Teaching and research | About The Open University

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article# book: http://ogp.me/ns/book# profile: http://ogp.me/ns/profile# video: http://ogp.me/ns/video# product: http://ogp.me/ns/product# content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=EDGE,chrome=1" /><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).init={ajax:{deny_list:["bam.nr-data.net"]}};(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={licenseKey:"NRJS-29b0ae52b5befd8eda1",applicationID:"549528228"};;/*! For license information please see nr-loader-rum-1.274.0.min.js.LICENSE.txt */ (()=>{var e,t,r={8122:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{a:()=>i});var n=r(944);function i(e,t){try{if(!e||"object"!=typeof e)return(0,n.R)(3);if(!t||"object"!=typeof t)return(0,n.R)(4);const r=Object.create(Object.getPrototypeOf(t),Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(t)),o=0===Object.keys(r).length?e:r;for(let a in o)if(void 0!==e[a])try{if(null===e[a]){r[a]=null;continue}Array.isArray(e[a])&&Array.isArray(t[a])?r[a]=Array.from(new Set([...e[a],...t[a]])):"object"==typeof e[a]&&"object"==typeof t[a]?r[a]=i(e[a],t[a]):r[a]=e[a]}catch(e){(0,n.R)(1,e)}return r}catch(e){(0,n.R)(2,e)}}},2555:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Vp:()=>c,fn:()=>s,x1:()=>u});var n=r(384),i=r(8122);const o={beacon:n.NT.beacon,errorBeacon:n.NT.errorBeacon,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,sa:void 0,queueTime:void 0,applicationTime:void 0,ttGuid:void 0,user:void 0,account:void 0,product:void 0,extra:void 0,jsAttributes:{},userAttributes:void 0,atts:void 0,transactionName:void 0,tNamePlain:void 0},a={};function s(e){try{const t=c(e);return!!t.licenseKey&&!!t.errorBeacon&&!!t.applicationID}catch(e){return!1}}function c(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");if(!a[e])throw new Error("Info for ".concat(e," was never set"));return a[e]}function u(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");a[e]=(0,i.a)(t,o);const r=(0,n.nY)(e);r&&(r.info=a[e])}},9417:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{D0:()=>g,gD:()=>h,xN:()=>p});var n=r(993);const i=e=>{if(!e||"string"!=typeof e)return!1;try{document.createDocumentFragment().querySelector(e)}catch{return!1}return!0};var o=r(2614),a=r(944),s=r(384),c=r(8122);const u="[data-nr-mask]",d=()=>{const e={mask_selector:"*",block_selector:"[data-nr-block]",mask_input_options:{color:!1,date:!1,"datetime-local":!1,email:!1,month:!1,number:!1,range:!1,search:!1,tel:!1,text:!1,time:!1,url:!1,week:!1,textarea:!1,select:!1,password:!0}};return{ajax:{deny_list:void 0,block_internal:!0,enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},distributed_tracing:{enabled:void 0,exclude_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_tracecontext_headers:void 0,allowed_origins:void 0},feature_flags:[],generic_events:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:30,autoStart:!0},harvest:{tooManyRequestsDelay:60},jserrors:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},logging:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0,level:n.p_.INFO},metrics:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},obfuscate:void 0,page_action:{enabled:!0},page_view_event:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},page_view_timing:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:30,autoStart:!0},performance:{capture_marks:!1,capture_measures:!1},privacy:{cookies_enabled:!0},proxy:{assets:void 0,beacon:void 0},session:{expiresMs:o.wk,inactiveMs:o.BB},session_replay:{autoStart:!0,enabled:!1,harvestTimeSeconds:60,preload:!1,sampling_rate:10,error_sampling_rate:100,collect_fonts:!1,inline_images:!1,fix_stylesheets:!0,mask_all_inputs:!0,get mask_text_selector(){return e.mask_selector},set mask_text_selector(t){i(t)?e.mask_selector="".concat(t,",").concat(u):""===t||null===t?e.mask_selector=u:(0,a.R)(5,t)},get block_class(){return"nr-block"},get ignore_class(){return"nr-ignore"},get mask_text_class(){return"nr-mask"},get block_selector(){return e.block_selector},set block_selector(t){i(t)?e.block_selector+=",".concat(t):""!==t&&(0,a.R)(6,t)},get mask_input_options(){return e.mask_input_options},set mask_input_options(t){t&&"object"==typeof t?e.mask_input_options={...t,password:!0}:(0,a.R)(7,t)}},session_trace:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},soft_navigations:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},spa:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},ssl:void 0,user_actions:{enabled:!0}}},l={},f="All configuration objects require an agent identifier!";function g(e){if(!e)throw new Error(f);if(!l[e])throw new Error("Configuration for ".concat(e," was never set"));return l[e]}function p(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(f);l[e]=(0,c.a)(t,d());const r=(0,s.nY)(e);r&&(r.init=l[e])}function h(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(f);var r=g(e);if(r){for(var n=t.split("."),i=0;i<n.length-1;i++)if("object"!=typeof(r=r[n[i]]))return;r=r[n[n.length-1]]}return r}},3371:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{V:()=>f,f:()=>l});var n=r(8122),i=r(384),o=r(6154),a=r(9324);let s=0;const c={buildEnv:a.F3,distMethod:a.Xs,version:a.xv,originTime:o.WN},u={customTransaction:void 0,disabled:!1,isolatedBacklog:!1,loaderType:void 0,maxBytes:3e4,onerror:void 0,ptid:void 0,releaseIds:{},appMetadata:{},session:void 0,denyList:void 0,timeKeeper:void 0,obfuscator:void 0},d={};function l(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");if(!d[e])throw new Error("Runtime for ".concat(e," was never set"));return d[e]}function f(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");d[e]={...(0,n.a)(t,u),...c},Object.hasOwnProperty.call(d[e],"harvestCount")||Object.defineProperty(d[e],"harvestCount",{get:()=>++s});const r=(0,i.nY)(e);r&&(r.runtime=d[e])}},9324:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{F3:()=>i,Xs:()=>o,xv:()=>n});const n="1.274.0",i="PROD",o="CDN"},6154:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{OF:()=>c,RI:()=>i,WN:()=>d,bv:()=>o,gm:()=>a,mw:()=>s,sb:()=>u});var n=r(1863);const i="undefined"!=typeof window&&!!window.document,o="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator),a=i?window:"undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis),s=Boolean("hidden"===a?.document?.visibilityState),c=/iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(a.navigator?.userAgent),u=c&&"undefined"==typeof SharedWorker,d=((()=>{const e=a.navigator?.userAgent?.match(/Firefox[/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);Array.isArray(e)&&e.length>=2&&e[1]})(),Date.now()-(0,n.t)())},1687:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Ak:()=>c,Ze:()=>l,x3:()=>u});var n=r(7836),i=r(3606),o=r(860),a=r(2646);const s={};function c(e,t){const r={staged:!1,priority:o.P3[t]||0};d(e),s[e].get(t)||s[e].set(t,r)}function u(e,t){e&&s[e]&&(s[e].get(t)&&s[e].delete(t),g(e,t,!1),s[e].size&&f(e))}function d(e){if(!e)throw new Error("agentIdentifier required");s[e]||(s[e]=new Map)}function l(e="",t="feature",r=!1){if(d(e),!e||!s[e].get(t)||r)return g(e,t);s[e].get(t).staged=!0,f(e)}function f(e){const t=Array.from(s[e]);t.every((([e,t])=>t.staged))&&(t.sort(((e,t)=>e[1].priority-t[1].priority)),t.forEach((([t])=>{s[e].delete(t),g(e,t)})))}function g(e,t,r=!0){const o=e?n.ee.get(e):n.ee,s=i.i.handlers;if(!o.aborted&&o.backlog&&s){if(r){const e=o.backlog[t],r=s[t];if(r){for(let t=0;e&&t<e.length;++t)p(e[t],r);Object.entries(r).forEach((([e,t])=>{Object.values(t||{}).forEach((t=>{t[0]?.on&&t[0]?.context()instanceof a.y&&t[0].on(e,t[1])}))}))}}o.isolatedBacklog||delete s[t],o.backlog[t]=null,o.emit("drain-"+t,[])}}function p(e,t){var r=e[1];Object.values(t[r]||{}).forEach((t=>{var r=e[0];if(t[0]===r){var n=t[1],i=e[3],o=e[2];n.apply(i,o)}}))}},7836:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{P:()=>c,ee:()=>u});var n=r(384),i=r(8990),o=r(3371),a=r(2646),s=r(5607);const c="nr@context:".concat(s.W),u=function e(t,r){var n={},s={},d={},l=!1;try{l=16===r.length&&(0,o.f)(r).isolatedBacklog}catch(e){}var f={on:p,addEventListener:p,removeEventListener:function(e,t){var r=n[e];if(!r)return;for(var i=0;i<r.length;i++)r[i]===t&&r.splice(i,1)},emit:function(e,r,n,i,o){!1!==o&&(o=!0);if(u.aborted&&!i)return;t&&o&&t.emit(e,r,n);for(var a=g(n),c=h(e),d=c.length,l=0;l<d;l++)c[l].apply(a,r);var p=m()[s[e]];p&&p.push([f,e,r,a]);return a},get:v,listeners:h,context:g,buffer:function(e,t){const r=m();if(t=t||"feature",f.aborted)return;Object.entries(e||{}).forEach((([e,n])=>{s[n]=t,t in r||(r[t]=[])}))},abort:function(){f._aborted=!0,Object.keys(f.backlog).forEach((e=>{delete f.backlog[e]}))},isBuffering:function(e){return!!m()[s[e]]},debugId:r,backlog:l?{}:t&&"object"==typeof t.backlog?t.backlog:{},isolatedBacklog:l};return Object.defineProperty(f,"aborted",{get:()=>{let e=f._aborted||!1;return e||(t&&(e=t.aborted),e)}}),f;function g(e){return e&&e instanceof a.y?e:e?