Branch
The branch level is key to the successful democratic nature of the Open University Students Association (OUSA), as it is the members at branch level who help determine OUSA policy by drawing up motions to conference (OUSAs governing body), which (if passed by conference) will help shape OUSAs and the Open Universities (OU) policy for current and future students.
To date OUSA has, through successive campaigns, persuaded the OU to make the following policy changes to suit the changing needs of todays student,
- The introduction of Named Degrees and Undergraduate diplomas.
- The workload review to ensure that all courses have an equal work load weighting.
- Review of the fees structure.
- Student retention programme.
- Equal opportunities strategy.
- Multiple start dates of courses.
- Earlier examination re-sits.
- Change in complaints and appeals procedures.
- Examination feedback.
- Introduction of student profiles and portfolios.
- Exam results published on-line.
- The OUSA suite of study and social conferences hosted by the OU.
- Funding raising for Open University Student Education Trust (OUSET), OUSAs own charity for hardship cases.
So please get involved with your local branch and make a difference!
OUSA comprises of thirteen individual regions and three sub regions (continental Europe(North and South) and the Republic Of Ireland (ROI) of which the Island of Ireland has been designated as region twelve.
Region twelve is made up of the following ten branches and the ROI as a sub region of region twelve.
- Belfast
- Coleraine
- East
- Antrim
- Enniskillen
- Mid-Antrim
- Londonderry
- Newry and Armagh
- North Down
- Omagh
Currently the following branches are dormant,
- East Antrim
- Londonderry
- Omagh
So if you live in any of these areas and would like information on how to become active within your branch catchment area, then contact the executive committee member who will advise you how to go about regenerating your local branch.