avoid crushing Our final stop was Oban, a sometimes an icy-blue loch, some- them underfoot. After a day of charming fishing port and ferry link times a crumbling castle. From gallant bog hopping we were spoilt to the outlying Isles set among Crianlarich the train climbs still with a roaring log fire and plenty of spectacular mountain scenery. further, crossing the treacherous chocolate cake. Making the most of the astonishing Rannoch moor, the mountains now Spean Bridge was our next sunshine, we visited the islands of snow-clad, startled red deer stags destination, a positive metropolis Kerrera and Mull, exploring castles bouncing away. boasting a shop and a small woollen and pointing our cameras at bewil- We disembarked at Glenfinnan, a mill. The ‘Commando Memorial’, a dered highland cows. We sailed back village steeped in the history of tribute to the soldiers who trained into Oban just in time to see the last Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite here, offers spectacular views over glows of a fiery sunset, before retreat- uprising. While the place was tiny, the white-giant Ben Nevis and a ing to a cosy organic café to celebrate with no shop or pub, the warmth and host of other peaks. We descended the end of our holiday with locally quality of our reception could not through a pine forest with a pair of produced food and fair-trade wine. have been greater. Kitted-out in golden eagles circling overhead to UKOK? Better, I’d say. I returned waterproofs, we walked under the join the attractive Caledonian Canal energised from fresh air, exercise towering railway viaduct with stags – which links Fort William in the and good food. Shock of shocks, I grazing close by and magnificent west to Inverness in the east. even got a tan! views across Loch Shiel. As the rain For those with more time to spare, ● For more information about relentlessly rattled our hoods, the boat trips on the canal, white holidaying in the Scottish Highlands Glenfinnan Monument Picture: The Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board ground swelled and became alive water canoeing and Icelandic pony visit: www.highlandfreedom.com Linking New Lanark and New Labour It was back to school for two tutors and New Labour. when the Open University in Scotland New Lanark and its Owen School for joined forces with the Friends of Children was recently designated a New Lanark and the New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the Conservation Trust to establish an locus from 1800-1825 of Owen’s social, edu- cational and environmental experiment. annual Robert Owen Commemoration. Owen himself was the subject of a recent The inaugural event, celebrating the life revisionist biography by Ian Donnachie, and achievements of the famous social senior lecturer in history, and vice-chair reformer, was a lecture given by Gerry of the Friends of New Lanark. Mooney, senior lecturer in sociology. His topic, ‘New Lanark to New Labour’ Picture shows Dr Gerry Mooney in the restored Owen informed and entertained a large audience School with event organisers, left to right: Sarah by linking Owen’s ideas on social Colquhoun, Lorna Davidson, Anne Hamilton, Ian reform directly to those of Tony Blair Donnachie, David Maclaren and Graham U’ren. Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 14 Research Global impact of super erupt i o n s By Jane Matthews

his is the way the world ends – not with a bang but a whimper, spoke the poet, prophetically, perhaps, according to Open University Professor Stephen Self. TFor while Hollywood has been firmly focused on the threat posed to Planet Earth by ‘near earth objects’ – asteroids and meteorites – the Professor of Volcanology is proposing that we should be more concerned about the likelihood of ‘super vol- canic eruptions’ – and their potentially cataclysmic effects on our atmosphere, climate and way of life. Lava flow Though science has known about and studied volcanic activity for decades, its discovery of a quite different league of date them.” super-eruptions – defined by Stephen as affecting an area The ‘holy grail’ now, he says, is investigating whether such more than 3,500 cubic kilometres and with global fallout – is earth-shaking events might have been responsible for wiping relatively recent. Improvements in geological dating techniques out many forms of life on earth in the past. are just one factor enabling scientists over the last 15 years to Among the devastating effects of super-eruptions would be push further and further at what were previously believed to temporary darkness with loss or at least severe reduction in be the boundaries of an eruption’s size and effects. the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface, unseasonal The last full-blown super-eruption was Toba in Sumatra temperature reductions and warmings, with strange weather 74,000 years ago, and as recently as 1997 oceanographers patterns for several years and widespread ash fallout. studying an Antarctic ice core at a depth of two and a half And crystal-ball-gazing, even if a future super-eruption were kilometres found high levels of acidity for six years around the to take place sufficiently far south or north to affect only one time of Toba. The likeliest explanation is that this was a direct hemisphere, many of the services we depend upon, such as air result of the enormous amounts of sulphur dioxide spewed into travel, would be disrupted for months or even years, says the atmosphere by the eruption. Stephen. Just how big a league we are talking about, compared, for “What we are trying to do now is