At a ceremony at the Lighthouse in Poole, students of all ages and from varied backgrounds graduated from The Open University (OU) – this year the group included a student from the Isle of Wight.
The degrees awarded offer to the students graduating an opportunity to move their lives on in a new direction: sometimes into a more senior position; often into a completely new, more rewarding field of employment. For these students, The Open University opens the door to life-changing learning and the choice it can bring. Every year the OU helps thousands of ordinary people achieve extraordinary things.
41-year-old Ruth Hollingshead was one of the students who graduated this year, receiving a BSc (Hons) Social Policy and Criminology – 1st class degree.
Ruth said:
“I was diagnosed with Macular dystrophy when I was 10, a genetic eye condition which leads to the loss of central vision. My sight deteriorated during my teens but I was still able to remain in main stream education, however, I had to rely completely on my friends reading text books, and the blackboard to me. Although I was offered a place at university, there was very little support available in the early 1990’s, and so I did not go.
“I had 2 children in 1997 and 1999, but my sight continued to deteriorate, and in 1998 I was registered as blind. However, at the back of my mind was the nagging question ‘had I used my visual impairment as an excuse for not going to university’? In the end, I decided to take the plunge, and contacted the Open University to find out if I had what it takes to get a degree.
“The OU’s Disabled Students Team was fantastic. I received help and support throughout my studies. My resources were all sent to me in accessible formats, as e-books, or on audio files, and they provided a sighted guide to come to my tutorials with me. I studied a range of modules over six years, ranging from sociology, to anti-terrorism policy”.
The Open University sets a high standard for its students, and then does its utmost through supportive tutors and flexible learning to help the students reach those standards. This is where The Open University comes into its own for those many students who are not able to attend full-time courses because of work commitments.
