In 2003, Cindy Vanstone’s world was turned upside down. Her son was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and needed care around the clock, causing Cindy to give up…
At the age of 14, Gary Steel left school to care for his mum. His education had been severely impacted by his caring responsibilities and despite…
As Justine Wilkes-Kendall crossed the stage at the Barbican degree ceremony, she was proudly proving wrong the words of her social worker many years before who…
As an unmarried single mother in the 1970s, Elizabeth Tye found it difficult to make her dreams of university come true. After two attempts of studying…
Twenty-two years ago, Rebecca Bungay, 40, started her journey to higher education like most students, but found the road well-travelled was not for her and left…
With a degree and a MBA from The Open University, James explains how he fit studying into his busy life, which subsequently transformed his career. When…
To celebrate The Open University’s 50th Anniversary year, OU Honorary Graduate Prue Leith joined us for an ‘In conversation’ talk last week, led by fellow writer…
Linda, 62, is a PhD researcher at the OU. Following a successful career working with young people and sport, she’s turned to research. “I’ve not approached…
Canoe slalom gold medallist Etienne Stott looks back on “an incredibly big journey” as he received his OU degree in Psychology on stage in Milton Keynes.…
OU student David Breakspear had been in the criminal justice system since he was a child. Determined to break the cycle, he began studying during his…
