Here is the communiqué from yesterday's meeting of Higher Education Ministers dealing with Bologna http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/conference/documents/Leuven_Louvain-la-Neuve_Communiqué_April_2009.pdf
There's a lot for the OU (and OUSA maybe) to digest - not sure for example distance learning fits in with the sector ensuring 20% of its students travel abroad (a 2020 target), but maybe some kind of virtual equivalent with other European universities could be devised.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Religious Initiatives
http://p9445.typo3server.info/events.0.html
http://forum2008.ifeseurope.org/post_conf/projects.php
Two typical student projects above - the Christian one gets EU funding (I assume) and the Muslim one is bigger.
From an OUSA point of view there's maybe not much to say as both things are youth-oriented.
http://forum2008.ifeseurope.org/post_conf/projects.php
Two typical student projects above - the Christian one gets EU funding (I assume) and the Muslim one is bigger.
From an OUSA point of view there's maybe not much to say as both things are youth-oriented.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Brits abroad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/ - an old survey, but confirms that most British expats still live in 'Western' European countries, so (as per the post just now) the expansion of the OU in Eastern Europe will happen as English language proficiency increases (or Brits get really good at learning Eastern European languages...)
English Worldwide
This report by the British Council http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-research-english-next.pdf has interesting stuff on the market for English language material worldwide, as well as useful material on the globalisation of universities - see pages 90-92.
For students in Continental Europe, there's clear evidence that English is on the ascent (unlike English elsewhere, which is facing challenges from Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic).
For students in Continental Europe, there's clear evidence that English is on the ascent (unlike English elsewhere, which is facing challenges from Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic).
Friday, 24 April 2009
Latvia
Got some interesting feedback from a student in Latvia the other day.
Two key things: Latvian wages are still low compared to the UK (I reckon about 40% of the UK rate), which means OU courses are likely to be unaffordable. Also Internet access is improving.
Two key things: Latvian wages are still low compared to the UK (I reckon about 40% of the UK rate), which means OU courses are likely to be unaffordable. Also Internet access is improving.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Euroculture
Euroculture is part of Erasmus - it's a small networked programme of Masters Level studies in matters European. I originally found out about it when I was surfing the site of Uppsala University, green with envy about the lack of tuition fees in Sweden (but you have to pay a student union fee!). Look at how clear and Euro-friendly this site is btw www.studyinsweden.se
http://www.euroculturemaster.org/default.aspx?sec=3&sub=7 shows the result of some of their work and the main information is here http://www.euroculturemaster.org/
Implications for the O U - well, some kind of Euro-distance learning networked qualification?
http://www.euroculturemaster.org/default.aspx?sec=3&sub=7 shows the result of some of their work and the main information is here http://www.euroculturemaster.org/
Implications for the O U - well, some kind of Euro-distance learning networked qualification?
Monday, 20 April 2009
Plus ça change....
....the more clichés we get.
Given the way OUSA is reviewing stuff, I thought I would review some of the stuff written by John Daniels, probably one of the most-overseas friendly Vice Chancellors the Open University has had.
This speech to the OUSA Conference in 1998 is interesting http://www.open.ac.uk/johndanielspeeches/ousa98.html as is this 'follow-up' speech http://www.open.ac.uk/johndanielspeeches/postuma.htm about whether the O U has been true to its particular vision. From an overseas student point of view there are several lessons to be learnt (for one, how 'conservative' and 'clunky' yet idealistic both the OU and OUSA of then seem now - my personal view)but I found these two quotes interesting:
On the one hand we are a very international people. We are a trading nation at the centre of the land hemisphere and we put together the largest empire the world has known. Pro rata to population the British diaspora in the rest of the world must, in its extent, diversity and influence, have few rivals. Yet knee jerk insularity is never far from the surface. Ever since the war we have made a mess of our relations with the rest of Europe and xenophobia is a staple of both our tabloids and our broadsheets.
That’s rather like the OU. OUSA has tended to first oppose and then embrace the expansion of the University overseas. Some staff clapped when Sir William Stubbs, at this year’s Council lecture, implied that the OU should stay at home. Yet these same staff respond with enthusiasm to requests from foreign institutions to offer OU courses.
The OU's expansion overseas has often occasioned lively debate at OUSA conferences. The Executive has usually begun by opposing each new extension abroad but then given enthusiastic support as a new student constituency emerged.
This seems to me to be particularly relevant to the situation facing overseas students today - we need to smartly manage the Little Britain stuff and convert it into enthusiasm for internationalism.