test the relationship between example, to the kinds of volcanic activity most of us are these mass extinction events, in which more than 20-30 per lucky enough to experience only through our TV screens is cent of all genera died out, and flood basalt events – lava flow s Super-eruptions could have a cataclysmic effect on earth’s climate starkly illustrated by a graph (see below). “Some of these erup- of super-eruption magnitude. There’s still a huge question tions were 1,000 times bigger than Pinatubo,” says Stephen. about it but they do seem to be related and improved age “When the Fish Canyon erupted 28 million years ago the hole dating means some of the dates of past pairs of events are being 20,000 years, and the really big ones once every 100,000 years. that was formed was almost three times the area of Greater pushed closer and closer together. Of course we are not dealing with very robust statistics London. “The mass extinction everyone knows about was 65 million because we do not have many cases to compile. But the other “These things are huge – volcanic explosions with a global years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period when 40 per cent earth-threatening phenomenon that has been worked on is impact – and it has taken people a long time to piece the of genera on the planet were lost. We know there was a huge near-earth objects which are reckoned at one every 25,000 evidence together, to get samples of the rock and be able to meteorite impact then which is thought to be responsible, but years for a small one and one every 500,000 years for a big one. I’m on the trail of how other phenomena could have done this. “That’s approximately ten times less frequent than super- There was a series of super-eruptions at around the same time. eruptions. The effects of such an eruption would be felt Is it possible that they had an effect, or are we looking at some globally and would cause severe disruption to our way of life. strange coincidence in time?” The more we know about super-eruptions of the past, the Delivering this message during his inaugural lecture to the better we will be able to advise governments to prepare for the OU, which he joined from the University of Hawaii, Stephen eventuality of the next one.” second-guessed his audience’s questions about the likelihood One response is the emergence of a national committee of of a super-eruption in their lifetime. the Geological Society set up to bring together evidence of The good news, he says, is that we probably don’t need to super-eruptions while the International Association of concern ourselves too much with the lava-flow-type of super Volcanology has set up its own task force to study the eruption since best current evidence is that these occur only phenomenon. Closer to home our growing knowledge about the once every 30 million years or so. scale of these events not only feeds into S269 Earth and life “If we are going to have another super-eruption it’s going to but will be a part of a planned new short course on volcanoes be an explosive one. When will it be? We can only look at the – open to anyone who wants to understand more about the facts,” Stephen says. massive forces at work on the planet. Forces on a scale as yet “There have been super-eruptions of this type once every undreamed of by Hollywood. Wak e-up call for telephone bo s s e s onditions for staff in call their character coming out,” says Dr areas of high unemployment,” he says. centres can be so strict that Callaghan. “But eventually there will be fewer Csome employers lose every And Dr Callaghan, who was sponsored people attracted to these places if the single one of their workers during to do his research by a well-known com- management techniques stay the same. the course of a year. pany that employs call centre staff, says It’s things like being given only a set, very Absenteeism levels soar on a Monday such a stifling atmosphere among the short, time to do the job, and being and Friday and the reluctance of staff to staff – 70 per cent of whom are women listened into all the time so there’s no come in is down to their poor treatment and most of whom are under 35 – will time whatsoever to relax, and even the by management, according to a new adversely affect productivity, rather than idea that you deal only with this one, report. increase it. basic element of the enquiry. The moment “O f fi cial annual staff turnover tends to “Some managers have tried to moti- it becomes more interesting you have to be at around 20 per cent but there’s no vate their staff by putting them into pass it on to someone else so you can get doubt in some cases, unofficially, it teams,” he says. “This is supposed to on with your next routine call.” can be as high as 100 per cent,” says create a feeling of community between Dr Callaghan, who recently presented Open University researcher Dr George individuals but not surprisingly, many his report Call Centres – the latest Callaghan. of the staff I spoke to viewed it cynically industrial office? to the International “Workers are frustrated by trying as an attempt to make them more Labour Process Conference in to operate under a preferred style of competitive.” Strathclyde, is keen to stress that not management that hasn’t changed since According to Dr Callaghan’s research, every centre is run the same way. “There the days of the 1950s typing pools and 41 per cent of his interviewees swore are some companies – IBM, for instance factory assembly lines. they would never work in such centres – whose staff have to be fluent in “It’s ironic that managers in these again, a figure which suggests, in line with two or three languages and know their places seek bubbly, outgoing individuals the absenteeism rate, that the pool of stuff so they can follow the enquiry but then give them a time-limit of three applicants for such jobs will eventually through and often deal with it all minutes per call, with immense pressure run dry. themselves,” he says. “But they do seem to get a result, which prevents any of “There is a trend to put call centres in to be the exception.” Issue 209 June/July 2002 Sesame 15 Books VC ’ s Nor the rn e r VI E W Professor Brenda who rose to Gourley ce n t r e stag e Use your

