March of progress?

[john_d_owen]

Had a most peculiar day. Went back onto the Open University campus to meet up with some friends, two of whom were retirees just like my wife and I, another a woman still working at the OU. Came away from the place having enjoyed a long chat with our friends, but also being rather depressed at the way the campus is changing, losing its

Comments

[siliconshaman]

I can't find the article now, but I remember reading that OU membership figures were showing a downward trend as other massively open online courses started up, effectively eating into the OU's share of what is a dwindling market anyway.

[john_d_owen]

Not sure what the overall student figures are for sure, but I did see a recent article saying that numbers of young students were going up (18% was the figure quoted) as people find it more useful amenable to study with the OU than go to conventional universities. The OU has certainly moved more courses online to counteract competition there.

[ffutures]

I know what you mean - I've only been retired a few months, but I'm going in to the school this evening for the head's retirement party, I already know that I'll feel like a total outsider.

[john_d_owen]

Wait until you are nine years down the line, you'll think you are on another planet!