50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

Early day motion 2302, tabled 23 April 2019 by Peter Kyle (Labour). Signed by 36 members.

That this House congratulates the Open University (OU) on its 50th anniversary; notes that its mission of opening up education for all through flexible distance learning is as relevant today as it was in 1969; celebrates the over two million students who have been taught by the OU since 1969; supports the OU’s open entry policy and the vital role this plays in terms of social mobility; commends the 174,000 students studying with the OU in 2019; notes that the OU is not just the UK’s largest university but the only one operating across all four nations of the UK; wishes the OU continued success in the future; and calls for Government policies that support and incentivise lifelong learning.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Scottish National Party 10, Conservative 3, DUP 3, Labour/Co-operative 3, Independent 2, Plaid Cymru 1.