Student Charter
The Student Charter sets out the values and principles on which all our interactions and activities, as students and as staff, throughout our time with the OU, are based.
The OU and the OU Students Association, who work in partnership on the Student Charter as well as on other projects, review the Student Charter every year. This year we are pleased to have a new value based on mental health and wellbeing.
You can get to know the Student Charter by finding out what Student Charter value you are based on what is most important to you and your studies. There are no right and wrong answers, so just answer on how you feel personally.
To read the full Student Charter, and the Student Charter in Welsh, please click here to be directed to the Student Charter webpage.
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1 Have you heard of the Student Charter?
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Yes -
No
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2 What's the most important thing to you as as student in the OU?
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Teaching and Learning -
Being part of a community -
Inclusion and accessibility -
Studying at a transparent and fair university -
Careers and employability
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3 Are you involved in the Students Association?
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Yes -
No
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4 Did you know the OU and Students Association work in partnership?
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Yes -
No
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5 How important is it to you that you hear back about the feedback you have given about your studies?
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Very important -
Important -
I've not really thought about it -
I've never given my feedback before
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6 What is more important to you?
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Sustainability -
Feeling part of the OU Community
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7 Which of these is more important to you feeling like you belong?
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The OU being an anti-racist university -
The OU Community ensuring that everyone can express their different beliefs -
Having learning activities that bring you and the students on your module together -
The OU website, module pages and assignments being accessible
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8 Are you a OU staff member as well as a student at the OU?
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Yes -
No
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9 What's more important to you in relation to your learning experience?
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The learning experience is enjoyable and helps you develop and grow -
The communication you receive from the OU helps you understand what is expected from you and how you can get involved in opportunities -
That the OU is a reputable place to gain a qualification from -
The OU provides you with a safe space to learn
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10 In your safe learning space, what do you find the most important?
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Mental health support -
Knowing that the OU is a transparent organisation who treats everyone fairly -
Knowing that the OU seeks to prevent and stop bullying and harassment -
Inclusion in every space, to allow all to feel welcome
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Which Student Charter Value are You?
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Value 1. We treat each other with courtesy and respect, respecting the rights of individuals to hold different beliefs and views and to express them appropriately.
You are Value 1!
All of the OU community are expected to respect one and another and to be understanding that everyone has different beliefs and opinions.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 1?
The OU's Dignity and Repsect Policy outlines in detail how we must be courteous and respectful of all. Reading this policy will give you a greater understanding of how the OU ensures dignity and repsect in all areas of the univeristy.
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Value 2. We value diversity, anticipate and challenge inequalities, and commit to being an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, accessible and inclusive university, so all feel a sense of belonging.
You are Value 2!
By being inclusive, accessible, and anti-racist and anti-discriminatory, together we can make sure every feels a sense of belonging at the OU.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 2?
Did you know that the OU have created a 6- hour online course on being anti-racist? The course is called Union Black: Britain's Black Cultures and Steps to Being Anti-Racist. You can sign up for the free course here.
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Value 3. We are committed to an economically and environmentally sustainable future for our University.
You are Value 3!
The OU wants to ensure that we are both economically and environmentally sustainable, to ensure that the OU is successful in continuing to offer an amazing range of modules to our students whilst helping to improve the environment and our Earth for us, and for the future!
What else can I do to learn more about Value 3?
Check out the OU Students Association Environment and Sustainability Hub so you can read up on what your Students Association is doing in this area. You can also join the OU Students Association Environment and Sustainability Society to get involved yourself!
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Value 4. We communicate with each other in ways which are clear, relevant, accurate and timely.
You are Value 4!
The whole OU community is expected to communicate clearly with each other and in a timely manner. Communication is so important to make sure everyone understands each other.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 4?
Check out a great example of great communication about the Cost of Living Crisis on the OU Help Centre. This Help Centre page explains clearly the ways the Cost of Living Crisis may affect your studies, has plently of links where you can find out more information, and it is also clearly highlighted as an important webpage within the Help Centre.
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Value 5. We actively support the Students Association to engage with all its members to foster a vibrant student community and to promote student interests.
You are Value 5!
