Student Leadership Team
At the Students Association we have a Central Executive Committee who are elected every two years to represent students, and to influence all levels of decision-making within The Open University. They exist to promote your interests and to ensure the OU is more than just a place of learning - it’s a student community.
The Central Executive Committee lead the Association’s strategic direction, run events and activities and talk to The Open University on your behalf about decisions that affect students. They represent the collective rather than individual needs of the student body. It meets at least four times a year with some members of the Committee meeting more frequently. Any student can stand for election to be a member of the Central Executive Committee, and every student has the opportunity to vote for who they believe will best represent them.
Ways that the Central Executive Committee represent you:
University level
The Central Executive Committee take part in (and in some cases are full members of) committees and working groups, to ensure that the student voice has an input into the decisions made at the OU.
Student Community
The Central Executive Committee meet with students at events, local activities and national meet-ups, to understand the student experience.
Nationally
Members of the Central Executive Committee speak to parliament and MPs about the part-time/distance learning student experience, and contribute to government led consultations to ensure that OU students’ perspectives are part of a narrative or campaign.
Who they are:
Our President, Sarah Jones, leads the Central Executive Committee and is a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Deputy President, Ian Cheyne, supports the President and is a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Student Member of Council, Danielle Smith, joins the President as one of our two representatives on the OU Council.
Vice Presidents
Our Vice Presidents have wide ranging remits and responsibilities and are also involved in a number of ongoing projects and initiatives.
Faculty Association Representatives
There are five Faculty Association Representatives (one per faculty and one for Open and Access) and these elected students play a vital role in making sure learners within their faculty have a voice in central decision making and in turn, get information about what is happening within individual faculties.
Area Association Representatives
Area Association Representatives play a vital role in making sure students from across the four UK nations, the Republic of Ireland and Continental Europe, get a voice in all central decision-making and, in turn, get direct information back on what's going on in the Students Association centrally.