The Open University - Improving the degree attainment of Black and minority ethnic students
Developing and obtaining senior commitment for an institutional action plan to address the ethnicity degree attainment gap.
The project team is developing a comprehensive action plan covering the following areas: student support and resources, tutor support and resources, curriculum development and further research. It will consolidate and build on the work already progressing in each of these areas.
The University’s highest level strategy, OU Futures, contains the following strategic priority for 2009/10:
‘Act on the findings of research to understand the causes of the attainment gap...’
The project team is sponsored by, and reports to, the Director, Students, a member of the Vice-Chancellor's Executive.
The outputs from a number of sources are being drawn together to develop the action plan, including;
- Findings from 3 OU research projects conducted in 2008/09
- Findings from previous OU research and sector-wide research
- Participation in the Academy/ECU summit programme, including learning from other institutions
- Consultation with OU academic and academic-related staff through a number of internal workshops/forums.
The project team will meet with senior members of staff, including members of the Vice-Chancellor's Executive and Deans of faculties, in Autumn 2009 to present the action plan and secure resources for future work.
Team Members
Tony O’Shea-Poon, Senior Manager, Equality and Diversity, a.f.oshea-poon@open.ac.uk
Dr Elizabeth Erling, Lecturer in English Language Teaching, e.j.erling@open.ac.uk
Professor John Richardson, Professor in Student Learning and Assessment, j.t.e.richardson@open.ac.uk
Rachel Hawkins, Assistant Director, Learning Design and Technology, r.a.hawkins@open.ac.uk