The OU Students Association is there for all OU students and you can engage with them in so many ways. It's a fantastic way to get involved, learn new skills, and to meet your fellow students.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 5?
Check out the OU Students Association website if you haven't already. You can join a support group, such the Disabled Students Group, stand for elections to lead the Students Association, volunteer as a Student Representative, nominating in the Tutor Awards, listen to their Podcast, join a club or society, and so much more!
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Value 6. We actively support authentic student engagement in University decision-making, closing the feedback loop; and commit to building partnership between staff and students.
You are Value 6!
Student Voice is your opportunity to have your say about the OU and help us make positive changes for you, and future students.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 6?
Check out the Student Voice website, where you can find out about upcoming opportunities, events, find out how to have a first-hand input into making positive changes by joining in on a Student Consultation Forum, and read You Said, We Dids and find out how you have made changes at the OU. You can also join the Student Consutlation and Student Voice Mailing List to recieve the Student Voice Team's monthly newsletters.
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Value 7. We act ethically and transparently, providing and making use of fair and open means to deal with our concerns and grievances, learning from them.
You are Value 7!
The OU is always striving to be the best they can be but is always open and fair to students and staff who want to make a compliant.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 7?
Read up on making a complaint at the OU as a student and find out how the OU aims to ensure that students are supported in making complaints and that their confidentiality is taking very seriously.
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Value 8. We challenge and report bullying and harassment and ensure that all members of our University community can work and study safely.
You are Value 8!
Ensuring that all members of our OU Community can work and study safely is vital! There are various ways that the OU makes sure that the environment we work and study in does not allow any bullying and harrassment.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 8?
Did you know the OU has a Report + Support tool that allows staff and students to either report bullying and harrassment in full detail to try and get things changed, or to report anonymously, so the OU is made aware of the issues and can work more broadly in particular areas on reducing bullying and harrassment. Check out this webpage that details how the Report + Support tool works and to find out the definitions of bullying and harrassment.
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Value 9. We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all members of our University community.
You are Value 9!
This is our new value for 2023-24! Value 9 was created in the lastest review of the Student Charter to show the OU's commitment to looking after the mental health and wellbeing of all within the OU Community.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 9?
You can download the OU Wellbeing App. The OU Wellbeing App is a great tool for you to prioritise your wellbeing by focusing on five areas: Be Active, Connect, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give.
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Value 10. As students, we share the responsibility for learning and commit to study, research and engage using the resources and support services available, upholding the highest standards of academic conduct and academic integrity.
You are Value 10!
It is important, as a student, to understand your commitment to Academic Intergrity. Academic Intergrity means that you will not use other's work as your own within your studies.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 10?
Understanding the concept of Academic Intergrity can be difficult because there are several myths regarding it. Student Hub Live is a fantastic service to learn and improve your study skills and to feel part of the OU Community. They will be running a session on Myth Busting Academic Inregrity on November 23, 2023.
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Value 11. As staff, we each play our role in enabling equitable high quality learning and advancing knowledge and understanding through research and scholarly activity, ensuring every student is supported.
You are Value 11!
Staff members at the OU are expected to contribute to ensuring students have a high-value student experience whilst studying. You may not be in a student-facing role but every staff member of the OU Community contributes to the overall experience our students have.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 11?
Understanding what students' think about their learning experience is a great way to reflect on your practice here at the OU. Check out the Student Voice webpage to read the You Said, We Dids to find out more about what our students think about their OU experience.
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Value 12. We work to maintain and enhance the standards and reputation of our University recognising the contributions that all members make to its success.
You are Value 12!
The OU works hard to ensure that it is a reputable place to work and a place to study. If the OU maintains its high standards and seeks to make continual improvements, then it will be an attractive place to work and study.
What else can I do to learn more about Value 12?
Read about Tim Blackman, the Vice Chancellor of the Open University, and his executive team. These are the staff members who ensure the OU's contiuning success.
This was a fun activity! Personally, I feel that the university does a largely good job in championing its values; I just wish it would stop platforming arms dealers like BAE Systems.
I appreciate it is difficult to share values across many branches of the university (such as the careers team), but feel having companies that are so deeply controversial is a bad look for the institution – and makes me feel unheard or respected as a student.
Thanks!