My name:
Andrew Kolapo
My role:
Student Member of the Open University Council
Information about my role:
I believe this role is about being able to increase the voices and views of all the students at every level of the OU. It’s about enhancing the student experience, making sure we have a place and a space to engage with each other, increasing the awareness of the Students Association and its services, and lastly promoting EDI through the Students Association to help them access University services and support. By being on the Council I will have a first-hand view of how all our priorities are being met.
My priorities for the 2024–26 term:
First of all, it’s a privilege to be taking over from Matt Porterfield, the previous role-holder. After meeting him and being in a couple of meetings too, he has kindly left me ‘to do list’ in my in-tray which I will be happy to finish off for him. I already have a couple of ongoing issues and projects to finish off:
- Campus 2030 – I would really like you to drop me a line about what you know about the project (if anything at all), how you feel about it, and whether there is any more information available online that I can point you to so that you are well-informed about the next chapter of our beloved OU.
- Changes to the assessment strategy at the OU – This is all about how the TMAs and EMAs are graded. The aim is to reduce the amount of different assessment strategies at the OU, to allow for more consistent marking for you – the ‘students’!
From my manifesto: The two issues I want to address are:
- Isolation and technical challenges – I remember for one of my EMA exams I literally had to call the Student Support desk to show me where to find the exam question – this is about making sure that students are not disconnected and lacking in support.
- Looking at ways the OU can support learners more through one-2-one check-ins – I felt I got that by reaching out to my tutor on my module, and it made a difference for me and helped me get a great pass. I want every student to be able to get that, not just with the TMA feedback.
What I’ve been up to and what I’m currently working on:
I have been in my first Council meeting and I’ve been on my first of two handover weekends with the new Student Leadership Team. I have now completed my second of three modules for the year and I’m working to finish my last one (the B126).
What I am studying:
BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance – I have successfully passed my B100 Introduction to business and B124 Fundamentals of accounting. As of writing, I’m working on B126 Business data analytics and decision making (so if any of you are on my module, please drop me a hello).
What I do when I’m not studying:
Well, I guess it’s safe to say that my day job is that of an ‘hospitality professional’. It’s just a fancy title to say that I’m a general dogsbody who works in bars, restaurants and now hotels. I also do consulting on the side in new openings and finance management.
My top study tips:
I had to do a video on this at the handover weekend. My big tip is to try and start as early as you can, reading the questions and the learning outcomes, and feel confident that you are able to tick it off. This will then hopefully allow you the time to re-read your work and, as my tutor and previous role-holder have said, reference your work before having a good night’s sleep to submit your work via the online TMA/EMA service.
How to contact me:
Email: oustudents-council-member@open.ac.uk
Please note that a handful of Association staff team members have access to this mailbox.
Twitter / X: @Open_Council