Jo n a t han Dewh u r st – The Lancashire Trage d i a n 1837-1913, by Philip & Susan Taylor, influence The Book Guild Ltd., £13.56 uch attention is being given to the Government’s ‘widening participation’ policy and it is The long and prolific theatrical career of Jonathan Dewhurst embraced M particularly interesting to consider how both acting and theatre management, and spanned the Victorian and this differs from The Open University’s Edwardian eras. In spite of his modest background, he rose from the fundamental mission – a mission relative obscurity of northern provincial theatre almost to the highest which has been dedicated to widening echelons of British theatrical society, and shared centre-stage with some of participation in the very best sense. the leading actors of his day, including Henry (later ‘Sir Henry’) Irving. ‘Widening participation’ in Government Dewhurst had a penchant for Shakespearean tragedy and at various times terms derives from two different but comple- took on the guises of Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear and other mentary forces. The first is the force of principal characters, as well as a host of cameo roles. But his talents were democracy and the pursuit of social justice. not confined to tragedy. His extensive repertoire also encompassed a This strand of the agenda expects universi- varied range of dramatic and comedic roles. In addition to his many ties and other institutions of higher education appearances in theatres around Great Britain he undertook extensive tours to reach out to disadvantaged people who of Australia and India. come from backgrounds where they would not The book is an attractive single-volume work, published in hardback by normally expect to receive higher education hilip and Susan Taylor’s book, Jonathan Dewhurst The Book Guild. It includes 55 illustrations, extensive appendices, and a use- or benefit from its fruits. Not all universities ful index. The authors, a husband and wife team, met while participating – the Lancashire Tragedian 1837-1913, is rather know how to reach these students and, even (appropriately) in a local theatrical production of When We Are Married. Pmore than just another run-of-the-mill theatrical if they do, are not always alert to the fact that Philip is an Open University graduate and a member of the OU History Society. biography. Shortlisted for the prestigious Theatre Book these students need significant assistance if An obvious enthusiasm for their subject, combined with eight years of Prize awarded annually by the Society for Theatre they are to succeed. No institution knows this energetic research – they call it ‘a labour of love’ – has led to the discovery Research, it is also a family history (co-author Philip Taylor better than the OU for there is no other insti- of many fascinating details about Dewhurst’s life and work. Whether they tution which requires no educational prereq- is Dewhurst’s great, great nephew), a local history, a social have fully succeeded in uncovering the character of this enigmatic man is uisites from its students – and this in itself history, and the absorbing story of a bygone age. But above a more difficult question to answer. But they have certainly succeeded in concentrated the mind as to what constitutes all it is a resurrection – the rediscovery of a life which, but producing an informative and entertaining book that deserves a wide a satisfactory learning experience – especially for the authors’ long and painstaking researches, might readership. at a distance. have been forever forgotten. Reviewed by Roy Henderson The second driving force for widening participation is the growth of the ‘knowledge economy’ and its insatiable need for ‘knowl- edge workers’. The influence of technology and, in turn, it’s enabling of globalisation and its consequences has exponentially created a Geographer revives Marx need for highly skilled workers. Whole economies as well as individuals benefit from a much enlarged pool. The pace of knowledge production and the speed at which the tech- nologies change also mean that people need for a globalised world to be lifelong learners since what they learn in any particular time-constrained learning experience will not sustain them for the P roducing Places, by Ray Hudson, Guildfo rd Press, 2001, whole of their working lives. Price £19.00 The impact of this knowledge economy on education is obvious. It has turned education roducing Places is a deliberate rhetoric, and to look these questions steadily into a very large enterprise indeed – an enter- play on words. Ray Hudson, in the eye. The author is open to ‘the new’ but prise which is no longer only the domain of Professor of Geography at Durham determined not to go overboard. the public sector. More and more private sec- P tor providers have joined in a sector where University and an associate lecturer with So on the economy Ray Hudson sets out to make a