(0,i.I)(e,c,(()=>new a.y(c))):new a.y(c)}function p(e,t){n[e]=h(e).concat(t)}function h(e){return n[e]||[]}function v(t){return d[t]=d[t]||e(f,t)}function m(){return f.backlog}}(void 0,"globalEE"),d=(0,n.Zm)();d.ee||(d.ee=u)},2646:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{y:()=>n});class n{constructor(e){this.contextId=e}}},9908:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{d:()=>n,p:()=>i});var n=r(7836).ee.get("handle");function i(e,t,r,i,o){o?(o.buffer([e],i),o.emit(e,t,r)):(n.buffer([e],i),n.emit(e,t,r))}},3606:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{i:()=>o});var n=r(9908);o.on=a;var i=o.handlers={};function o(e,t,r,o){a(o||n.d,i,e,t,r)}function a(e,t,r,i,o){o||(o="feature"),e||(e=n.d);var a=t[o]=t[o]||{};(a[r]=a[r]||[]).push([e,i])}},3878:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t){return{capture:e,passive:!1,signal:t}}function i(e,t,r=!1,i){window.addEventListener(e,t,n(r,i))}function o(e,t,r=!1,i){document.addEventListener(e,t,n(r,i))}r.d(t,{DD:()=>o,jT:()=>n,sp:()=>i})},5607:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{W:()=>n});const n=(0,r(9566).bz)()},9566:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{LA:()=>s,bz:()=>a});var n=r(6154);const i="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx";function o(e,t){return e?15&e[t]:16*Math.random()|0}function a(){const e=n.gm?.crypto||n.gm?.msCrypto;let t,r=0;return e&&e.getRandomValues&&(t=e.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(30))),i.split("").map((e=>"x"===e?o(t,r++).toString(16):"y"===e?(3&o()|8).toString(16):e)).join("")}function s(e){const t=n.gm?.crypto||n.gm?.msCrypto;let r,i=0;t&&t.getRandomValues&&(r=t.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(e)));const a=[];for(var s=0;s<e;s++)a.push(o(r,i++).toString(16));return a.join("")}},2614:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{BB:()=>a,H3:()=>n,g:()=>u,iL:()=>c,tS:()=>s,uh:()=>i,wk:()=>o});const n="NRBA",i="SESSION",o=144e5,a=18e5,s={STARTED:"session-started",PAUSE:"session-pause",RESET:"session-reset",RESUME:"session-resume",UPDATE:"session-update"},c={SAME_TAB:"same-tab",CROSS_TAB:"cross-tab"},u={OFF:0,FULL:1,ERROR:2}},1863:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(){return Math.floor(performance.now())}r.d(t,{t:()=>n})},944:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t){"function"==typeof console.debug&&console.debug("New Relic Warning: https://github.com/newrelic/newrelic-browser-agent/blob/main/docs/warning-codes.md#".concat(e),t)}r.d(t,{R:()=>n})},5284:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{t:()=>c,B:()=>s});var n=r(7836),i=r(6154);const o="newrelic";const a=new Set,s={};function c(e,t){const r=n.ee.get(t);s[t]??={},e&&"object"==typeof e&&(a.has(t)||(r.emit("rumresp",[e]),s[t]=e,a.add(t),function(e={}){try{i.gm.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(o,{detail:e}))}catch(e){}}({loaded:!0})))}},8990:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{I:()=>i});var n=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;function i(e,t,r){if(n.call(e,t))return e[t];var i=r();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,t,{value:i,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),i}catch(e){}return e[t]=i,i}},6389:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t=500,r={}){const n=r?.leading||!1;let i;return(...r)=>{n&&void 0===i&&(e.apply(this,r),i=setTimeout((()=>{i=clearTimeout(i)}),t)),n||(clearTimeout(i),i=setTimeout((()=>{e.apply(this,r)}),t))}}function i(e){let t=!1;return(...r)=>{t||(t=!0,e.apply(this,r))}}r.d(t,{J:()=>i,s:()=>n})},5289:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{GG:()=>o,sB:()=>a});var n=r(3878);function i(){return"undefined"==typeof document||"complete"===document.readyState}function o(e,t){if(i())return e();(0,n.sp)("load",e,t)}function a(e){if(i())return e();(0,n.DD)("DOMContentLoaded",e)}},384:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{NT:()=>o,US:()=>d,Zm:()=>a,bQ:()=>c,dV:()=>s,nY:()=>u,pV:()=>l});var n=r(6154),i=r(1863);const o={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net"};function a(){return n.gm.NREUM||(n.gm.NREUM={}),void 0===n.gm.newrelic&&(n.gm.newrelic=n.gm.NREUM),n.gm.NREUM}function s(){let e=a();return e.o||(e.o={ST:n.gm.setTimeout,SI:n.gm.setImmediate,CT:n.gm.clearTimeout,XHR:n.gm.XMLHttpRequest,REQ:n.gm.Request,EV:n.gm.Event,PR:n.gm.Promise,MO:n.gm.MutationObserver,FETCH:n.gm.fetch,WS:n.gm.WebSocket}),e}function c(e,t){let r=a();r.initializedAgents??={},t.initializedAt={ms:(0,i.t)(),date:new Date},r.initializedAgents[e]=t}function u(e){let t=a();return t.initializedAgents?.[e]}function d(e,t){a()[e]=t}function l(){return function(){let e=a();const t=e.info||{};e.info={beacon:o.beacon,errorBeacon:o.errorBeacon,...t}}(),function(){let e=a();const t=e.init||{};e.init={...t}}(),s(),function(){let e=a();const t=e.loader_config||{};e.loader_config={...t}}(),a()}},2843:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{u:()=>i});var n=r(3878);function i(e,t=!1,r,i){(0,n.DD)("visibilitychange",(function(){if(t)return void("hidden"===document.visibilityState&&e());e(document.visibilityState)}),r,i)}},3434:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{YM:()=>c});var n=r(7836),i=r(5607);const o="nr@original:".concat(i.W);var a=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,s=!1;function c(e,t){return e||(e=n.ee),r.inPlace=function(e,t,n,i,o){n||(n="");const a="-"===n.charAt(0);for(let s=0;s<t.length;s++){const c=t[s],u=e[c];d(u)||(e[c]=r(u,a?c+n:n,i,c,o))}},r.flag=o,r;function r(t,r,n,s,c){return d(t)?t:(r||(r=""),nrWrapper[o]=t,function(e,t,r){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.keys(e).forEach((function(r){Object.defineProperty(t,r,{get:function(){return e[r]},set:function(t){return e[r]=t,t}})})),t}catch(e){u([e],r)}for(var n in e)a.call(e,n)&&(t[n]=e[n])}(t,nrWrapper,e),nrWrapper);function nrWrapper(){var o,a,d,l;try{a=this,o=[...arguments],d="function"==typeof n?n(o,a):n||{}}catch(t){u([t,"",[o,a,s],d],e)}i(r+"start",[o,a,s],d,c);try{return l=t.apply(a,o)}catch(e){throw i(r+"err",[o,a,e],d,c),e}finally{i(r+"end",[o,a,l],d,c)}}}function i(r,n,i,o){if(!s||t){var a=s;s=!0;try{e.emit(r,n,i,t,o)}catch(t){u([t,r,n,i],e)}s=a}}}function u(e,t){t||(t=n.ee);try{t.emit("internal-error",e)}catch(e){}}function d(e){return!(e&&"function"==typeof e&&e.apply&&!e[o])}},993:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{ET:()=>o,p_:()=>i});var n=r(860);const i={ERROR:"ERROR",WARN:"WARN",INFO:"INFO",DEBUG:"DEBUG",TRACE:"TRACE"},o="log";n.K7.logging},3969:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{TZ:()=>n,XG:()=>s,rs:()=>i,xV:()=>a,z_:()=>o});const n=r(860).K7.metrics,i="sm",o="cm",a="storeSupportabilityMetrics",s="storeEventMetrics"},6630:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{T:()=>n});const n=r(860).K7.pageViewEvent},782:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{T:()=>n});const n=r(860).K7.pageViewTiming},6344:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{G4:()=>i});var n=r(2614);r(860).K7.sessionReplay;const i={RECORD:"recordReplay",PAUSE:"pauseReplay",REPLAY_RUNNING:"replayRunning",ERROR_DURING_REPLAY:"errorDuringReplay"};n.g.ERROR,n.g.FULL,n.g.OFF},4234:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{W:()=>o});var n=r(7836),i=r(1687);class o{constructor(e,t){this.agentIdentifier=e,this.ee=n.ee.get(e),this.featureName=t,this.blocked=!1}deregisterDrain(){(0,i.x3)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName)}}},7603:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{j:()=>P});var n=r(860),i=r(2555),o=r(3371),a=r(9908),s=r(7836),c=r(1687),u=r(5289),d=r(6154),l=r(944),f=r(3969),g=r(384),p=r(6344);const h=["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","addRelease","addPageAction","setCurrentRouteName","setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","interaction","noticeError","setUserId","setApplicationVersion","start",p.G4.RECORD,p.G4.PAUSE,"log","wrapLogger"],v=["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","addRelease"];var m=r(1863),b=r(2614),y=r(993);var w=r(2646),A=r(3434);function R(e,t,r,n){if("object"!=typeof t||!t||"string"!=typeof r||!r||"function"!