| Last month the Open University celebrated its 40th | | | | worth of distance education even further, soldiers in |
| anniversary to much fanfare. However, despite the | | | | POW camps were able to study for qualifications |
| OU's acknowledged influence on higher education | | | | during the Second World War. |
| then and since, the institution that started it all was | | | | Today, alongside a host of institutions that have |
| established over 100 years before. So why was The | | | | been influenced by the scheme and further pushing |
| University of London External Program established? | | | | the development of distance education, The |
| And during this era of recession, adult education and | | | | University of London External System continues to |
| online courses - how can our universities continue to | | | | serve 40,000 students worldwide. Yet, as a |
| learn from the scheme? | | | | consequence of the global economic crisis, we may |
| The University of London was established in 1836 | | | | be set to see its importance grow. |
| with the merger of University College London and | | | | Whereas the University of London External Program |
| King's College London. By 1858, the External Program | | | | broke new ground by offering higher education |
| was founded and Chartered by Queen Victoria, | | | | courses to more people who couldn't get to London, |
| whose reign was establishing a more identifiable Royal | | | | distance learning institutions today around the world |
| Family with which the general public could relate to. | | | | are competing to push accessibility even further. |
| The symbolic move to promote higher education | | | | Open content is one area that might be seen to do |
| opportunities for less-affluent students also came at | | | | this over the next year. Although, such schemes |
| a time shortly after the establishment of the | | | | have already been rolled out in Paris and the US, the |
| nationwide postal system - a development that | | | | idea has not yet been embraced by all institutions. |
| dramatically increased the ease of communication | | | | However, if by looking at the establishment and |
| between institutions and the public. | | | | success of UoL External Program and what we might |
| Affectionately labeled 'The People's University' by | | | | still be able to learn from its beginnings, its embrace |
| Charles Dickens in his magazine, All The Year Round, | | | | of new means of communication (i.e. post and |
| the University of London broke further ground in | | | | printing press) to increase accessibility can be seen to |
| 1878 as it became the first university in the UK to | | | | be the 19th Century equivalent of open content. And |
| allow women to enroll on higher education courses. | | | | I expect that the future is brightest for those |
| By the turn of the 20th Century, the institution was | | | | institutions that embrace open content - as well as |
| the biggest in the country - boasting around 4000 | | | | their students. |
| students. And, as if to exemplify the power and | | | | |