Classics in the Open University
Classics in the Open University
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开放大学的经典
DOI：
10.1017/s0017383500021616
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发表时间：
1974
期刊：
影响因子：
0.1
通讯作者：
J. Ferguson
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. Ferguson
开放大学于1969年7月获得特许，1971年1月开设了第一批课程，并于1972年底培养了第一批毕业生（有一些“学分豁免”）。那些最初计划的人看到，许多人由于各种原因在他们生命的正常阶段错过了接受大学教育的机会，只要提供的是业余时间在家学习，他们就可以从中受益。他们还看到，广播和电视提供了一个极好的机会，帮助这种学习变得直接和个性化。学生在21岁之前不需要任何入学资格。我们在选择过程中设置了一些参数；例如，我们可以控制任何一门基础课程或国家任何一个地区的录取比例；但基本上是“先到先得”。典型的学生是这样的男孩，他上的是一所穷学校，从来没有被激发过，15岁就离开了学校，进入了工业界，20多岁时突然对自己所做的事情感到兴奋，同时表现出敏锐的头脑；一个女孩在18岁就结婚了，看着她的家人长大，意识到她有时间在他们上学的时候学习，并能在三四年后找到一份全职工作；长期服刑人员在监狱中需要有建设性的职业和出狱时的资格；一个工人阶级的小伙子进入了警察队伍，凭借能力和努力，从警察队伍里爬了出来；退休的产业工人或银行经理希望在退休后有一个积极的目标；没有学位的教师，也许是因为家庭负担不起两年以上的课程，他在自己的学科中寻求更多的知识，以及获得学位所需的增值；在一份职业中安定下来的人，在放弃第一份职业之前，希望有资格从事第二份职业；对人和思想感兴趣的出租车司机，他想知道这一切都是关于什么的。我们都有，还有很多其他的。
The Open University received its charter in July 1969, offered its first courses in January 1971, and produced its first graduates (with some ‘credit exemptions’) by the end of 1972. Those who originally planned it saw that many people who for various reasons missed their opportunity of university education at the usual stage of their lives could profit from it, provided that what was offered was home-based study in spare time. They saw too that radio and television offered an excellent opportunity for helping such study to be direct and personal. Students then are admitted with no entry qualification except the age of 21. We have built a few parameters into our selection procedure; we can control the proportion admitted to any one foundation course or from any one region of the country for example; but basically it is ‘First come, first served’. Typical students are the boy who has been to a poor school, has never been turned on, has left at the age of 15 and gone into industry, and in his twenties has suddenly become excited by what he is doing and at the same time has revealed a keen mind; the girl who with decent A levels has got married at 18, sees her family growing up, is aware that she has time for some study while they are at school, and will be able to take a full-time job in three or four years; the long-term prisoner needing a constructive occupation in prison and qualification for when he comes out; the working-class lad who has entered the police force and, by ability and application, has worked his way up from the beat; the retired industrial worker or bank manager who wants a positive purpose in his retirement; the teacher who has no degree, perhaps because the family could not afford more than a two-year course, and seeks more knowledge in his subject, as well as the increment applicable to a degree; the person well settled in one profession who would like to qualify for a second career before giving up the first; the taxi-driver who is interested in people and ideas, and wants to know what it is all about. We have them all, and many others.