=typeof t[r])return(0,l.R)(29);const i=function(e){return(e||s.ee).get("logger")}(e),o=(0,A.YM)(i),a=new w.y(s.P);return a.level=n.level,a.customAttributes=n.customAttributes,o.inPlace(t,[r],"wrap-logger-",a),i}function E(){const e=(0,g.pV)();h.forEach((t=>{e[t]=(...r)=>function(t,...r){let n=[];return Object.values(e.initializedAgents).forEach((e=>{e&&e.api?e.exposed&&e.api[t]&&n.push(e.api[t](...r)):(0,l.R)(38,t)})),n.length>1?n:n[0]}(t,...r)}))}const x={};function _(e,t,g=!1){t||(0,c.Ak)(e,"api");const h={};var w=s.ee.get(e),A=w.get("tracer");x[e]=b.g.OFF,w.on(p.G4.REPLAY_RUNNING,(t=>{x[e]=t}));var E="api-",_=E+"ixn-";function N(t,r,n,o){const a=(0,i.Vp)(e);return null===r?delete a.jsAttributes[t]:(0,i.x1)(e,{...a,jsAttributes:{...a.jsAttributes,[t]:r}}),j(E,n,!0,o||null===r?"session":void 0)(t,r)}function T(){}h.log=function(e,{customAttributes:t={},level:r=y.p_.INFO}={}){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/log/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),function(e,t,r={},i=y.p_.INFO){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/logging/".concat(i.toLowerCase(),"/called")],void 0,n.K7.metrics,e),(0,a.p)(y.ET,[(0,m.t)(),t,r,i],void 0,n.K7.logging,e)}(w,e,t,r)},h.wrapLogger=(e,t,{customAttributes:r={},level:i=y.p_.INFO}={})=>{(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/wrapLogger/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),R(w,e,t,{customAttributes:r,level:i})},v.forEach((e=>{h[e]=j(E,e,!0,"api")})),h.addPageAction=j(E,"addPageAction",!0,n.K7.genericEvents),h.setPageViewName=function(t,r){if("string"==typeof t)return"/"!==t.charAt(0)&&(t="/"+t),(0,o.f)(e).customTransaction=(r||"http://custom.transaction")+t,j(E,"setPageViewName",!0)()},h.setCustomAttribute=function(e,t,r=!1){if("string"==typeof e){if(["string","number","boolean"].includes(typeof t)||null===t)return N(e,t,"setCustomAttribute",r);(0,l.R)(40,typeof t)}else(0,l.R)(39,typeof e)},h.setUserId=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return N("enduser.id",e,"setUserId",!0);(0,l.R)(41,typeof e)},h.setApplicationVersion=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return N("application.version",e,"setApplicationVersion",!1);(0,l.R)(42,typeof e)},h.start=()=>{try{(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/start/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),w.emit("manual-start-all")}catch(e){(0,l.R)(23,e)}},h[p.G4.RECORD]=function(){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/recordReplay/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)(p.G4.RECORD,[],void 0,n.K7.sessionReplay,w)},h[p.G4.PAUSE]=function(){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/pauseReplay/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)(p.G4.PAUSE,[],void 0,n.K7.sessionReplay,w)},h.interaction=function(e){return(new T).get("object"==typeof e?e:{})};const S=T.prototype={createTracer:function(e,t){var r={},i=this,o="function"==typeof t;return(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/createTracer/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),g||(0,a.p)(_+"tracer",[(0,m.t)(),e,r],i,n.K7.spa,w),function(){if(A.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[(0,m.t)(),i,o],r),o)try{return t.apply(this,arguments)}catch(e){const t="string"==typeof e?new Error(e):e;throw A.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,t],r),t}finally{A.emit("fn-end",[(0,m.t)()],r)}}}};function j(e,t,r,i){return function(){return(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/"+t+"/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),i&&(0,a.p)(e+t,[(0,m.t)(),...arguments],r?null:this,i,w),r?void 0:this}}function k(){r.e(296).then(r.bind(r,8778)).then((({setAPI:t})=>{t(e),(0,c.Ze)(e,"api")})).catch((e=>{(0,l.R)(27,e),w.abort()}))}return["actionText","setName","setAttribute","save","ignore","onEnd","getContext","end","get"].forEach((e=>{S[e]=j(_,e,void 0,g?n.K7.softNav:n.K7.spa)})),h.setCurrentRouteName=g?j(_,"routeName",void 0,n.K7.softNav):j(E,"routeName",!0,n.K7.spa),h.noticeError=function(t,r){"string"==typeof t&&(t=new Error(t)),(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/noticeError/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)("err",[t,(0,m.t)(),!1,r,!!x[e]],void 0,n.K7.jserrors,w)},d.RI?(0,u.GG)((()=>k()),!0):k(),h}var N=r(9417),T=r(8122);const S={accountID:void 0,trustKey:void 0,agentID:void 0,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,xpid:void 0},j={};var k=r(5284);const I=e=>{const t=e.startsWith("http");e+="/",r.p=t?e:"https://"+e};let O=!1;function P(e,t={},r,n){let{init:a,info:c,loader_config:u,runtime:l={},exposed:f=!0}=t;l.loaderType=r;const p=(0,g.pV)();c||(a=p.init,c=p.info,u=p.loader_config),(0,N.xN)(e.agentIdentifier,a||{}),function(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All loader-config objects require an agent identifier!");j[e]=(0,T.a)(t,S);const r=(0,g.nY)(e);r&&(r.loader_config=j[e])}(e.agentIdentifier,u||{}),c.jsAttributes??={},d.bv&&(c.jsAttributes.isWorker=!0),(0,i.x1)(e.agentIdentifier,c);const h=(0,N.D0)(e.agentIdentifier),v=[c.beacon,c.errorBeacon];O||(h.proxy.assets&&(I(h.proxy.assets),v.push(h.proxy.assets)),h.proxy.beacon&&v.push(h.proxy.beacon),E(),(0,g.US)("activatedFeatures",k.B),e.runSoftNavOverSpa&&=!0===h.soft_navigations.enabled&&h.feature_flags.includes("soft_nav")),l.denyList=[...h.ajax.deny_list||[],...h.ajax.block_internal?v:[]],l.ptid=e.agentIdentifier,(0,o.V)(e.agentIdentifier,l),e.ee=s.ee.get(e.agentIdentifier),void 0===e.api&&(e.api=_(e.agentIdentifier,n,e.runSoftNavOverSpa)),void 0===e.exposed&&(e.exposed=f),O=!0}},8374:(e,t,r)=>{r.nc=(()=>{try{return document?.currentScript?.nonce}catch(e){}return""})()},860:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{$J:()=>o,K7:()=>n,P3:()=>i});const n={ajax:"ajax",genericEvents:"generic_events",jserrors:"jserrors",logging:"logging",metrics:"metrics",pageAction:"page_action",pageViewEvent:"page_view_event",pageViewTiming:"page_view_timing",sessionReplay:"session_replay",sessionTrace:"session_trace",softNav:"soft_navigations",spa:"spa"},i={[n.pageViewEvent]:1,[n.pageViewTiming]:2,[n.metrics]:3,[n.jserrors]:4,[n.spa]:5,[n.ajax]:6,[n.sessionTrace]:7,[n.softNav]:8,[n.sessionReplay]:9,[n.logging]:10,[n.genericEvents]:11},o={[n.pageViewTiming]:"events",[n.ajax]:"events",[n.spa]:"events",[n.softNav]:"events",[n.metrics]:"jserrors",[n.jserrors]:"jserrors",[n.sessionTrace]:"browser/blobs",[n.sessionReplay]:"browser/blobs",[n.logging]:"browser/logs",[n.genericEvents]:"ins"}}},n={};function i(e){var t=n[e];if(void 0!==t)return t.exports;var o=n[e]={exports:{}};return r[e](o,o.exports,i),o.exports}i.m=r,i.d=(e,t)=>{for(var r in t)i.o(t,r)&&!i.o(e,r)&&Object.defineProperty(e,r,{enumerable:!0,get:t[r]})},i.f={},i.e=e=>Promise.all(Object.keys(i.f).reduce(((t,r)=>(i.f[r](e,t),t)),[])),i.u=e=>"nr-rum-1.274.0.min.js",i.o=(e,t)=>Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,t),e={},t="NRBA-1.274.0.PROD:",i.l=(r,n,o,a)=>{if(e[r])e[r].push(n);else{var s,c;if(void 0!==o)for(var u=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),d=0;d<u.length;d++){var l=u[d];if(l.getAttribute("src")==r||l.getAttribute("data-webpack")==t+o){s=l;break}}if(!s){c=!0;var f={296:"sha512-gkYkZDAwQ9PwaDXs2YM+rNIdRej1Ac1mupWobRJ8eahQcXz6/sunGZCKklrzi5kWxhOGRZr2tn0rEKuLTXzfAA=="};(s=document.createElement("script")).charset="utf-8",s.timeout=120,i.nc&&s.setAttribute("nonce",i.nc),s.setAttribute("data-webpack",t+o),s.src=r,0!==s.src.indexOf(window.location.origin+"/")&&(s.crossOrigin="anonymous"),f[a]&&(s.integrity=f[a])}e[r]=[n];var g=(t,n)=>{s.onerror=s.onload=null,clearTimeout(p);var i=e[r];if(delete e[r],s.parentNode&&s.parentNode.removeChild(s),i&&i.forEach((e=>e(n))),t)return t(n)},p=setTimeout(g.bind(null,void 0,{type:"timeout",target:s}),12e4);s.onerror=g.bind(null,s.onerror),s.onload=g.bind(null,s.onload),c&&document.head.appendChild(s)}},i.r=e=>{"undefined"!=typeof Symbol&&Symbol.toStringTag&&Object.defineProperty(e,Symbol.toStringTag,{value:"Module"}),Object.defineProperty(e,"__esModule",{value:!0})},i.p="https://js-agent.newrelic.com/",(()=>{var e={840:0,374:0};i.f.j=(t,r)=>{var n=i.o(e,t)?e[t]:void 0;if(0!==n)if(n)r.push(n[2]);else{var o=new Promise(((r,i)=>n=e[t]=[r,i]));r.push(n[2]=o);var a=i.p+i.u(t),s=new Error;i.l(a,(r=>{if(i.o(e,t)&&(0!==(n=e[t])&&(e[t]=void 0),n)){var o=r&&("load"===r.type?"missing":r.type),a=r&&r.target&&r.target.src;s.message="Loading chunk "+t+" failed.\n("+o+": "+a+")",s.name="ChunkLoadError",s.type=o,s.request=a,n[1](s)}}),"chunk-"+t,t)}};var t=(t,r)=>{var n,o,[a,s,c]=r,u=0;if(a.some((t=>0!==e[t]))){for(n in s)i.o(s,n)&&(i.m[n]=s[n]);if(c)c(i)}for(t&&t(r);u<a.length;u++)o=a[u],i.o(e,o)&&e[o]&&e[o][0](),e[o]=0},r=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.274.0.PROD"]=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.274.0.PROD"]||[];r.forEach(t.bind(null,0)),r.push=t.bind(null,r.push.bind(r))})(),(()=>{"use strict";i(8374);var e=i(944),t=i(6344),r=i(9566);class n{agentIdentifier;constructor(e=(0,r.LA)(16)){this.agentIdentifier=e}#e(t,...r){if("function"==typeof this.api?.[t])return this.api[t](...r);(0,e.R)(35,t)}addPageAction(e,t){return this.#e("addPageAction",e,t)}setPageViewName(e,t){return this.#e("setPageViewName",e,t)}setCustomAttribute(e,t,r){return this.#e("setCustomAttribute",e,t,r)}noticeError(e,t){return this.#e("noticeError",e,t)}setUserId(e){return this.#e("setUserId",e)}setApplicationVersion(e){return this.#e("setApplicationVersion",e)}setErrorHandler(e){return this.#e("setErrorHandler",e)}addRelease(e,t){return this.#e("addRelease",e,t)}log(e,t){return this.#e("log",e,t)}}class o extends n{#e(t,...r){if("function"==typeof this.api?.