Sesame A magazine for the Alumni community The Open University Summer 2011 Issue 248 WIKILEAKS Is whistleblowing ever justified? HISTORY OF THE OU MODULES YOUR HELP NEEDED New website seeks New module Can you aid the OU’s your OU recollections in psychology future students now? ADVERTISEMENT GREAT VALUE OFFER FOR SESAME READERS Such Great Value SO MUCH INCLUDED Services of a Travelsphere Tour Guide Over 300 local UK pick-up points Return travel by air-conditioned executive coach Channel crossings by ferry or Eurotunnel* Three nights’ bed and breakfast Highlights include: Lille, Bruges, Ghent 4 DAYS FROM Also available, sail from Hull £149 5 days from £259 Coach holidays with departures from Dover Bruges & Lille Weekend Explore the canals and cobbled streets of Bruges and the historic city of Ghent on this terrific value for money weekend. Add in the lively atmosphere of Lille, and this superb break has something for everyone. Return overnight ferry crossings with P&O from Hull to Rotterdam From your base on the outskirts of Lille, our included of West Flanders, Bruges. The delightful old centre full day excursion takes you to the charming Belgian has an abundance of attractions from the traditional with comfortable two berth city of Bruges, with its beautiful architecture and gabled houses and majestic churches to narrow en suite standard inside cabin. peaceful canals. You’ll also have the chance to visit the cobbled streets and charming canals; not forgetting On board facilities include a choice capital of East Flanders, Ghent. the world famous lace, chocolates, beer and of course chips with mayonnaise! of dining experiences, a casino, live DAY 1 - UK/Lille Local departure and an afternoon crossing from Dover You will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful entertainment, a cinema and a shop. to Calais. Early evening arrival at your hotel for a three city on foot, by boat through the network of canals Two nights’ bed and night stay. or even on a horse and carriage ride through the cobbled streets. Alternatively, you can relax and soak breakfast in resort DAY 2 - Lille up the atmosphere in one of the many bars and The French city of Lille boasts some spectacular cafés or visit one of the cosy tap-rooms to sample the All excursions included architecture, much of it Flemish, from the days of famous Belgian beer. Belgian rule. Head to Vieux Lille, the historic quarter HOLIDAY REF: HWBRN that has been lovingly restored, and spend a little DAY 4 - Lille/UK time wandering around its narrow, cobbled streets We stop in Lille centre with time for shopping and lined with lovely shops as well as open-air bars and sightseeing before a late afternoon crossing back restaurants. to the UK. Return to your original departure point 2011 Dates & Prices in the evening. 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ABTA No.V6345 Page & Moy Travel Group TRAV1104194 Sesame Bruges.indd 1 21/4/11 16:29:31 Sesame Welcome Welcome Contents S e s a m e THE SUMMER ISSUE is packed full of fantastic Update A magazine for the Alumni community The Open University Summer 2011 Issue 248 content, including intellectually stimulating All the latest news from The Open University 4 WIKILEAKS Is whistleblowing ever justifi ed? articles, and interviews with students past and New OU History website seeks your recollections 8 present, academics and honorary graduates. Your letters 10 One of the biggest events in the past BBC/OU co-productions 12 12 months has been the activity the release of DVD release of Opium: a blessing and a curse 15 hundreds of thousands of confidential diplomatic communications made by US Study HISTORY OF THE OU MODULES YOUR HELP NEEDED New website seeks New module Can you aid the OU’s your OU recollections in psychology future students now? embassies, which exposed a series of New post-qualification social work programme 17 unguarded comments and revelations. Professor of Media Studies The latest modules from the OU 18 Richard Collins answers our questions on the WikiLeaks issue and New module Discovering psychology 21 also related aspects such as censorship and the right to protest. We also focus on not one, not two, but three new initiatives People from the OU: the History of the OU project website (p8); a new Prize-winning student Deborah Regal 23 fundraising project to help disabled students benefit from the Platform: new look, new features, join in 26 building of a new Access Bus (p32); and Platform (more on that in Opinion: entrepreneurial mothers 29 a moment) – and we want your help and contributions for all three. Honorary graduate: Anthony Frost 30 As many of you are aware, the Spring issue of Sesame was How you can work with the OU to help disabled students 32 cancelled so we could focus our attention on the relaunch of the Award-winning student and actor Stephen McGann 34 new improved OU community website Platform (see p26). It has Opinion: does you hair and hairstyle define you? 35 been an exciting time with many new areas of activity on the site Interview with Sir Mark Elder 36 and so much more for you to get involved with and benefit from. Member benefits 38 Your contribution, no matter how big or small, is most welcome. It is a new era, and one that has meant that we have had to Research review carefully where we can best invest our time and money The latest OU research news 39 – particularly in response to the reduction in government funding. Research focus: WikiLeaks and whistleblowing 40 As a result, the difficult decision has been made to reduce the frequency we send the alumni community Sesame magazine and Support we are also considering the implication for the student community. Study support: most common student queries 45 While not the end of Sesame, it is a new chapter... Careers: tips on job applications and interviews 47 You can contact the team at [email protected] For inclusion in the Letters pages please mark ‘Letters’ in your subject header. Editor Scott Russon 40 Contributors Yvonne Cook, Richard Cooper, Jane Henderson, Robyn Slingsby Head of Stakeholder Communications Jane Matthews PEFC/16-33-444 Design Glen Darby http://www.pefc.org Published by The Open University The Open University General Enquiries +44 (0)1908 274066 The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA Email [email protected] Website www.open.ac.uk/sesame Printed by Artisan, distributed by Packpost Advertising Square7Media 29 Email [email protected] Telephone +44 (0)203 283 4055 The editorial content of this magazine was correct at the time of going to press. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of the publishers. Views expressed in articles are those of the K contributors and not necessarily of Sesame and The Open University. oc Publication of an advertisement or loose insert in Sesame does not imply The ©IST Open University’s recognition or approval of the goods or services advertised. 21 E COVER: To find out more about modules, go towww.open.ac.uk/study Summer 20102011 | Sesame 245248 3 Update All the latest news from The Open University FUNDING REVIEW Fighting for Update on OU module fees part-timers AS THE FEES and funding situation for universities in OU impact of government education cuts yet to be established... England continues to develop, Phil Berry, the OU’s Senior Manager, Fees and Resources, AS SESAME WENT to press, said: “We do not yet know the the situation still remained full impact of the planned cuts to unclear on new fees and funding teaching funding in England on for universities in England the OU.