National Skills Academy endorses OU Foundation Degree in Financial Services

Oct. 5, 2009 - PRLog -- Under a Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the OU and NSAFS, the Skills Academy will shortly begin offering the Foundation Degree as a career development route for employers and encourage Further Education colleges in its network to link to the OU to deliver the course at a local level – breaking new ground for the OU.

Ian Fribbance, Senior Lecturer in Economics at The Open University - who has led the development of the Foundation Degree - said: “This model of collaborative teaching where OU materials will be delivered within the Skills Academy network throughout England and through other colleges, such as Neath Port Talbot College in Wales, is a new way of working for us.  It opens up the qualification to a whole new set of students and it is exciting to see new partners come on board and help us reach out to those working in this crucial sector.

“With the current increased emphasis on regulation and training, there has never been a more crucial time to launch a qualification like this.  We already have students enrolled for the new qualifications and financial services employers are showing interest.”

Sylvia Perrins, CEO of NSAFS, said: “The National Skills Academy for Financial Services is pleased to endorse this Foundation Degree believing it to enhance and develop skills much needed by the industry at large. It recognises existing professional qualifications and can incorporate these as well as content specifically developed with employers.

“The Degree offers a realistic work based pathway into higher education for non-graduates and will be available across the UK, through some of our NSAFS network of training providers.”

The new Foundation Degree launches in Autumn 2009 and registration is open now – for more information go to http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/...

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The new OU Foundation Degree in Financial Services is also supported by fdf (Foundation Degree Forward) and recognised by the Financial Services Skills Council.

OU Media Contact:

Kath Middleditch
01908 655026
k.middleditch@open.ac.uk

NSAFS Media Contact

Sarah Evans-Toyne/Tania Vie Riba/Saira Khan
020 7726 6111
nsafs@bgate.co.uk

About The Open University

The Open University (OU) is the United Kingdom's largest university and the world leader in distance education.  More than two million people have studied with the OU since it began in 1969.  The OU has more than 200,000 students in over 40 countries studying for a variety of degrees and vocational qualifications ranging from short courses to PhDs.

Independent authorities have consistently ranked the OU in the top five UK universities for teaching quality and virtually all of the University’s research areas have received ratings of national or international excellence.  OU students are more impressed with the quality of their courses and the support received than those at any other UK university, based on the findings of the National Student Survey. The OU has been at the top of the rankings every year since the survey began in 2005.

The Open University's style of teaching is called 'supported open learning'.  ‘Open learning’ means that students learn in their own time by reading course material, working on course activities, writing assignments and perhaps working with other students.  ‘Supported’ means support from a tutor and the student services staff at Regional Centres, as well as from centralised areas such as the Library or Open University Students Association.  Some courses include a residential or day school, held at various times and locations.

E-learning – making intelligent use of media such as computer conferencing, email, CD-Roms, DVDs, the internet and of course, television and radio programmes – has always formed a major part of the OU’s courses and student support services, and the OU is regarded as Britain’s major e-learning institution.

For course enquiries, call: +44 (0)845 300 60 90

About the National Skills Academy for Financial Services

The National Skills Academy for Financial Services is a registered charity which was created with the express purpose of delivering world-class education and training aligned with employer needs in the financial services industry to people of all age groups and learning backgrounds, helping them to prepare for and develop financial services careers.

For more about the National Skills Academy for Financial Services or to get involved with us see: www.nsafs.co.uk or email info@nsafs.co.uk

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