[t])return this.api[t](...r);(0,e.R)(35,t)}start(){return this.#e("start")}finished(e){return this.#e("finished",e)}recordReplay(){return this.#e(t.G4.RECORD)}pauseReplay(){return this.#e(t.G4.PAUSE)}addToTrace(e){return this.#e("addToTrace",e)}setCurrentRouteName(e){return this.#e("setCurrentRouteName",e)}interaction(){return this.#e("interaction")}wrapLogger(e,t,r){return this.#e("wrapLogger",e,t,r)}}var a=i(860),s=i(9417);const c=Object.values(a.K7);function u(e){const t={};return c.forEach((r=>{t[r]=function(e,t){return!0===(0,s.gD)(t,"".concat(e,".enabled"))}(r,e)})),t}var d=i(7603);var l=i(1687),f=i(4234),g=i(5289),p=i(6154),h=i(384);const v=e=>p.RI&&!0===(0,s.gD)(e,"privacy.cookies_enabled");function m(e){return!!(0,h.dV)().o.MO&&v(e)&&!0===(0,s.gD)(e,"session_trace.enabled")}var b=i(6389);class y extends f.W{constructor(e,t,r=!0){super(e.agentIdentifier,t),this.auto=r,this.abortHandler=void 0,this.featAggregate=void 0,this.onAggregateImported=void 0,!1===e.init[this.featureName].autoStart&&(this.auto=!1),this.auto?(0,l.Ak)(e.agentIdentifier,t):this.ee.on("manual-start-all",(0,b.J)((()=>{(0,l.Ak)(e.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),this.auto=!0,this.importAggregator(e)})))}importAggregator(t,r={}){if(this.featAggregate||!this.auto)return;let n;this.onAggregateImported=new Promise((e=>{n=e}));const o=async()=>{let o;try{if(v(this.agentIdentifier)){const{setupAgentSession:e}=await i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,3861));o=e(t)}}catch(t){(0,e.R)(20,t),this.ee.emit("internal-error",[t]),this.featureName===a.K7.sessionReplay&&this.abortHandler?.()}try{if(t.sharedAggregator)await t.sharedAggregator;else{t.sharedAggregator=i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,9337));const{EventAggregator:e}=await t.sharedAggregator;t.sharedAggregator=new e}if(!this.#t(this.featureName,o))return(0,l.Ze)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),void n(!1);const{lazyFeatureLoader:e}=await i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,6103)),{Aggregate:a}=await e(this.featureName,"aggregate");this.featAggregate=new a(t,r),n(!0)}catch(t){(0,e.R)(34,t),this.abortHandler?.(),(0,l.Ze)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName,!0),n(!1),this.ee&&this.ee.abort()}};p.RI?(0,g.GG)((()=>o()),!0):o()}#t(e,t){switch(e){case a.K7.sessionReplay:return m(this.agentIdentifier)&&!!t;case a.K7.sessionTrace:return!!t;default:return!0}}}var w=i(6630);class A extends y{static featureName=w.T;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,w.T,t),this.importAggregator(e)}}var R=i(9908),E=i(2843),x=i(3878),_=i(782),N=i(1863);class T extends y{static featureName=_.T;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,_.T,t),p.RI&&((0,E.u)((()=>(0,R.p)("docHidden",[(0,N.t)()],void 0,_.T,this.ee)),!0),(0,x.sp)("pagehide",(()=>(0,R.p)("winPagehide",[(0,N.t)()],void 0,_.T,this.ee))),this.importAggregator(e))}}var S=i(3969);class j extends y{static featureName=S.TZ;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,S.TZ,t),this.importAggregator(e)}}new class extends o{constructor(t,r){super(r),p.gm?(this.features={},(0,h.bQ)(this.agentIdentifier,this),this.desiredFeatures=new Set(t.features||[]),this.desiredFeatures.add(A),this.runSoftNavOverSpa=[...this.desiredFeatures].some((e=>e.featureName===a.K7.softNav)),(0,d.j)(this,t,t.loaderType||"agent"),this.run()):(0,e.R)(21)}get config(){return{info:this.info,init:this.init,loader_config:this.loader_config,runtime:this.runtime}}run(){try{const t=u(this.agentIdentifier),r=[...this.desiredFeatures];r.sort(((e,t)=>a.P3[e.featureName]-a.P3[t.featureName])),r.forEach((r=>{if(!t[r.featureName]&&r.featureName!==a.K7.pageViewEvent)return;if(this.runSoftNavOverSpa&&r.featureName===a.K7.spa)return;if(!this.runSoftNavOverSpa&&r.featureName===a.K7.softNav)return;const n=function(e){switch(e){case a.K7.ajax:return[a.K7.jserrors];case a.K7.sessionTrace:return[a.K7.ajax,a.K7.pageViewEvent];case a.K7.sessionReplay:return[a.K7.sessionTrace];case a.K7.pageViewTiming:return[a.K7.pageViewEvent];default:return[]}}(r.featureName).filter((e=>!(e in this.features)));n.length>0&&(0,e.R)(36,{targetFeature:r.featureName,missingDependencies:n}),this.features[r.featureName]=new r(this)}))}catch(t){(0,e.R)(22,t);for(const e in this.features)this.features[e].abortHandler?.();const r=(0,h.Zm)();delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.api,delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.features,delete this.sharedAggregator;return r.ee.get(this.agentIdentifier).abort(),!1}}}({features:[A,T,j],loaderType:"lite"})})()})();</script> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <script>drupal_uid = 0; var now = new Date(); var expirationDate = new Date(); samlSessionCookie = document.cookie.indexOf("CDC_UID="); if (samlSessionCookie < 0) { // not logged in so allow Varnish caching // by removing our NO_CACHE cookie expirationDate.setDate(now.getDate() - 7); document.cookie = "DRUPAL_NO_CACHE=true; expires=" + expirationDate.toUTCString() + "; path=/"; } else { expirationDate.setDate(now.getDate() + 365); document.cookie = "DRUPAL_NO_CACHE=true; expires=" + expirationDate.toUTCString() + "; path=/"; if (drupal_uid == 0) { window.location.replace(window.location.pathname + "?nocache=1"); } } </script><meta name="description" content="How OU-style open learning works, from course development, scholarship and research through to delivery to our students, including our QAA accreditation" /> <meta name="keywords" content="quality, qaa, assurance, open learning, distance learning, supported open learning, learning and teaching, tutors, community" /> <meta name="generator" content="Drupal 7 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/teaching-and-research" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/node/4" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="About The Open University" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://about.open.ac.uk/teaching-and-research" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Teaching and research" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The Open University has an astonishing track-record of using new and emerging technologies to make higher education available to all people around the world." /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2023-11-07T15:18:37+00:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://about.open.ac.uk/teaching-and-research" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Teaching and research" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The Open University has an astonishing track-record of using new and emerging technologies to make higher education available to all people around the world." /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2017-11-22T09:26:59+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2023-11-07T15:18:37+00:00" /> <title>Teaching and research | About The Open University</title> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/modules/system/system.base.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/modules/system/system.messages.css?sl11iw"); </style> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/modules/comment/comment.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/modules/field/theme/field.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/modules/node/node.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/siteimprove/css/siteimprove.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/modules/user/user.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/views/css/views.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/ckeditor/css/ckeditor.css?sl11iw"); </style> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/ctools/css/ctools.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/oembed/oembed.base.css?sl11iw"); </style> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/global.normalize.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/global.resets.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/global.box-sizing.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/overrides.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/html.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/objects.layout.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/objects.grid.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/objects.blocks.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/objects.colours.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/objects.various.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.accordion.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.audio-video.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.articles.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.boxes.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.buttons.