Open University

[Fuchs66]

Well you know, a small business, such as I work for, tends to send its staff on acocuntancy courses at private colleges, or to specialist industry courses. There's local colleges & numerous evening classes as well aren't there, or it can do day release?

Face it - you're not going to go and get a day off work to study 'Polite and popular culture in the eighteenth century'.

Well if that was generally the case the demand for similar courses at the OU would die out and the courses would disappear, so what are you worried about? I was given no time off for my courses as they did not fit my job description at that time, although it later led to a couple of promotions and has given me the chance to be a freelancer now.

 

[Hollis]

I was given no time off for my courses as they did not fit my job description at that time, although it later led to a couple of promotions and has given me the chance to be a freelancer now.

Yes - excellent for you. But don't you think the OU should do more than help career progression?

As I keep saying its a unique opportunity for the bulk of the population to do high level challenging non-vocational courses. And they're cutting back.

 

[Fuchs66]

But don't you think the OU should do more than help career progression?

As I keep saying its a unique opportunity for the bulk of the population to do high level challenging non-vocational courses. And they're cutting back.

Definately they should as far as possible.

Maybe they're cutting back because "the bulk of the population" dont want courses of this nature, no demand = cut course, simple as that.

 

[fractionMan]

Sorry, but it still sounds like sour grapes that they don't offer the exact 'cultural history of the 20th century' type MA course you're looking for.

Are you trying to tell me that the OU history MA is vocational? Or the popular culture, music, philosophy, clasical studies etc...?

 

[Hollis]

Sorry, but it still sounds like sour grapes that they don't offer the exact 'cultural history of the 20th century' type MA course you're looking for.

Are you trying to tell me that the OU history MA is vocational? Or the popular culture, music, philosophy, clasical studies etc...?

okay - maybe i'm getting confused between vocational and non-vocational.

I've just given you examples - dismissing it as sour grapes isn't really much of an argument tbh.