Given the way OUSA is reviewing stuff, I thought I would review some of the stuff written by John Daniels, probably one of the most-overseas friendly Vice Chancellors the Open University has had.
This speech to the OUSA Conference in 1998 is interesting http://www.open.ac.uk/johndanielspeeches/ousa98.html as is this 'follow-up' speech http://www.open.ac.uk/johndanielspeeches/postuma.htm about whether the O U has been true to its particular vision. From an overseas student point of view there are several lessons to be learnt (for one, how 'conservative' and 'clunky' yet idealistic both the OU and OUSA of then seem now - my personal view)but I found these two quotes interesting:
On the one hand we are a very international people. We are a trading nation at the centre of the land hemisphere and we put together the largest empire the world has known. Pro rata to population the British diaspora in the rest of the world must, in its extent, diversity and influence, have few rivals. Yet knee jerk insularity is never far from the surface. Ever since the war we have made a mess of our relations with the rest of Europe and xenophobia is a staple of both our tabloids and our broadsheets.
That’s rather like the OU. OUSA has tended to first oppose and then embrace the expansion of the University overseas. Some staff clapped when Sir William Stubbs, at this year’s Council lecture, implied that the OU should stay at home. Yet these same staff respond with enthusiasm to requests from foreign institutions to offer OU courses.
The OU's expansion overseas has often occasioned lively debate at OUSA conferences. The Executive has usually begun by opposing each new extension abroad but then given enthusiastic support as a new student constituency emerged.
This seems to me to be particularly relevant to the situation facing overseas students today - we need to smartly manage the Little Britain stuff and convert it into enthusiasm for internationalism.
Prague declaration March 29
http://www.eua.be/fileadmin/user_upload/files/Publications/EUA_Prague_declaration.pdf
This declaration by the EUA (the OU is a member) maybe does not say anything surprising - this kind of stuff:
Our common vision is of autonomous universities as dynamic, flexible institutions
promoting excellence and innovation in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer.
is par for the course - but I think the convergence and consensus here is significant. Not much mention of nitty-gritty stuff like fees of course...
This declaration by the EUA (the OU is a member) maybe does not say anything surprising - this kind of stuff:
Our common vision is of autonomous universities as dynamic, flexible institutions
promoting excellence and innovation in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer.
is par for the course - but I think the convergence and consensus here is significant. Not much mention of nitty-gritty stuff like fees of course...
Friday, 17 April 2009
Tutorials
A few points on face-to-face tutorial allocations arising from a discussion in the FC Forum Overseas Students Problems.
Firstly, the good news is that it is definitely the case that any student is welcome to attend a tutorial anywhere - if tutorials are available they will appear on the Tutorial Finder program on your Student Home Page. Bear in mind though the TF may not be up to date so ringing up the Regional Centre http://www.open.ac.uk/about/organise/p3.shtml or asking students in the Region you're passing through (e.g. on First Class) is the way to go. It may mean a bit of legwork (or fingerwork in ringing round etc.), forward planning and so on.
The kind of 'bad' news is that because of low attendance the OU is not 'keen' on face-to-face tutorials and certainly in Continental Europe this will mean that tutorials are unlikely in most cases. This affects UK students too - it is not uncommon in low population courses that a student will be allocated to tutorials in another region.
It seems the OU is thus inevitably pitched towards maintaining the drive towards online synchronous tutorials. My personal view is that online synchronous tutorials probably are the way to go, but there should still be core face-to-face tutorials in areas with a large student population, and the way in which they are advertised could be further improved. Also personally speaking, some of the best tuition I have had has been by traditional means - ie snail mail advice from a tutor - and I would hope that that kind of creative on-a-shoe-string stuff would continue to be encouraged.
Firstly, the good news is that it is definitely the case that any student is welcome to attend a tutorial anywhere - if tutorials are available they will appear on the Tutorial Finder program on your Student Home Page. Bear in mind though the TF may not be up to date so ringing up the Regional Centre http://www.open.ac.uk/about/organise/p3.shtml or asking students in the Region you're passing through (e.g. on First Class) is the way to go. It may mean a bit of legwork (or fingerwork in ringing round etc.), forward planning and so on.
The kind of 'bad' news is that because of low attendance the OU is not 'keen' on face-to-face tutorials and certainly in Continental Europe this will mean that tutorials are unlikely in most cases. This affects UK students too - it is not uncommon in low population courses that a student will be allocated to tutorials in another region.