powerful case for a Marxist approach, money is to be made – especially in high- the Open University for 30 years, has demand/low-cost courses. The quality of these written a book which aims to tackle, and but one which is flexible enough to embrace a range of new theoretical approaches (he is offerings is often a differentiating feature but to pull together, two major social issues sternly reproving of some others, though!). students might well have parted with money of our times. And through a sequence of chapters he uses before they find this out. The main point On the one hand he wants to explore the these ideas to analyse labour markets, com- however is that the sector is now a highly changing nature of capitalist production today. competitive one and competition often comes pany behaviour and the physical process of But, on the other hand, as a geographer he has from unlikely sources. The rise of the ‘corpo- production, including issues of sustainability. a particular concern with the places in which rate’ university is a phenomenon of our times (One ironic irritation here is that the produc- that production happens and with how they, and many companies have sophisticated in- tion of the book itself inadvertently exempli- too, are constructed, and are being recon- house education and training opportunities for struced by current changes. So: both “places fies the processes of globalisation and unequal their staff. Some seek accreditation for their of production” and “the production of places”. competition which it is exploring – though this courses so that the attendees may have some We are always being told that everything is is a book by a British author, ‘labour’ is spelled tangible and portable evidence of their success. different now. The notion of class society is ‘labor’ throughout!). What does all this mean for The Open old hat, we think less about production than In his discussion of place, Ray Hudson University? It means we operate in a highly about consumption, marketing and finance. engages with some of the work done in the competitive environment and have to market ‘Place’, too, is a concept which is ever more geography department at the OU. Here there our distinctive competencies in this environ- di f fi cult to grasp in a world which is daily more is a serious debate about how we can, in this ment. Because we happen to care particular- globalised. What meaning can ‘place’ have globalised age, take account of the inevitable ly about students who have not had opportu- now? It surely cannot be the same as in the openness of places without ceasing to nities before and who often under-rate their days of the English village or the local work- recognise that feelings of need for ‘bounded own capacity to succeed, we operate in an ing-class community built around (and for the territories’ can sometimes be very strong. arena not often ventured into by other purpose of serving) a single major industry. There is a huge amount of material in this providers. We have been doing this from our book. As well as engaging with some major Even though we know that our images of ‘vil- Prices quoted for books are those very inception and did not need special injunc- debates, the ten chapters provide an impres- lage’ and ‘local community’ are thoroughly available through the OU’s bookshop. tions from Government to do so. We think other romanticised, and owe at least as much to sive and very thorough review of an enormous providers have much to learn from us and are myth-making as to fact, it is nonetheless true literature on the building of economies and the Titles can be ordered online from embarking upon some complementary part- that the meaning of ‘local place’ has, in the making of places, and on the important links Amazon through the OU’s bookshop: nerships. We also would hope that our western world, changed dramatically in the between them. w w w . o p e n l i n k . o r g. Every purchase students lobby on our behalf wherever they last five decades or so. Reviewed by Doreen Massey, made via this site creates a contribution have influence. We need their support in these The aim of this book is to take a deep breath, Professor of Geography, to the OU Foundation. di f fi cult times as the sector struggles with less not to get carried away by over-excited Open University and less support from the public purse. 16 Sesame June/July 2002 Issue 209 The last word FIFTH COLUMN TV Women rea d e r s Here’s your chance to write 350 to-the-point words on an OU TR A I L E R S subject that gets right join the rac e up your nose – and we’ll pay you £50 for How football scored the privilege. an own goal Commitment Paying the Penalty – BBC 2, June 15, 9am, – where is it? What Workers Want – BBC 2, June 22, 9am Reinventing the Wheel – BBC 2, June 29, 9am Always check press for latest programme details Asks on’t be fooled by this month’s wall-to-wall World Cup coverage: the future of football as we know Steve Dit is in crisis. With spending on players’ wages reaching 100 per cent of the total income of many clubs, and the collapse of ITV Digital which could have Nicoll provided much-needed revenue, clubs in the Football League in particular are struggling to survive fina n c i a l l y . s I prepare for my But could one club’s experience provide a new way seventh year of study forward? Awith the OU I have Paying the Penalty is the first in a three-part Saturday already marked the tutor- morning series on real-life economics topics, made for ial dates in my diary. These DD202 Economics and changing economies. It looks at the are dates that will