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href="https://about.open.ac.uk/accessibility-statement">Accessiblity statement</a> </div>  <div id="block-block-58" class="block-block ou-creative clearfix"> <style type="text/css"> <![CDATA[/* ><!]]>*/ </style> <div class="ou-creative"> <div class="ou-creative__wrap"><img alt="" class="ou-creative__image" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/Banners/web-graduation-banner-backs.jpg" /> <div class="ou-creative__wording ou-creative__wording--bottom"> <h1 class="ou-creative__title">Learn about The Open University</h1> <div class="ou-creative__description"> <p>The Open University is a global leader in higher education able to reach every adult in the United Kingdom - and many others across the world.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="ou-site-body"> <div id="ou-page"> <div id="ou-region0"> <div class="region region-region0"> <div id="block-block-91" class="block-block clearfix"> <style> .ou-ia-footer-accessibility-statement {display:none !important} </style></div>  </div> </div> <div id="ou-region1"> <div class="ou-content"> <p> <a id="int-content" ></a> <a id="main-content" ></a> </p> <h1>About the Open University</h1> <div class="region region-content"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block-system clearfix"> <div id="node-1" class="node node-page node-full"> <span property="dc:title" content="About the Open University" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span property="sioc:num_replies" content="0" datatype="xsd:integer" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p class="ou-introduction">In 1969 one ambition changed the world, giving anyone, anywhere the power to learn. Established by the <a href="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/files/ecms/web-content/Charter.pdf" id="white-link">Royal Charter</a>聽(pdf 235kb) and globally recognised, The Open University has pioneered distance learning for over 50 years, delivering exceptional teaching and outstanding support to students across the UK and the world.</p> <p>Our mission is to make learning accessible to all, and together we鈥檝e already helped over 2 million students to realise their ambitions.</p> <div class="ou-articles ou-articles--stacked ou-blocks ou-blocks--3-cols ou-blocks--mob-1-col ou-blocks--tablet-1-col"> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/VCE%20pics%20Josie%20Fraser%202.png" style="width: 248px; height: 230px;" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h2><a href="/governance-ou/executive-team/vice-chancellor" rel="nofollow">Our Vice-Chancellor</a></h2> <p>Meet Professor Josie Fraser, Interim Vice-Chancellor here at The Open University.</p> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article "> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="The ceremonial mace" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/home-page-2020/web-ceremonial-mace.jpg" title="The ceremonial mace" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h2><a href="/governance-ou" rel="nofollow">Governance</a></h2> <p>Find out about Governance at the University as聽defined by聽Royal Charter, including its officers, committees and procedures.</p> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="Roaming space robot" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/home-page-2020/space-labs-small.png" title="Roaming space robot" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h2><a href="/teaching-and-research" rel="nofollow">Teaching and research</a></h2> <p>See how our OU-style open learning works from course development through to delivery to our students.</p> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="Graduate celebrating recieving her award" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/home-page-2020/graduation-image.jpg" title="Graduate celebrating recieving her award" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h2><a href="/strategy-and-policies" rel="nofollow">Policies and reports</a></h2> <p>Learn about The Open University, its history and mission.</p> <p>Find out <a href="/policies-and-reports/where-do-student-fees-go">where your fees go</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="Hand writing a report" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/home-page-2020/annual-reports.jpg" title="Hand writing a report" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h2><a href="/policies-and-reports/annual-reports" rel="nofollow">Annual reports</a></h2> <p>Read the story of our year through our<a href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/foi/main/sites/www.open.ac.uk.foi.main/files/files/Financial_Report_2023_FINAL_Online.pdf">聽Financial statement 2023聽(pdf 8.9mb)</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="a tree canopy" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/home-page-2020/trees-400-250.jpg" title="a tree canopy" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h2><a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/" rel="nofollow">Sustainability</a></h2> <p>We are dedicated to creating and sharing knowledge and learning to realise social and environmental justice. Read our sustainability <a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/policies">policies, statements, reports and guidance</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <hr /></div></div></div> </div>  </div>  <div id="block-block-63" class="block-block clearfix"> <p><img alt="Walton Hall building" class="ou-pull-left" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/home-page-2020/milton-keynes-400-250.jpg" title="Walton Hall building" /></p> <h2>Find us</h2> <p>The Open University has its headquarters at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, which is 80km north of Central London, midway between Oxford and Cambridge, and just off the M1 motorway, linking it to Birmingham and the north of England.</p> <p><a class="ou-button" href="/locations/milton-keynes-campus" rel="nofollow">Want to visit our campus, try finding out more by reading our Milton Keynes campus page</a></p> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div id="ou-region2"> <div class="ou-clearfix"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ou-site-footer"> <a 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