It seems the OU is thus inevitably pitched towards maintaining the drive towards online synchronous tutorials. My personal view is that online synchronous tutorials probably are the way to go, but there should still be core face-to-face tutorials in areas with a large student population, and the way in which they are advertised could be further improved. Also personally speaking, some of the best tuition I have had has been by traditional means - ie snail mail advice from a tutor - and I would hope that that kind of creative on-a-shoe-string stuff would continue to be encouraged.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Bologna ten years meeting in Leuven (April 29)
This site tells you all about the Bologna Process http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/aboutthiswebsite/ - the info. kind of travels round different hosts. 46 countries are currently involved with Bologna.
On the calendar of events, you'll find out about plans for a Ministerial meeting in Leuven on April 29 which should see the launch of a new policy Forum http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/conference/index.htm
The Open University is involved in this - here's a Google cache of a seminar about the difficulties of bachelor degrees being recognised - I've done a link to the Google cache because it contains anonymous notes on the OU presentation that perhaps provide one example of the big cultural gulf between the UK and the Continent. http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:HMn4AOpHeIMJ:www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/BolognaSeminars/documents/Luxembourg/Plenary3_LoreArthur.ppt+%22lore+arthur%22+open+university&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
On the calendar of events, you'll find out about plans for a Ministerial meeting in Leuven on April 29 which should see the launch of a new policy Forum http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/conference/index.htm
The Open University is involved in this - here's a Google cache of a seminar about the difficulties of bachelor degrees being recognised - I've done a link to the Google cache because it contains anonymous notes on the OU presentation that perhaps provide one example of the big cultural gulf between the UK and the Continent. http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:HMn4AOpHeIMJ:www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologna/BolognaSeminars/documents/Luxembourg/Plenary3_LoreArthur.ppt+%22lore+arthur%22+open+university&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Cross border education checklist
The UNESCO site contains a lot of information about the internationalization of higher education (and also has information on the whole international higher education 'industry' such as this example http://www.unesco.org/iau/conferences/Mexico2009/pdf/list.pdf).
In 2006, the International Association of Universities (and others) drew up a checklist concerning the delivery of higher education across borders http://www.unesco.org/iau/internationalization/pdf/cross_border_checklist.pdf
The bit on fees is interesting:
Cross-border higher education
should be accessible not only to
students who can afford to pay,
but also to qualified students with
financial need.
In 2006, the International Association of Universities (and others) drew up a checklist concerning the delivery of higher education across borders http://www.unesco.org/iau/internationalization/pdf/cross_border_checklist.pdf
The bit on fees is interesting:
Cross-border higher education
should be accessible not only to
students who can afford to pay,
but also to qualified students with
financial need.
Monday, 13 April 2009
Seminar on regional activities in England
Although of not direct relevance to overseas students a recent seminar http://stadium.open.ac.uk/stadia/preview.php?s=31&whichevent=1321 (only available within the OU) on the above is noteworthy because it:
- confirmed the appeal within some areas of OU opinion for a global international strategy
- did not go into detail on the possible situation for Continental European students
- confirmed the importance of 'enterprise' and partnerships with local businesses (possibly seeing them as income generators separate from government), using examples in Finland and the Netherlands as possible models.
- (personal view) demonstrated the need for OUSA to review its role in this type of exercise (ie amount of representation, how OUSA reps feedback to students)
The seminar was very much an internal brainstorming session, so what actually happens next may well be different to anything suggested by the points I've highlighted above.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Dearing report
Was interested in the Dearing report http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/ncihe/- really out of date - but good appendices on the higher education system in Europe. I thought the then Dutch model of having a third of each University Committee comprising student members was good. The OU though would have to have online meetings, something that so far it has not managed to do.
Thursday, 9 April 2009
"Rival" to the OU
http://www.rdi.co.uk/about-us-%7C-distance-learning.html
This worldwide consortium is perhaps typical of what the OU might be up against, although the OU is both cheaper and has a wider range of courses.
This worldwide consortium is perhaps typical of what the OU might be up against, although the OU is both cheaper and has a wider range of courses.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Eurostat 'encylopaedia' on H E in Europe
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1073,46587259&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_product_code=978-92-79-05691-8
This is a very interesting publication - out of date - but contains a wealth of information on the higher education sector in Europe. It's a long download (250 pages). Section C on fees is interesting - very big differences across the Continent.
As long ago as 1999 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=148460§ioncode=26 the Commission decided to collect statistical information but note that even back then they were very careful not to say anything in favour of the idea of regulating or harmonising fees.
