We are fortunate to be aligned with the World Leader of Online University Education, The Open University, Education Partner to ADO.
The Open University (OU) was established in 1969 and was initially based at Alexandra Palace, north London, using the television studios and editing facilities which had been vacated by the BBC. The first students enrolled in January 1971. The university administration is now based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, in Buckinghamshire, but has administration centres in other parts of the United Kingdom. It also has a presence in other European countries. The university awards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as non-degree qualifications such as diplomas and certificates or continuing education units.
With over 174,000 students enrolled, including around 31% of new undergraduates aged under 25 it is the largest academic institution in the United Kingdom (and one of the largest in Europe) by student number, and qualifies as one of the world’s largest universities. Since it was founded, more than 2 million students from around the world have studied its courses. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, broadcaster Anna Ford and actress Glenda Jackson are among a host of well-known names who have tutored for the OU.
The Open University is one of only three United Kingdom higher education institutions to gain accreditation in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an institutional accrediting agency, recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The BSc (Honors) Computing and IT course is accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT and quality assured by the European Quality Assurance Network for Informatics Education (EQANIE). The OU won the Teaching Excellence and Digital Innovation categories in The Guardian University Awards 2018.
Delivering Online University to over 150 Countries; In 2021-22 The OU had a US$3.58 billion economical impact. The Open University produces more CEOs than any other University in the UK, including Oxford, Cambridge and London School of Economics.