ABSTRACT

The Community Education programme at the Open University started in 1977. It is specifically concerned with promoting ‘the educational well-being of the community generally’ 1 within the University’s Continuing Education programme, and has the following objectives:

To meet the learning needs of individuals at various stages in their lives: in their roles as parents, consumers, employees and citizens, in the context of their family, workplace and community by …

encouraging learners to value their own experience and the experience of others and to facilitate dialogue between learners and others;

providing information to assist personal and collective decision making;

helping learners make personal and collective decisions based on their own experience, values, resources and on information provided; and to implement changes;

enabling learners to take action individually and collectively to improve the services and facilities in their community and workplaces.

To reach as wide a range of learners as possible regardless of prior educational achievement, through appropriate learning materials and support for their learning.

To collaborate with national and local organisations in defining needs, developing learning materials, sharing resources, publicising and promoting learning opportunities, organising support for learners and in evaluating the provision.

To finance this work, within the rules laid down by the University, from student fees, external grants and other sources of income.