OU Student Charter: Learning

Learning values

  • We support life-changing learning that is innovative, inclusive, and responsive.
  • We support our students to succeed, whoever and wherever they are.
  • We uphold high standards of academic conduct and academic integrity.
  • We support quality research with a passionate curiosity about the world.

 

 

 

This means we

  • We actively support life-changing learning by designing and delivering learning that is innovative, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of our students, wherever they are studying.
  • We support our students to succeed by providing timely guidance, accessible resources, and a supportive learning environment that recognises individual circumstances and aspirations
  • We uphold high standards of academic conduct and academic integrity by promoting honesty, fairness, and good academic practice in all study and research.
  • We also support quality research by fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and open enquiry, encouraging staff and students to question, explore, and contribute new ideas.

This means we do not

  • We do not rely on one-size-fits-all approaches or overlook barriers that may prevent students from fully engaging.
  • We do not make assumptions about students’ backgrounds or leave learners without the support they need to progress.
  • We do not tolerate plagiarism, collusion, or any behaviour that undermines trust in OU qualifications.
  • We do not discourage challenge or limit intellectual exploration, but we ensure all research and enquiry are carried out responsibly, ethically, and with integrity.
 

Additional Links

 

Glossary

Academic Conduct

Academic conduct refers to the standards of behaviour expected of students in their studies and assessments, ensuring fairness, honesty, and compliance with University rules and good academic practice.
 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the commitment to honest study practices and shared values, where work is a true expression of a student’s own understanding and properly acknowledges the contributions of others.
 

Learning Environment

A learning environment is the inclusive, supportive and safe academic setting—online or in person—in which students and staff engage in study, teaching, discussion and development.
 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s ideas, words, data or work without appropriate acknowledgement, thereby misrepresenting it as one’s own.
 

Collusion

Collusion is unauthorised collaboration with others—such as working together or sharing work—in a way that results in submitting an assessment that is not entirely one’s own.