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.carousel.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.creative.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.events.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.forms.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.icons.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.images.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.lists.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.nav.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.quotes.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.tables.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/components.various.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/trumps.various.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/theme.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/drupal.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/accessibility.css?sl11iw"); @import url("https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/fonts/font-awesome/font-awesome.min.css?sl11iw"); </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/replace/jquery/2.2/jquery.min.js?v=2.2.4"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/misc/jquery-extend-3.4.0.js?v=2.2.4"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/misc/jquery-html-prefilter-3.5.0-backport.js?v=2.2.4"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/misc/jquery.once.js?v=1.2"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/misc/drupal.js?sl11iw"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/jquery_update/js/jquery_browser.js?v=0.0.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/modules/contrib/entityreference/js/entityreference.js?sl11iw"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/js/responsive-tabs.min.js?sl11iw"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/js/scripts.js?sl11iw"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.open.ac.uk/ouheaders/gui/Open_University_OG_Image.png"><meta property="og:image:alt" content="The Open University"><meta property="twitter:image" content="https://www.open.ac.uk/ouheaders/gui/Open_University_OG_Image.png"><meta property="og:title" content="The Open University"> <script src="https://de.cdn-v3.conductrics.com/ac-LXFBNkXiNm/v3/agent-api/js/f-dWyHnIAdDA/dt-EzQ29xSsSbrFdEypQszyo9LrPicxDP?apikey=api-Yj4rznDbbdMSfZflSxhm7BLtxY"></script>   <script>/*<![CDATA[*/window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];/*]]>*/</script>   <script>/*<![CDATA[*/ (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://sgtm.open.ac.uk/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PPS2SH'); /*]]>*/</script>   <script src="/ouheaders/js/headerfooter.min.js?2.0.0.585"></script>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/ouheaders/gui/headerfooter.css?2.0.0.585" media="screen">  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/ouheaders/gui/headerfooter-print.css?2.0.0.585" media="print">  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/ouheaders/gui/cassiecookiewidget.css?2.0.0.585" media="screen">   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/all/themes/ou_ice5/gui/icons/apple-touch-icon.png" />  <link rel="icon" href="/ouice/favicon.ico" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="gui/ou-logo.png" /> </head> <body class="html not-front not-logged-in no-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-4 node-type-page ou-ia-about ou-theme ou-theme--blue" > <div id="ou-org">  <div class="ou_gtaiframe"><noscript><iframe src="https://sgtm.open.ac.uk/ns.html?id=GTM-PPS2SH" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden" name="GTM"></iframe></noscript></div> <div id="ou-head"> <div id="ou-header"><a class="ou-skip" href="#int-content" id="ou-skip-anchor-tutor-home" data-translate="true"><i class="int-icon int-icon-arrow-circle-down"></i>Skip to content </a> <div id="ou-logo"> <a class="ou-logo england" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> <a class="ou-logo roi" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/republic-of-ireland/" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> <a class="ou-logo nir" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/northern-ireland/" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> <a class="ou-logo scotland" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/scotland/" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> <a class="ou-logo wales" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/wales/en/" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> <a class="ou-logo cymraeg" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/wales/cy/" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> <a class="ou-logo nonav" href="javascript:void(0);" title="The Open University"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Logo_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University"> </a> </div> <div id="mod-mobile-basket"><button onclick="javascript:mc_show_mobile_basket()" id="mod-basket-link" aria-label="Shopping cart - Your module choices"><i class="int-icon int-icon-shopping-cart int-icon-2x"></i><span id="mc-mobilecredits">0</span>cr </button></div> <div class="ou-identity"> <p class="ou-identity-name" data-hj-masked=""></p> </div> <div class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle-div"><a href="#" class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle icon-up" id="ou-mobile-menu-toggle"><img src="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Toggle service links" title="Toggle service links"></a></div> <div id="ou-header-nav"> <div id="ou-service-links" aria-label="Your links" role="navigation"> <div id="ou-identity"> <p class="ou-identity-name" data-hj-masked=""></p> <p id="ou-identity-id" data-hj-masked=""></p> </div> <ul> <li class="ou-role-signin" id="ou-signin1"><a href="https://msds.open.ac.uk/signon/sams001.aspx" id="ou-signin2" data-translate="true">Sign in</a><span>|</span></li> <li class="ou-role-signout ou-header-remove" id="ou-signout"><a href="https://msds.open.ac.uk/signon/samsoff.aspx" id="ou-signout2" data-translate="true">Sign out</a><span>|</span></li> <li id="ou-myaccount" class="ou-header-remove"> <a href="https://msds.open.ac.uk/students/" data-translate="true">My Account</a> <span>|</span> </li> <li id="ou-studenthome" class="ou-header-remove"> <a href="https://msds.open.ac.uk/students/" data-translate="true">StudentHome</a> <span>|</span> </li> <li id="ou-tutorhome" class="ou-header-remove"> <a href="https://msds.open.ac.uk/tutorhome/" data-translate="true">TutorHome</a> <span>|</span> </li> <li id="ou-intranethome" class="ou-header-remove"> <a href="https://intranet.open.ac.uk/oulife-home/" data-translate="true">IntranetHome</a> <span>|</span> </li> <li id="ou-contact"><a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/contact" data-translate="true" class="ou-ia-public" id="ou-public-contact">Contact the OU</a><a href="https://www2.open.ac.uk/students/help/your-contacts/" data-translate="true" class="ou-ia-student" id="ou-student-contact">Contact the OU</a><a href="https://www2.open.ac.uk/tutors/help/who-to-contact/" data-translate="true" class="ou-ia-tutor" id="ou-tutor-contact">Contact the OU</a><span>|</span></li> <li><a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/about/main/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-accessibility-open-university" data-translate="true" class="ou-display-public-tutor">Accessibility hub</a><a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/about/main/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-accessibility-open-university/" data-translate="true" class="ou-ia-student">Accessibility hub</a></li> <li class="ou-search ou-ia-public"><label for="ou-header-search-public" class="ou-hide" data-translate="true">Search the OU</label><input type="search" id="ou-header-search-public" class="ou-header-search" name="q" data-translate="true" placeholder="Search the OU" onkeyup="javascript: onSearchBoxInput(event);"><div class="ou-button-container"><button type="button" value="Search" id="search-button-header" onclick="submitSearch('ou-header-search-public');"><img src="/ouheaders/gui/Search_Icon_Magnifier.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Search_Icon_Magnifier.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Search_Icon_Magnifier.