Press Release

Give the gift of lifelong learning, with the OU's new range of gift vouchers

27 Nov 2006

Want to avoid wrapping yet another pair of novelty reindeer socks this year? Dreading the thought of High-Street-Stress and Retail-Rage while you desperately seek out even more ‘unique’ gifts for those hard-to-buy-for relatives? This year, treat your loved ones to a present that lasts far beyond Boxing Day and give the gift of learning.

The Open University is launching a new range of gift vouchers so you can treat a friend or relative to a truly original experience which will stay with them for life.

Vouchers are available in denominations of £10, £20, £50 and £100 and can be used as full or part-payment on ANY of the OU’s 580 courses. Also available are Orange (£115) and Purple (135) vouchers which entitle the holder to enrol on a complete ‘short course’ ranging from Life in the oceans to Start writing family history, from Introducing astronomy to Start writing fiction.

Purchasers could open up a fascinating new interest area for someone they know this Christmas or even help them on their way to a brand new qualification. Whether they’re interested in pursuing a new interest or building on existing knowledge and experience, anyone can use the vouchers – easily enabling them to engage with the OU’s wide range of courses, regardless of whether they have studied recently or not.

And of course, vouchers make the perfect present for someone who’s already embarked on their studies with the OU as they can be used to offset fees for existing study.

Commenting on the new initiative, Julie Wilkinson, project manager, said: “The Open University vouchers are a fantastic new take on the ‘experience-gifting’ phenomenon we’ve seen take off over the past few years. Driving days and hot-air-balloon trips are great, but why not consider a rewarding experience that stays with us for a lifetime and unlocks entire new worlds of interest? Undertaking a course with the OU, whatever the level, is a truly alternative gift that will last long after the needles have fallen from the Christmas tree.”

OU gift vouchers can be purchased online at www.openuniversity.co.uk/vouchers and the last date for purchase to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas is Monday 18 December 2006.