be hon- changes made by Indian hotelier Firoz Kassam when he bought oured and kept free regard- third division Oxford United two years ago. He set about less of any other demands creating a new financial model for the running of a football club on my time: tutorials are a that was no longer dependent upon gate receipts, merchan- vital component of my OU dising and inconsistent TV rights. But will he succeed, or will study calendar and assist supporters feel cheated by the fact that football is no longer the me to make progress. focus? Entrepreneur P.Y. Gerbeau looks at United’s And yet in my heart I know strategy, with contributions from politician and Chelsea fan that most of the tutorials will David Mellor, BBC director of sport Peter Salmon, Oxford United be poorly attended. Those chair Firoz Kassam, Professor Stefan Syzmanski of Imperial that do attend are often College and Professor Jonathan Michie of Birkbeck College. reluctant to contribute to The second programme, What the workers want, focuses making the tutorial meaning- on happiness at work, a new and growing area of interest to ful, believing that attendance economists and employers, not to mention their employees. is somehow a substitute for Studies prove that happy workers are more productive, and effort. And perhaps the worst employers are beginning to realise the value to themselves of aspect of any tutorial are making work more attractive – or that’s the theory anyway. those who insist on noisily Featuring a work/life balance project at Hinchingbrooke packing away their study Hospital, Huntingdon, the National Theatre’s Dignity at Work materials five minutes before initiative, and a building dubbed ‘the happiest workplace in the end of the lesson. Britain’, the programme includes thoughts from Will Hutton of It must be truly soul- The Work Foundation and the OU’s Dr Susan Himmelweit. destroying for tutors to enter The cars we drive today are, with one or two exceptions, omen readers of S e s a m e are invited to join staff of the Open a class to find a handful of little changed from those of 50 years ago. Yet one hundred University in Wales in a five kilometre run in aid of Cancer Research largely disinterested souls years ago the infant car industry was an innovative industry WUK. giving the distinct impression with many manufacturers jockeying for position in the The Cardiff Race for Life on Wednesday July 10, sponsored by the OU in Wales, is one of the that they would rather be marketplace. What changed? Reinventing the Wheel, the largest such events outside London, and last year attracted 6000 women runners and walkers, somewhere else. Commitment third programme in the series, looks at the economics of of all ages and fitness levels. Those interested in taking part should ring 08705 134314 is often used to describe OU innovation, why innovation in the car industry was stifled and and ask to join the Open University in Wales team. Cost is £7.50 adult, £4.50 under 18. students who manage to fit what might jump-start it – with help from Sir Clive Sinclair and Non-running volunteers are also welcome to help give out leaflets at the OU Access Bus which studies into their already busy cutting edge designers IDEO. will be at the event. lives. It neatly defines the combined qualities of dedica- tion, determination and per- severance displayed by those The artist and her muse pursuing academic qualifica - tions. They are right, but why Visitors to the Memorial Gallery in does this commitment appear Wrexham in March were able to to dissipate when it comes to view the work of OU student and tutorials ? artist Nichola Hope. Tutorials represent an Nichola, 26, from Cardiff, had around opportunity to validate your 20 pieces of her work on view for sev- own study progress to date, eral weeks at the gallery. “I am doing gain insight and advice, clar- the MA in popular culture with the OU ify problems, ask questions – at the moment,” she said. “Initially I I could go on. The benefits of was thinking about doing History of shared experience with other Art but I looked into this course and students are also immensely realised it was just perfect for me.” valuable and should never be Her work focuses on interiors such underrated. With so much to as decoration, household objects, wall- be gained from attending paper and space, as well as the culture tutorials it defies comprehen- and ideals that inhabit these spaces. sion that so few are prepared “The subjects and ideas that I have to take advantage of it. been introduced to through the MA I end with a broad-based have been very useful and fed into my appeal to all OU students to work and developed some of my attend tutorials and to do so ideas,” she said. with a sense of purpose and Nichola is pictured with her paint- willingness. After all it is ing entitled ‘Bi r d b a t h ’ for which, along about commitment. with other paintings at her final degree show, she was awarded the presti- Steve Nicoll is an officer in the gious R K Burt prize for her use of Royal Marines with 30 years service. He began studying Social colour. Sciences with the OU whilst Nichola is currently selling her serving in Northern Ireland and work with the Gallery on Broadway, graduated in May of this year with in Cardiff. You can also view a BSC (Hons). He is continuing his studies with D820 in the David Beckham’s £92,000 a week makes him the Premiership’s second Nichola’s work online at: w w w . Masters programme. highest paid player Picture: Popperfoto nicholahope.com Published by The Open University. Originated by Westpoint Ltd. ISSN 0267-033X