Open University v-c Peter Horrocks announces resignation

The vice-chancellor of The Open University has resigned, days after a council meeting where he apparently failed to win backing and?little over a week since?union members called for him to go.

Peter Horrocks that he would step down from 바카라사이트 Milton Keynes-based institution with immediate effect, following weeks of mounting pressure over cuts to jobs and courses, and leaked comments about academics¡¯ teaching duties.

Members of 바카라사이트 OU branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union passed a no-confidence motion in 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor on 5 April, claiming that Mr Horrocks¡¯ position had become ¡°untenable¡± after he claimed that 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s distance-learning model had allowed academics ¡°to get away with not being teachers for decades¡±.

The university¡¯s governing council held an emergency meeting to discuss 바카라사이트 growing unrest on 9 April, after which Richard Gillingwater, 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s chair, sent a message to staff?that did not endorse Mr Horrocks, who joined 바카라사이트 OU in 2015.

In a statement, Mr Horrocks said that executive deans and council members elected by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s senate had agreed to back key principles of his plans to reform 바카라사이트 OU, including a curriculum review.

¡°With those two components of [바카라사이트] Students First [transformation programme] approved by academic governance, 바카라사이트 university will have reached an important milestone,¡± Mr Horrocks said. ¡°So 바카라사이트 time has come when I am ready to move on, having achieved my primary goals at 바카라사이트 OU.¡±

Lydia Richards, 바카라사이트 UCU regional official, said that ¡°staff made it quite clear that 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor had to go and we are pleased he has finally got that message¡±.

¡°The Open University is a fantastic institution and Horrocks¡¯ replacement must defend 바카라사이트 unique role it plays in our education system and 바카라사이트 work of its staff,¡± she said.

¡°The university leadership team should now scrap 바카라사이트 damaging plans to cut jobs and courses, and work with us to develop a more positive strategy for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 institution.¡±

The OU said that Mary Kellett,?currently interim executive dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Business and Law, had been appointed acting vice-chancellor.

She said that she wanted to ¡°reach out¡± to staff ¡°to quell any anxieties you might be having about next steps¡±.

¡°There is now a need to pause and reflect, to regroup and above all to learn from all 바카라사이트 messages you have been giving us in recent weeks,¡± Professor Kellett said. She added: ¡°I am hopeful that we can instil a period of calm, of healing and of rebuilding trust.¡±

Mr Horrocks, a former director of 바카라사이트 BBC World Service, had tried to reshape 바카라사이트 OU's curricula, utilise new digital tools in teaching, and to transform 바카라사이트 university into a major provider of apprenticeship training.

However, he had to contend with a nationwide collapse in part-time study, driven by 바카라사이트 government's 2012 funding reforms, which was hard to turn around, and mounting opposition from staff who feared that Mr Horrocks' changes could turn 바카라사이트 OU into little more than an online content provider and could dilute its research expertise.

Mr Gillingwater, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s pro-chancellor, said that Mr Horrocks ¡°made an enormous contribution to securing 바카라사이트 future of The Open University during his three years at 바카라사이트 helm¡±.

¡°Peter has recaptured 바카라사이트 pioneering spirit of 바카라사이트 OU, challenged norms and pushed us to put innovation at 바카라사이트 heart of our preparations for 바카라사이트 future,¡± Mr Gillingwater said. ¡°He departs with our sincere thanks and warm wishes for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com