Open University Announces Partnership With New School University, USA

The first course Managing Finance and Information is being planned for March this year, based on a module from the Open University Business School’s Professional Certificate in Management. The new online course is part of a five-course programme leading to a Certificate in Management and is designed for managers interested in a management qualification who do not have the time, resources or need to study for an MBA (Master of Business Education).

New School University will explore ways of making its existing courses and programmes available to Open University students. These will include art and design courses through its acclaimed Parsons School of Design.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by the two universities on Monday, January 28, 2003.

Vice-chancellor of the Open University Professor Brenda Gourley said:

“We have an enormous respect for the history and achievements of New School University. Our two institutions share a similar set of beliefs and values and we are both committed to academic excellence and to providing the working adult with a very positive learning experience. I have no doubt that by working closely together both universities will achieve a great deal in the coming years.”

New School University President Bob Kerrey was a strong advocate and supporter of online education when he served as Senator from the state of Nebraska. On announcing the partnership he said:

“This partnership represents a challenging new set of opportunities for us to work with our colleagues at the Open University to expand access to and generate significant interest in new programs and academic offerings for both our institutions. The Open University’s rich history in distributed learning – spanning over three decades – coupled with New School Online University’s highly successful online teaching and learning model will bring a new power and vibrancy to the online education arena.”

The new courses will be delivered through New School Online University (NSOU), the university’s virtual campus.

Editor’s Notes

New School Online University (NSOU) is the New School University’s virtual campus, extending teaching and learning at New School University into the online environment. Distance learning courses, online enhancement of campus courses, and public programs and discussions are available through the NSOU portal. More than 300 hundred courses are offered in the full distance-learning environment with more than 2,000 credit and non-credit students. To find out more about NSOU, visit www.dialnsa.edu or go to www.newschool.edu and click on to Online University.

The Open University is the United Kingdom’s largest and most innovative university with more than 200,000 people studying its courses. Over 22 per cent of all part-time higher education students in the UK are registered with the Open University. The university is ranked amongst the top ten of all UK universities for the quality of its teaching. Since its establishment by Royal Charter in 1969, the university has opened the door to higher education for more than 2 million people.

Contact:

OU Media Relations

Fiona Leslie

01908 653256

f.m.leslie@open.ac.uk