Press Release
Manchester and OU sign partnership agreement
28 February 2006
The University of Manchester and The Open University have agreed a new partnership to develop and offer combined degree programmes, focussed initially on overseas student markets.
The partnership will allow the UK’s two largest universities to access each other’s curriculum and draw on their complementary strengths in serving both part-time and full-time students.
The President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Professor Alan Gilbert, and Professor Brenda Gourley, Vice-Chancellor of the OU, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in London.
Professor Alan Gilbert said: “The OU is undoubtedly the world leader in modern distance and open learning, in the development of multimedia-based learning materials and in the excellence of its student support systems.
These competitive advantages, coupled with the OU’s growing strength and sophistication in on-line delivery, make it an ideal partner for The University of Manchester as we seek to enrich the learning experience of our campus-based students and embark on our ambitious international plans.”
Professor Brenda Gourley said: “The OU has 30,000 international students all around the world and has much experience in delivering learning outside of the UK. The curriculum and research experience that Manchester brings to the partnership will allow us to jointly explore new learning and teaching opportunities in order to serve new markets overseas.
"Our joint commitment to global social justice will also be supported by this initiative helping us provide access to higher education to people in developing countries around the world, including those in Africa and thus contributing to the poverty agenda that Manchester has recently announced.”
The two universities have already identified several potential areas for collaboration, which will provide a range of flexible options for overseas students to combine study in the UK with distance learning in their home country.
Initial offerings will be targeted in key markets in China, India and other parts of Asia, as well as smaller but just as important markets in Africa and Latin America.
Editor’s Notes
The University of Manchester has 35,000 students, including 7,400 international students from 180 different countries. Manchester is one of Britain’s leading, research intensive universities, and the first half billion pound university, with an annual income of more than £514m.
Established in 1969, the Open University is a world leader in open and supported distance learning with more than 200,000 students. The OU was ranked first for “overall satisfaction” by students in the 2005 Sunday Times University Guide; the ranking was based on the results of the first National Student Survey.
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