An educational money making machine.
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“An educational money making machine.”
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written by Emely360 on 21/03/2015
The OU does not encourage you to read outside of their module books and independent thought is discouraged.
More importantly the average degrees they hand out are 2:2's and 3rd's. Look at the other reviews on this site to confirm this.
Lecturers mark inconsistently, study outside of course books is frowned upon, hardly a Professor in sight..with not that many Dr's of disciplines either. Academic support is whimsical. Disability support is one fit for all. Complaining is a waste of time and if you are a minority student expect to receive lower marks for Level 2 and Level 3 modules - Their own 2014 Equality and Diversity report states as much.
The only important thing for the Open university - MONEY. Their other failing is their pathological inability to accept that many students are unhappy with their experience with the OU. They will insist until kingdom come that it is great studying with them. If it was why are their reviews so low, not just on this site but on other sites?
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Worn_Out's Comment
Written on: 26/03/2015
I'd be more concerned if they were handing out a hell of a lot of Firsts as that would mean they were too easily obtained and devalue the grade. Also a fair proportion of students are only doing it as a hobby and not interested in getting the highest grade and doing it for enjoyment.
As for the amount of Drs I would imagine that would depend on subject as most my tutors have been doctors in Computing, Mathematics and Biology so far. I'm on my second degree with the OU. Although tutoring I imagine is a part time job so I'm guessing a lot of tutors either do it alongside other work or part of retirement.
However I will admit any sort of change to complaints is painfully slow to be addressed with all the hoop jumping. I have no experience with disability support as it's not something I need so can't really comment on that.
Eleanor141's Comment
Written on: 26/03/2015
I am glad that your experience has been good but for many students this has proved NOT to be the case and having looked at many online reviews about the OU I now realise that my experience is not singular. I did not say that the OU should be liberally handing out 1st and 2:1's but many students end up with 2:2's and 3rds and many ethnic minority students end up with 2:2's and 3rds which SHOULD be a concern for these particular students when they are trying to decide upon which university to attend. As I stated before, the OU's own diversity and equality report states this.
The support - or lack thereof is also a ubiquitous issue at this university and their marking system is bizarre. You could obtain an average of 80% for all of your essays (TMA's) and then receive 50% for your actual exam and that mark will count as your final mark for the module.
In my opinion, potential students should explore the possibility of studying part time degrees at conventional universities. I have found another link on this website for the OU and the reviews there are equally bad.
Dannyb23's Comment
Written on: 20/04/2015
I wish I had read your review before signing up with this so-called university. The tutors and senior faculty staff advise you not to bother using the process to review your marks as it will basically be ignored.
Staff are increasingly using OU tutoring as one of a number of income streams and do not put in the effort you would expect in their work.
They also censor any critical comments on their social media without saying they are doing it.
Peony's Comment
Written on: 21/04/2015
My current tutor tutors a number of courses and also works for the OU. Has no real academic qualifications for the subject. I have never encountered a professor as a tutor with the OU, and these days no Dr's either.
Worn_Out's Comment
Written on: 21/07/2015
Yes but to get fewer students with lower seconds and thirds then either the number failing goes up or the number of higher honours awarded goes up which in turn will change the 'value' of the honours if more people are getting best degrees or failing.
There need to be better statistics published by the OU of what honours are awarded and why the course was undertaken (career prospects, hobby etc.) and the age of the recipient. But trying to find anything on the website is a nightmare in itself. :(
I don't see why ethnic students would be awarded more lower class honours as I don't see how support would differ between ethnic group, maybe due to region which could have a higher percentage of ethnic groups. As I know the support I get in region 9, the North, is lacking compared to the South and regions containing cities as they have more tutorials (f2f ones too) and day schools whereas region 9 has next to nothing and is lumped with the international students.
there used to be a advisor who saw you through the whole qualification not just SST groups they have now and I think they should bring that back.
As for the marking system, it's not bizarre. Most brick universities only class small percentage of the modules as coursework (my brick uni its was only 10-15% on modules so an 80% coursework score doesn't have that much affect on overall grade). Also with it being distance learning your tutor isn't as heavily involved with you so might not recognise someone else's work passed off as your own and there have been cases where exams have been reintroduced to some modules due to TMA questions appearing on websites offering answers and help. You are only as strong as your weakest link. But they should reword the blooming assessment strategy and stop referring to it as 50:50 which makes people think it's the average as that crops up year after year and on every module I've done people question it. (Although wouldn't have minded the average myself when I was a couple marks off distinction in one exam and TMAs were in the 90s).
As ever I agree with considering all options as there are more part time and distance learning facilities out there these days and it all depends on the student's life and circumstances, what they want to ultimately do with the degree and what subjects and unis will best further that.
Pardonme's Comment
Written on: 13/10/2018
I agree with you, it is still going on and it is now 2018. The OU is definitely just out for making the money they do not care about the students. They are absolutely disgusting. I really do not understand how they get away with treating people like this. More people should put a comment on the OU review page.
Peony's Comment
Written on: 21/04/2015
I agree that disability support is about non existent. I thought it was just me, but have seen on these forums a number of others saying they experienced lack of support. It seems to be a policy on paper that is not applied in practice.