This is a very interesting publication - out of date - but contains a wealth of information on the higher education sector in Europe. It's a long download (250 pages). Section C on fees is interesting - very big differences across the Continent.
As long ago as 1999 http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=148460§ioncode=26 the Commission decided to collect statistical information but note that even back then they were very careful not to say anything in favour of the idea of regulating or harmonising fees.
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Usefulness of overseas students to national governments
Here's an interesting article from the Europaeum bulletin http://www.europaeum.org/content/view/701/71
It's essentially out of date as regards fees but it contains good arguments in favour of the usefulness of international students in encouraging diversity and enhancing national prestige.
It's essentially out of date as regards fees but it contains good arguments in favour of the usefulness of international students in encouraging diversity and enhancing national prestige.
OUSA Conference results
The Open University Student Association Conference 2009 ended on Sunday: it's hard to give here a précis of the several hundred bits of information I could put on here but here are some trends.
In general, from an overseas student perspective, OUSA moved forward policy-wise on awareness of international issues and the importance of external relations, enhancing the student experience (even in small ways such as improving the reliability of the TMA submission system) and improving the way OUSA communicates (including maintaining the importance of face-to-face meetings).
On what is probably the biggest issue for overseas students - fees - there was not much progress, partly because policy is already in place, and partly (I guess) because in a recession sources such as OUSA's own 'pot' of money to help students are likely to be smaller.
What does seem to have happened at Conference though is that with the introduction of workshops and so on away from formal proceedings the whole event is turning less formal and more 'dynamic'.
In general, from an overseas student perspective, OUSA moved forward policy-wise on awareness of international issues and the importance of external relations, enhancing the student experience (even in small ways such as improving the reliability of the TMA submission system) and improving the way OUSA communicates (including maintaining the importance of face-to-face meetings).
On what is probably the biggest issue for overseas students - fees - there was not much progress, partly because policy is already in place, and partly (I guess) because in a recession sources such as OUSA's own 'pot' of money to help students are likely to be smaller.
What does seem to have happened at Conference though is that with the introduction of workshops and so on away from formal proceedings the whole event is turning less formal and more 'dynamic'.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Important meeting in Brussels - Bologna Process - 28 April
http://www.esu-online.org/
Although OUSA is not officially part of the European Students Union (I think), I imagine we will want to keep an eye on this.
Although OUSA is not officially part of the European Students Union (I think), I imagine we will want to keep an eye on this.
OUSA Conference: EIT call for tender
I haven't had any official reports back from Conference. Initial reports seem to suggest it was 'quiet', but I could be wrong.
In other news, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology has recently sent out a call for tender http://eit.europa.eu/ that may be of interest. The EIT was set up as a kind of rival to the MIT and similar places, with the aim of boosting Europe's knowledge economy.
In other news, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology has recently sent out a call for tender http://eit.europa.eu/ that may be of interest. The EIT was set up as a kind of rival to the MIT and similar places, with the aim of boosting Europe's knowledge economy.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
OUSA Conference
OUSA Conference is taking place as I write. There are a range of motions of interest to overseas students and I hope to be publishing news of their fate as soon as possible.
Graduation ceremonies
Some discussion recently about graduation ceremonies (could they be extended), cash handling (not feasible under current OU policy) etc. Graduation ceremonies are held physically in the UK as well as Versailles and we need to be sure (author's opinion) that logistical concerns don't affect Versailles (or any other venue). There is also a case for more 'open day' type events.
OUSA Futures
OUSA Futures is a consultation exercise. So far the following items of possible interest have come up.
- structure of OUSA (various options: looks though as if there will be changes aimed at slimming down the Executive Committee)
- role and manner of representing students on OU bodies (various concerns expressed from the OU: also suggestions made such as getting the OU to move towards online meetings)
- structure of OUSA (various options: looks though as if there will be changes aimed at slimming down the Executive Committee)
- role and manner of representing students on OU bodies (various concerns expressed from the OU: also suggestions made such as getting the OU to move towards online meetings)
OUSA Overseas News
This is an experimental news service for overseas students of the Open University Students Association. The aim is to provide short factual bulletins for those interested in keeping up to date on matters affecting overseas students.
Disclaimer: This is not an official site: the news and views in it are personal to the author.
Disclaimer: This is not an official site: the news and views in it are personal to the author.
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About Me
- Mike
- Hi - I'm Mike - I live in Belgium and am an Open University Student also active in the Open University Students Association. I am always on the verge of saying something important (or so I tell myself...)