The Open University
www.nesta.org.uk/feature/everyday-social-innovations/the-open-university/
www.nesta.org.uk/feature/everyday-social-innovations/the-open-university/
Widening access to higher education for students once excluded by the barriers of wealth and work
Created: 1969
Where: Milton Keynes
Scale: The largest academic institution in the UK
Some of the most impactful social innovations occur when a societal injustice coincides with rapid, enabling technological advances. The habitual exclusion of the working classes from higher education and the growing capabilities of communication technologies enabled the Open University to invent a successful model for distance learning.
20,000 students registered for courses in the OU’s first intake in 1971 – a remarkable figure, given the national student population at the time was only 130,000. From its fabled late night BBC broadcasts, through the era of home video to modern e-learning, it has adapted to survive and attract new students.
With alumni ranging from MPs to football managers, the OU’s diverse student body continues to grow, with the institution gaining relevance as a flexible, affordable alternative in an increasingly competitive modern university landscape.
While the education reforms and technological revolutions continue to scrutinise and impact on education systems, the impact of the Open University in democratising education is undeniable.
