[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]The Open University - or 'the OU' to those in the know - was set up to provide the opportunity for anyone, regardless of other qualifications, to take a degree through 'distance learning'. Distance learning is not holding books at arm's length, nor is it just a correspondence course. Distance learning, as the OU runs it, is a system of study aids, such as TV and radio programmes as well as books, providing students with the chance to study for a degree in their own time and in their own homes. There's no campus as such, although there are tutorial rooms and very limited facilities in 269 study centres around the UK. Most students are in their 20s, 30s or 40s, and although they only study part time, OU degrees are as valuable as any others.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]If you mention the Open University, many people have images of middle-aged housewives watching men with greasy beards, wearing corduroy tank-tops on BBC2 at 3 in the morning. Shame on them, housewives only account for 19% of the students on OU courses and many of the irredeemably untrendy have been replaced with flashy video techniques and BBC voices with a more friendly muffins-for-tea tone. [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] Still, the OU is not, and doesn't attempt to be, like conventional colleges. Most students are studying while they continue to work or raise a family or serve jail sentences or whatever it is they normally do. OU students are usually very committed to their studies and talk about the increased confidence and opportunities they give them. Everything runs at the student's own pace and even doing a whole degree is optional. Shorter courses are available as refreshers (for teachers, doctors, business people and so on) or just for fun. All this, inevitably, is at the expense of a more conventional student life. The contact between students is confined to seminars at the study centres and week-long summer schools. Those who become active in the students' association (the exception rather than the rule) see each other a bit, but basically, as the car stickers say, OU students do it on their own.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] The OU's unique approach lends itself especially to students that bit older than your standard spotty teenager; maybe they've got other commitments, like jobs or children, or just don't fancy spending 3 years in an institution. [EITAL]Many OU students left school at 16 and have very few qualifications, so wouldn't be able to study elsewhere even if they wanted to. [ITAL]The OU has nibbled a special nöche for itself with disabled students who may have access difficulties elsewhere.[EITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Working at home is a distinct advantage when it comes to travel, [EITAL]but the cost of travel to the local study centre for seminars and often long distances to summer schools comes out of the student's pocket. National Express decided that OU students are real students and so deserve discounts. ISIC and British Rail haven't been so generous.[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]OU students may find this a particular problem, because, without a campus, [EITAL]the OU is without a library except for a small non-borrowing collection at the OU headquarters in Milton Keynes [ITAL](incidentally, Milton Keynes is strictly for those who think that life as a Fisher Price toy would be paradise).[EITAL] OUSA has agreements with students' unions at other colleges so that OU students can use their libraries and other services. Many students make their own arrangements with local colleges (for which they often have to pay) or rely on public libraries and [ITAL]excellent[EITAL] course aids.[PARA][ITAL]Computers are similarly difficult to get one's typing fingers on, which is a particular downer for computing students, although 20,000 students are on computer courses of some kind. [EITAL]The University has arranged discounts on a range of computers for home-use and these can be networked down a telephone line to the University.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]The OU solves the problem of how to take a degree and pursue a career at the same time. [EITAL]Over 75% of students are also in full time employment and their employers are often extremely encouraging, particularly for students in the OU's Business School.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Connie Booth (actress); Micky Dolenz (ex-Monkee); Lord Gardiner (former Lord Chancellor); Lord Graham (Labour Chief Whip in Lords); Sheila Hancock (actress); Frank Hampson (Dan Dare cartoonist); Dave Sexton (football manager); Susan Tully ('EastEnders' actress); Kathleen Worth (actress).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Various free course guides available from the Central Enquiry Service.[PARA][PARA]
