Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, joined the Universities Minister Michelle Donelan on a visit to the Open University to learn how it designs and produces its high quality distance learning curriculum and to hear the needs of its learners.
The Minister was welcomed by the university's Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Blackman and was given a tour of the OU's OpenSTEM lab which connects students to state-of-the-art learning equipment over the internet so they are able to conduct research from their homes.
Ben and Michelle were also given the chance to meet some of the OU's students who had travelled from across the country to hear about the importance of access to higher education and how the Open University has provided them with that when they have struggled elsewhere.
Ben Everitt MP commented: "I have always been a huge champion for the Open University and I know it fits right in with the Government's current agenda so I was delighted the Minister was able to visit Milton Keynes today to see and hear first-hand just some of the fantastic work and stories the OU has inspired."