The Open University has become a finalist in the ‘University of the Year’ category in the sixth annual UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs).
The awards recognise and celebrate UK organisations in their efforts to improve social mobility, both within their workforce and beyond. It’s organised by societal change charity, Making The Leap.
SOMOs were the first national awards dedicated to social mobility, and their aim is to raise awareness by sharing the innovative work of forward-thinking organisations working to improve social mobility.
This year’s list of finalists comprises of organisations and individuals from a variety of industries who have demonstrated their commitment to advancing social mobility and the efficacy of the initiatives they have created.
There are five other finalists: University of Southampton, Queen Mary University, City – University of London, University of Exeter and London Metropolitan University.
Winners of this year’s event will be determined by an independent judging panel, made up of leading figures from business, charity, and the public sector.
It is chaired by the HM Lord Lieutenant of London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE. Winners will be announced at an in-person awards gala at on Thursday, 13 October 2022.
Jhumar Johnson, chief of staff to The Open University’s Vice Chancellor, said:
“Becoming a finalist is a great achievement. The Open University’s mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas – and this has never been more true of our desire to help people achieve their full potential.
“Just some of the initiatives that were included in our submission were: the OU provided £3.8m in emergency financial aid to 3,500 students; reached 14.1m unique visitors to our free learning resources on OpenLearn and raised £158,000 for life-changing scholarships in our 36-hour Giving Day challenge.”
Tunde Banjoko OBE, the Chief Executive of Making The Leap, said:
“I am delighted with the response to the 2022 UK Social Mobility Awards. The breadth and quality of entries we have received this year is an indication of the ever-growing importance of social mobility to UK business.
“These awards were established to encourage those UK organisations, for whom social mobility is not their core business, to play their part in addressing this important issue, and the record number of entries is an indication that they wish to do so.”
