Twenty-first century learning is changing rapidly. No longer is there a need to spend hours in a classroom as the developments in online learning mean you can now manage your learning to suit your lifestyle and needs. Whether you decide to undertake a prolonged period of study towards a degree or want to enhance or learn new skills in a few hours the Open University can help.
Workplace Learning
The courses are revolutionising workplace learning. Paige Bramley, a project development manager for the Derwent Community Team, which develops community regeneration schemes in Derbyshire who took CPLD’s ‘Managing Performance through People’ course, said the study had changed her whole way of thinking.
“It was excellent for so many reasons,” she said. “It developed me both as a person and employee but also taught me a wealth of techniques and processes to help me in my job. Best of all, I was able to bring what I’d learned into the office and apply it in my job.”
The courses are designed to allow people to develop their skills which can count towards their professional development requirements (often referred to as continuous professional development or CPD) of their employers or professional body.
Extensive Range of Online Courses
The range of online course is extensive covering over 50 topics in strategy, leadership, people management, and communications as well as more specialist areas such as travel planning and food science and technology. The courses can easily be developed and blended with more traditional forms of classroom-based activities for corporate clients or groups of learners in order to meet specific learning objectives.
Organisations that have already benefitted from working with the OU include:
• Addiction, Britain's largest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charity;
• Airbus, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers;
• Asquith Nurseries, a nationwide provider of childcare and education for children under fives;
• Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust,
• NHS Lothian and
• West Lothian Council,
• Scottish Enterprise,
• BBC Scotland,
• SMG Television
• Channel 4
• Reuters
Reuters, the largest international news agency, employed the help of The Open University to equip new managers with the skills, knowledge and confidence to get the most out of their role. The OU's Centre for Professional Learning and Development (CPLD) was able to work at developing the skills of the new managers while they worked, by creating a pilot which was delivered to journalists and support teams across the world, including many on the front line.
What’s special about the Open University’s Centre for Professional Learning and Development?
• Course enrolment is flexible enabling you to start when you want
• Learning is developed in 1-2 hour bite-size chunks conveniently packaged into 20-30 hour courses
• You get the high quality of learning material and educational design that the OU is renowned for worldwide
• You have the support of an expert learning adviser who will help you through the course and provide personal developmental feedback to your work
• You choose issues from your workplace to address on the course. A work-based activity connects the course content directly to your practice
• You save money with our competitive fees – and no need to take days off work and travel to training venues.
Continue to grow with the Open University
Because OU courses are intellectually stimulating and require disciplined application, they foster skills critical for business growth. Our students can
• Demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm
• Communicate well
• Think logically and critically
• Work effectively in teams and independently
Why choose the Open University?
Without the need to leave the workplace, OU courses can improve the day-to-day performance and career horizons of most professional and managerial staff whether they are:
• Junior or aspiring managers
• Functional or technical staff building or refreshing skills
• Technical experts moving to management
• Middle to senior managers who want to build capability
• Employees who are seeking pathways to professional qualifications
To learn more about the work of CPLD and to see the full range of courses and how to register for them, go to the dedicated OU at Work website at www.open.ac.uk/cpd. Alternatively, call 0870 900 9577 .