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Search" title="Search"></button></div> </li> </ul> </div>  <div class="ou-ia-nav" id="ou-ia-nav" aria-label="Main" role="navigation"> <ul class="ou-ia-public"> <li class="ou-ia-courses"> <a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses">Courses</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-postgraduate"> <a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate">Postgraduate</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-inter_national"> <a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/international-students">International</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-research"> <a href="https://research.open.ac.uk/">Research</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-about"> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/">About</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-news"> <a href="https://ounews.co/">News & media</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-business"> <a href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/business/">Business & apprenticeships</a> </li> </ul> </div>  </div>  </div> </div> <div id="ou-site"> <div id="ou-site-header"> <div class="ou-site-ident"> <h2 class="ou-site-ident__title"><a href="/" title="Home" rel="home">About The Open University </a></h2> </div> <nav class="ou-sections ou-sections--bar"> <ul id="primary" class="links clearfix main-menu"><li class="menu-369 first"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="menu-637"><a href="/governance-ou">Governance</a></li> <li class="menu-829"><a href="/strategy">Strategy</a></li> <li class="menu-638"><a href="/strategy-and-policies">Policies and reports</a></li> <li class="menu-639 active-trail last active ou-selected"><a href="/teaching-and-research" class="ou-selected active ou-selected">Teaching and research</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="region region-site-header"> <div id="block-block-96" class="block-block ou-accessibility-statement-link clearfix"> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/accessibility-statement">Accessiblity statement</a> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="ou-site-body"> <div id="ou-page"> <div id="ou-region0"> <h2 class="element-invisible">You are here</h2><ol class="ou-ancestors"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li>Teaching and research</li> </ol> <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>Teaching and research</h1> <div class="region region-content"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block-system clearfix"> <div id="node-4" class="node node-page node-full"> <span property="dc:title" content="Teaching and research" 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"><div class="ou-hero"><img alt="" class="ou-hero__image" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/Banners/research-banner-telescopes-25-07-17.jpg" title="" /></div> <blockquote class="ou-quote"> <p>The Open University has an astonishing track-record of using new and emerging technologies to make higher education available to all people around the world.</p> <cite><strong>Martha Lane-Fox</strong><br /> Chancellor of The Open University</cite> <a class="ou-quote--button" href="/node/40" rel="nofollow">Read more about Martha</a></blockquote> <h2>Charting the Future: OU's Teaching and Learning Plan 2022-27</h2> <p>The Teaching and Learning Plan 2022-27 stands as a testament to OU's commitment to elevating the standards of supported open learning. Designed to be strategic and effective, this Plan consolidates the best of our teaching and learning practices, ensuring they're not just retained but broadened across the entire university. Both our staff and students stand to gain from this institutional knowledge-sharing.</p> <p>Distilled into five guiding principles, the Plan is both a roadmap and a reference. It ensures that all activities, innovations, and initiatives in the teaching and learning sectors of our university are cohesive and synergistic. This alignment doesn't just stay limited to our Faculties; it intersects with the overarching strategic ambitions of the university.</p> <p>The collaborative effort that went into crafting this Plan spanned two years, written by Associate Deans across all faculties. Its public introduction in September 2022 wasn't just an institutional milestone but a marker for the educational sector.</p> <p>Read the Plan in full by visiting our <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/teaching-and-research/teaching-and-learning-plan">The Teaching and Learning pages</a> or read more on this page which expands on our model of delivery.</p> <h3>Supported open learning</h3> <p>The OU teaches through its own unique method of distance learning, called ‘supported open learning’, which is:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Flexible</strong> – students work where and when they choose to fit in with jobs, families and other commitments</li> <li><strong>All-inclusive</strong> – students get all the high quality materials they need to study</li> <li><strong>Supportive</strong> – personal tutors provide academic expertise, guidance and feedback and run group tutorials; and specialist advisers are on hand to help with other aspects of OU study</li> <li><strong>Social</strong> – students get together at tutorials, day schools and informal study groups; and through online conferencing, study networks and course forums.</li> </ul> <p><a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/what-study-like/">More about the OU study experience</a></p> <h3>Course production</h3> <p>Our modules are developed by multi-disciplinary course teams comprising:</p> <ul> <li>Academics, educational technologists and media specialists contributing pedagogic and technical expertise</li> <li>Respected academics from other universities working alongside OU colleagues</li> <li>External examiners.</li> </ul> <p>This model has helped to build the University's reputation for innovation, rigour and quality and has been adopted by distance teaching institutions worldwide.</p> <h3>Research and scholarship</h3> <p>Open University courses are underpinned by research of international excellence and are subject to rigorous external scrutiny. In addition, a world-leading programme of research into teaching strategies and educational technologies ensures that our materials are effective and appropriate for large-scale open learning.</p> <p><a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/research/">Visit The Open University's research website</a></p> <h3>Tutorial support</h3> <p>The OU has a network of more than 5,000 tutors – the largest in the UK. Tutors mark assignments, provide detailed written feedback, and offer support to students by telephone, email, or computer conferencing. They also run group or online tutorials and day schools. Some are full-time members of staff, but most are associate lecturers: experts in their subject who combine their work as tutors with other academic or industry jobs.</p> <h3>Assessment</h3> <p>Students are assessed through tutor-marked and computer-marked assignments, oral or practical assessments, projects, examinations, dissertations and portfolios. <a href="/node/10" rel="nofollow">External examining</a> ensures that we maintain academic standards and provides an independent view of the assessment process.</p> <hr /> <h2>Learn more about our teaching and research</h2> <div class="ou-articles ou-articles--stacked ou-blocks ou-blocks--5-cols"> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="Working at a laptop" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/2017-refresh/web-external-examining.jpg" title="Working at a laptop" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h3><a href="/node/10" rel="nofollow">External examining</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="Jennie Lee Building" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/2017-refresh/web-jennie-lee-building.jpg" title="Jennie Lee Building" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h3><a href="/node/9" rel="nofollow">Faculties and centres</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/QAA/Student-writing-at-table-400.jpg" title="Teacher and student in TESSA classroom" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h3><a href="/teaching-and-research/quality-and-standards" rel="nofollow">Quality and standards</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="""" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/teaching-learning-plan/home-study-female-student-reading.jpg" title="""" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h3><a href="/node/10" rel="nofollow">Teaching and learning plan</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="ou-articles__article"> <div class="ou-articles__image"><img alt="Teacher and student in TESSA classroom" src="/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/images/2017-refresh/web-tessa-classroom.jpg" title="Teacher and student in TESSA classroom" /></div> <div class="ou-articles__text"> <h3><a href="/node/8" rel="nofollow">The OU outside the UK</a></h3> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </div>  </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div id="ou-region2"> <div class="ou-clearfix"> </div> <div class="region region-region2"> <div id="block-menu_block-1" class="block-menu-block ou-context-nav clearfix"> <h2 