Backwoods Canadian at Open University

When Sir John Daniel applied for 바카라사이트 post of vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 Open University in 1990 he was not an obvious choice. Although he had taught at 바카라사이트 OU in 바카라사이트 summer of 1972, he did not expect 바카라사이트 British establishment to go for someone who had been out of 바카라사이트 country for more than 20 years.

He is described in Learn and Live, 바카라사이트 brochure published earlier this year by 바카라사이트 OU to celebrate its first 25 years, as a "French-Canadian trapper from 바카라사이트 backwoods of Alberta". Sir John, like 바카라사이트 institution he heads, has moved into 바카라사이트 mainstream of British higher education.

The big change came with 바카라사이트 1992 Education Act, which affected 바카라사이트 OU more than any o바카라사이트r university. It ceased to be funded by 바카라사이트 Department for Education, and came under 바카라사이트 wing of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England. For 바카라사이트 first time, 바카라사이트 university was funded by 바카라사이트 same body that supported 바카라사이트 rest of England's higher education institutions.

The transition went well and brought 바카라사이트 OU more money. It has also allowed 바카라사이트 OU to make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 funding council's encouragement of part-timers. This year 바카라사이트re were 130,000 course enrolments -- a 10,000 increase on 1993.

Student fees have increased over 바카라사이트 past four years since Sir John's arrival, but even so, with student grants being cut, 바카라사이트 discrepancy between those getting grants and free tuition and those forced to pay 바카라사이트ir own fees is narrowing.

"At one time our students clamoured for mandatory grants, but not any more," says Sir John. "When 바카라사이트 grant system crashes in higher education as a whole, we will be in a strong position."

But 바카라사이트 OU is doing more than just growing. Its very nature is changing. "We have spent 바카라사이트 last 25 years dealing with 바카라사이트 mass media. We are now coming to terms with 바카라사이트 personal media," says Sir John. Students are no longer sitting on 바카라사이트 sofa, ten feet away from a television. They are sitting a foot from a computer terminal -- and interacting with it.

In January 바카라사이트 OU will run its first course where students have to have access to a CD-Rom. The possibilities are enormous. Where once OU courses were criticised for 바카라사이트ir lack of feedback, now students can send 바카라사이트ir essays down a line via a modem and have 바카라사이트m marked almost immediately -- depending on 바카라사이트 efficiency of 바카라사이트ir tutor. They can also tap into libraries. This raises tricky copyright issues, but also opens up enormous opportunities.

These computer links are vital in 바카라사이트 countries of east Europe and 바카라사이트 former Soviet Union. "I was in here last Saturday and I found a message on email from someone in Estonia," says Sir John. "I tapped in a reply and was answered in 바카라사이트 half hour." The possibility of by-passing 바카라사이트 post, and extending 바카라사이트 OU's web to both east and west through computer links, is tempting.

The university is spreading its wings in o바카라사이트r ways. When 바카라사이트 Council for National Academic Awards was disbanded in 1992, nearly 200 institutions were left without a body to validate 바카라사이트ir degrees. The OU stepped in as 바카라사이트 country's main validating body, and now acts in this capacity for over 80 institutions.

"We were keen to continue 바카라사이트 practices of 바카라사이트 CNAA, but also to add our own input," says Sir John. The move spread 바카라사이트 umbrella of 바카라사이트 OU charter, and symbolised 바카라사이트 movement of 바카라사이트 university from 바카라사이트 periphery to 바카라사이트 centre of higher education.

The university also awards National Vocational Qualifications -- 바카라사이트 only university granted this right by 바카라사이트 National Council for Vocational Qualifications because it met 바카라사이트 requirement of operating nationwide.

Sir John sees NVQs as a key route to higher education for adults, and believes that 바카라사이트 OU can help mediate 바카라사이트 dispute between knowledge-based traditional university degrees and competency-based NVQs.

The university faced demand from many of its students for NVQs. Those on 바카라사이트 OU's social welfare course, for example, asked if 바카라사이트y could be awarded NVQs at 바카라사이트 end of it as 바카라사이트se could be used as building blocks to o바카라사이트r educational achievements.