Recognising the Success of all students - Jill Gribble (Open University)
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Recognising the Success of all students - Jill Gribble (Open University)
- 1. Recognising the Success of all students Jill Gribble, Assistant Director The Open University; PVC Students Office December 2024 Jill.gribble@open.ac.uk
- 2. 2 The Open University is a distance learning Higher Education provider in the UK who is open to all regardless of previous qualifications. Initial formed in 1969 with the first students enrolling in 1971. In 2023/24 the University directly taught approximately 150,000 students: 79% who had no previous HE qualifications on entry. 52% did not have qualification levels that would be consider standard entry requirements. 69% are in full time work. 26% live in the 25% most deprived areas. 35% of our new students in 2023/24 were aged under 25. In 2023/24 we awarded 17,673 qualifications and have now awarded over a million qualifications in total. Our most popular subjects are Psychology and Business. The Open University
- 3. 3 Example Student Journey Standard 360 credit Undergraduate Degree 120 credits 240 credits
- 4. 4 Background The Open Universitys student experienced is designed to offer students flexibility in their study. Students can: Change the intensity of their study e.g. study more than one module at a time. Change the subject they are studying towards. Take pause their studies returning at a later date. Students currently register module to module so do not need to inform the University if they are ceasing or pausing their study. Students are not always aware that they may be eligible to take a lower qualification such as an Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma. This means: Students do not always recognise or understand their own achievements. Student can often feel like they have failed by not having succeeded in their original goal. Qualification completion or student success rates look lower in official statistics. What if we were to award lower qualifications to students who had ceased to study for a period of time?
- 5. 5 Approach The project Identified students who had ceased to study in recent years. A definition of ceased to study was those who had not studied for two or more years. Identified which of these students had sufficient credit for a lower qualification. Checked eligibility of the students for an award. Student Communications Students were contacted by email informing them of their eligibility and offering them three options: To decline the qualification; the form gave them the option to receive no further contact. To accept the qualification or choose one if they were eligible for more than one. To talk to an advisor for advice on how to return to study. A collaborative project took place between Data teams, the Pro Vice Chancellor Students Office and Qualification Awarding teams.
- 6. 6 Results For the 2023 pilot we saw the following results Approximately 2,400 students were identified from the 2016/17 cohort as having ceased to study but with sufficient credit to receive a lower qualification. As a result of the communications approximately 25% of students requested a qualification. Of the 2,400 students contacted 5% have reregistered with The Open University to continue their journey. The number of qualifications awarded equates to a possible 1.7% uplift in The Open Universitys qualification completion rates as measured by their regulator. Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Students have spoken about how the communications and resulting qualification has given them a sense of achievement. Resulting actions: From March 2024 the Universitys conditions of registration were changed to allow the automatic awarding of qualifications to students who had ceased to study. Awards have been issued to all students who have ceased to study between 2017/18 and 2021/22.
- 7. 7 Next steps The work continuing in phases and embedding into normal practice: Alongside these phases we are: Reviewing curriculum, particularly Postgraduate Taught Curriculum to ensure there are appropriate milestone awards. Understanding possible requirements for automated systems to support the manual process.
- 8. 8 Reflections Focussed on all levels of study Undergraduate and Postgraduate. Prompted a review of current curriculum to ensure milestone qualifications are available in all subjects. Forms a good foundation for Lifelong Learning. Project completed at no extra cost but must acknowledge staff willingness.
- 9. 9 Recognising previous success credit transfer If people in the UK have previously studied at Higher Education level within the last 16 years, there are many opportunities for them to count this towards Open University study. Completed part of a degree at another University, Studied overseas, Gained a relevant professional or vocational qualification, Completed a UG certificate or diploma. Particularly important in the UK as the Lifelong Learning entitlement comes in 2026/27.
- 10. Any questions?