class="block-title"><a href="/teaching-and-research" class="active-trail active ou-selected">Teaching and research</a></h2> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-1 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-2"> <ul class="menu clearfix"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-645"><a href="/teaching-and-research/external-examining">External examining</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-644"><a href="/teaching-and-research/faculties-and-centres">Faculties and centres</a></li> <li class="collapsed menu-mlid-805"><a href="/teaching-and-research/quality-and-standards">Quality and standards</a></li> <li class="collapsed menu-mlid-941"><a href="/teaching-and-research/teaching-and-learning-plan">Teaching and Learning Plan</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-643"><a href="/teaching-and-research/ou-outside-uk">The OU outside the UK</a></li> </ul></div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ou-site-footer"> <a class="ou-to-top" href="#ou-org">Back to top</a> </div> </div>  <div id="ou-org-footer" class="ou-footer" role="contentinfo" aria-label="ou site footer"><div class="ou-container"><div class="ou-header"><div class="ou-crest"><img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University Crest" title="The Open University Crest" /></div><div class="ou-mob-crest"><img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG_Mobile.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University Crest" title="The Open University Crest" /></div><div class="ou-footer-title"><h2 data-translate="true">The Open University</h2></div></div><div class="ou-footer-nav">  <div id="ou-ia-public" class="ou-ia-footer" role="tablist"> <div class="public-lineone"> <h3 class="ou-collapsible-footer" id="ou-publicFooter-explore-toggle" aria-controls="ou-publicFooter-explore" role="tab" tabindex="-1"> <span data-translate="true">Explore</span> <span class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle icon-up"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Menu toggle" title="Menu toggle" /> </span> </h3> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-publicFooter-explore" aria-labelledby="ou-publicFooter-explore-toggle"> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses">Study with us</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/employment/">Work with us</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/what-is-distance-learning">Supported distance learning</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding">Funding your studies</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/international-students">International students</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/what-is-distance-learning/our-global-reputation">Global reputation</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/">Sustainability</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/business">Business</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/business/apprenticeships/">Apprenticeships</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/business/develop-your-workforce">Develop your workforce</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://research.open.ac.uk/">Research</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://ounews.co/">News & media</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/contact">Contact the OU</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="public-linetwo"> <h3 class="ou-collapsible-footer" id="ou-publicFooter-undergraduate-toggle" aria-controls="ou-publicFooter-undergraduate" role="tab" tabindex="-1"> <span data-translate="true">Undergraduate</span> <span class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle icon-up"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Menu toggle" title="Menu toggle" /> </span> </h3> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-publicFooter-undergraduate" aria-labelledby="ou-publicFooter-undergraduate-toggle"> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/accounting">Accounting</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/arts">Arts and Humanities</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/art-history">Art History</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/biology">Biology</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/business-management">Business and Management</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/chemistry">Chemistry</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/combined-studies">Combined Studies</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/computing-it">Computing and IT</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/counselling">Counselling</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/creative-arts">Creative Arts</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/creative-writing">Creative Writing</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/criminology">Criminology</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/design">Design</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/early-years">Early Years</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/economics">Economics</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/education">Education</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/electronic-engineering">Electronic Engineering</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/engineering">Engineering</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/english">English</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/environment">Environment</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/film-media">Film and Media</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/geography">Geography</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/health-social-care">Health and Social Care</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/health-wellbeing">Health and Wellbeing</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/health-sciences">Health Sciences</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/history">History</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/international-studies">International Studies</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/languages">Languages</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/law">Law</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/marketing">Marketing</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/maths">Mathematics</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/mental-health">Mental Health</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/music">Music</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/nursing-healthcare">Nursing and Healthcare</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/philosophy">Philosophy</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/physics">Physics</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/politics">Politics</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/psychology">Psychology</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/religious-studies">Religious Studies</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/science">Science</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/social-sciences">Social Sciences</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/social-work">Social Work</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/sociology">Sociology</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/search-result/software-engineering">Software Engineering</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/sport-fitness">Sport and Fitness</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/statistics">Statistics</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="public-linethree"> <h3 class="ou-collapsible-footer" id="ou-publicFooter-postgraduate-toggle" aria-controls="ou-publicFooter-postgraduate" role="tab" tabindex="-1"> <span data-translate="true">Postgraduate</span> <span class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle icon-up"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Menu toggle" title="Menu toggle" /> </span> </h3> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-publicFooter-postgraduate" aria-labelledby="ou-publicFooter-postgraduate-toggle"> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate">Postgraduate study</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/research-degrees">Research degrees</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f80">Masters in Social Work (MA)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f96">Masters in Economics (MSc)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f71">Masters in Creative Writing (MA)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f70">Masters in Education (MA/MEd)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f46">Masters in Engineering (MSc)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f88">Masters in English Literature (MA)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f89">Masters in History (MA)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f94">Masters in International Relations (MA)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f67">Masters in Finance (MSc)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f87">Masters in Cyber Security (MSc)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f74">Masters in Psychology (MSc)</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f61">MBA</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/atoz">A to Z of Masters degrees</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="public-linefour"> <h3 class="ou-collapsible-footer" id="ou-publicFooter-policy-toggle" aria-controls="ou-publicFooter-policy" role="tab" tabindex="-1"> <span data-translate="true">Policy</span> <span class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle icon-up"> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Accordion_Chevron_Down.