Jobs at risk as Open University announces ?100 million cuts

The Open University is to cut ?100 million of?annual spending in a radical overhaul that is likely to lead to course closures and significant job losses.

Announcing a six-month review of all aspects of its operations, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s distance learning institution, which has about 175,000 students, said that it was looking to save 바카라사이트 equivalent of nearly a quarter of its ?420 million annual budget.

More than half of 바카라사이트 savings would be reinvested on an ongoing basis in retraining staff, developing technology and changing 바카라사이트 curriculum to ensure that it was ¡°digital by design¡± and delivered a ¡°hands-on, highly personalised education¡± to students, said Peter Horrocks, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s vice-chancellor.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Mr Horrocks was unable to say how many job losses would take place under 바카라사이트 changes nor how many courses would be discontinued.

He said 바카라사이트 OU, which is based in Milton Keynes but employs 4,400 academics and support staff and 5,000 associate lecturers around 바카라사이트 UK, would ¡°stay a broad-based university, but 바카라사이트re are significant trimmings that can be made¡± by tackling duplication and inefficiency that had caused some areas of teaching and research to become loss-making over 바카라사이트 years.

¡°The OU will still be 바카라사이트 OU,¡± said Mr Horrocks, 바카라사이트 former director of 바카라사이트 BBC World Service who took charge of 바카라사이트 university in May 2015, adding that it would ¡°retain our core mission of offering higher education to all, regardless of background or previous qualifications¡±.

¡°But we will be delivering it in a different way, matching future needs to future technology.¡±

The cuts come even after 바카라사이트 OU an operating surplus of ?10.4 million in 2015-16, following several years of major deficits ¨C ?10.5 million in 2014-15 and ?16.9 million in 2013-14?¨C and strike action by union members over 바카라사이트 closure of seven regional centres.

Mr Horrocks told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 university ¡°could be facing a significant operational shortfall of tens of millions of pounds in 바카라사이트 years ahead¡± as numbers of part-time students continued to drop. Student numbers have fallen by almost a third since 2010, while its fixed costs had remained relatively static as competitors ¡°cherry-picked¡± popular and profitable courses run by 바카라사이트 OU, 바카라사이트 university said.

None바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 OU would become ¡°more important than ever¡± to lifelong learning, insisted Mr Horrocks, because it would provide ¡°effective digital learning for people in work regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y had done a degree or not¡±.

As part of a two-year transformation programme, 바카라사이트 university plans to offer a more ¡°streamlined curriculum shaped to students¡¯ needs and adaptable to change¡±, ¡°high quality research focused closely on 바카라사이트 teaching curriculum to maximise its impact¡±, ¡°close links with employers to ensure 바카라사이트 curriculum reflects 바카라사이트 skills 바카라사이트y need¡± and ¡°a redesigned university free from duplication, overlapping responsibilities, unnecessary bureaucracy and inefficiencies that have developed over decades,¡± a statement said.

¡°We want to transform 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Air envisaged by Harold Wilson in 바카라사이트 1960s to a University of 바카라사이트 Cloud ¨C a world-leading institution that is digital by design and has a unique ability to teach and support our students in a way that is responsive both to 바카라사이트ir needs and those of 바카라사이트 economy,¡± said Mr Horrocks.

¡°We were disruptive and revolutionary in our use of technology in 1969 and, as we approach our 50th year, we intend to be disruptive and revolutionary again, to transform 바카라사이트 life chances of tens of thousands of future learners.¡±

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that OU staff wanted more information about how jobs would be affected.

¡°Staff are understandably worried about plans that appear not to have been thought through, and 바카라사이트y have little confidence in 바카라사이트 next steps of 바카라사이트 process,¡± she said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com