Brown boost for e-learning

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that the Open University is to receive an extra £12 million in funding to “develop its role as a national leader in distance learning”. The announcement was made at a reception held at Downing Street to mark the Open University’s 40th anniversary.

Speaking to an audience of former students, tutors and the Vice Chancellor of the UK’s largest higher education, Mr Brown said: “The success of distance learning, pioneered 40 years ago by the Open University, has been nothing short of a revolution for higher education. It has opened the doors to a whole new audience of students who have not only seen academic success but reaped the wider rewards learning brings.

“An approach to higher education which emphasises accessibility and flexibility has put the UK at the forefront of e-learning. I am also supporting the Open University with additional funding to further its role as a national leader, working with other institutions to develop distance learning.”

The Open University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Vincent, welcomed the news, saying: “The landscape of higher education and the needs of today's students are changing rapidly and in order to address these challenges, a collaborative approach is hugely important. Being open with resources and content has always been a part of the OU's mission to widen participation in education. We are extremely excited by the potential that these projects present for the sector as a whole and, most importantly, for students.”