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Menu toggle" title="Menu toggle" /> </span> </h3> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-publicFooter-policy" aria-labelledby="ou-publicFooter-policy-toggle"> <li class="ou-ia-footer-accessibility-statement"> <a data-translate="true" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-accessibility-hub/accessibility-statement-open">OU Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/wales/cy/yr-iaith-gymraeg">Cymraeg</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/conditions-use-open-university-websites">Conditions of use</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-privacy-ou">Privacy policy</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/cookie-use-ou-website">Cookie policy</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="#" onclick="CassieWidgetLoader.Widget.showModal(); managePreferenceSetInterval();">Manage cookie preferences</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/files/modern-slavery-act-statement.pdf">Modern slavery act (pdf 149kb)</a> </li> <li> <a data-translate="true" href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/copyright-ou-websites">Copyright</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="ou-ia-student" class="ou-ia-footer"> <div class="ou-row"> <div class="ou-grid3"> <ul> <li> <h4 class="ou-social-media" id="ou-footer-ou-community-toggle" tabindex="-1"> <span>Follow us on Social media</span> <span class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle icon-up"> <img src="#" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/sprite.png?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/sprite-x3.png?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Menu toggle" title="Menu toggle" /> </span> </h4> <div class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-footer-ou-community" role="tabpanel"> <ul class="ou-inline"> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theopenuniversity" title="Facebook"> <span> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Social_facebook.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Social_facebook.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Social_facebook.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook" /> </span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenUniversity" title="Twitter"> <span> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Twitter_X_icon.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Twitter_X_icon.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Twitter_X_icon.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="X (formerly Twitter)" title="X (formerly Twitter)" /> </span> </a> </li> <li class="youtube"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOpenUniversity" title="Youtube"> <span> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Social_youtube.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Social_youtube.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Social_youtube.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="YouTube" title="YouTube" /> </span> </a> </li> <li class="linkedin"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=12659&trk=edu-cp-title" title="LinkedIn"> <span> <img src="/ouheaders/gui/Social_linkedin.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/Social_linkedin.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/Social_linkedin.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="LinkedIn" title="LinkedIn" /> </span> </a> </li>  </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ou-grid3"> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-footer-support"> <li class="ou-ia-footer-accessibility-statement"> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-accessibility-hub/accessibility-statement-open">OU Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/conditions-use-open-university-websites">Conditions of use</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/copyright-ou-websites">Copyright</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/wales/cy/yr-iaith-gymraeg">Cymraeg</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ou-grid3"> <ul> <li> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-footer-study"> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-privacy-ou">Privacy policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/cookie-use-ou-website">Cookie policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" onclick="CassieWidgetLoader.Widget.showModal(); managePreferenceSetInterval();">Manage cookie preferences</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://help.open.ac.uk/documents/policies"> Student Policies and Regulations </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ou-grid3"> <ul> <li> <ul class="ou-mobile-menu-toggle" id="ou-footer-policy"> <li> <a href="https://www2.open.ac.uk/students/charter"> Student Charter </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://status.open.ac.uk"> System Status </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ou-ia-outis1bd-footer"> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.open.ac.uk/contact" class="ou-ia-public" id="ou-footer-public-contact" data-translate="true">Contact the OU</a> <a href="https://www2.open.ac.uk/tutors/help/who-to-contact/" class="ou-ia-tutor" id="ou-footer-tutor-contact" data-translate="true">Contact the OU</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/employment/" data-translate="true">Work with us</a> </li> <li class="ou-ia-footer-accessibility-statement"> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-accessibility-hub/accessibility-statement-open" data-translate="true">OU Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www5.open.ac.uk/wales/cy/yr-iaith-gymraeg">Cymraeg</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/conditions-use-open-university-websites" data-translate="true">Conditions of use</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/website-privacy-ou" data-translate="true">Privacy policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/cookie-use-ou-website" data-translate="true">Cookie policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="#" onclick="CassieWidgetLoader.Widget.showModal(); managePreferenceSetInterval();" data-translate="true">Manage cookie preferences</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/sites/about.open.ac.uk/files/files/modern-slavery-act-statement.pdf" data-translate="true">Modern Slavery Act (pdf 149kb)</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://about.open.ac.uk/strategy-and-policies/policies-and-statements/copyright-ou-websites" data-translate="true">Copyright</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ou-small-print"><div class="ou-crest-icon"><img src="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG.svg?2.0.0.585" srcset="/ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG.svg?2.0.0.585 1x, /ouheaders/gui/OU_Crest_SVG.svg?2.0.0.585 2x" alt="The Open University Crest" title="The Open University Crest" /></div><p class="ou-copyright" id="ou-copyright" style="display:none"><small> ©<span id="ou-copyright-year"><a style="display:none">.</a></span>. <span data-translate="true" id="ou-footer-statement"><a style="display:none">.</a></span></small></p> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div>  <script> jQuery(document).ready(function() { RESPONSIVEUI.responsiveTabs(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"NRJS-29b0ae52b5befd8eda1","applicationID":"549528228,529980123","transactionName":"blcDZRNVCEJVUUBaXVcdIFIVXQlfG1xbV1dmQgBWBGsQWFFF","queueTime":17,"applicationTime":97,"atts":"QhAAE1tPG0w=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}</script></body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Teaching and research | About The Open University