Adult returner journeys through HE to STEM careers > Video case studies > Open University Case Studies

Video case studies > Open University Case Studies

Open University modules

In the video case studies below you can hear from people who have used Open University modules in science and technology as a springboard to studying a full BSc Honours in science-related subjects and progressing into a range of science-related roles.

The Open University will be able to advise you on the most appropriate modules to study depending on your previous experience and future plans.

Chris, from electrician to wave forecaster

As a teenager Chris Bunney was a shy but bright student. Always in the top set, and doing well in the sciences, when he got to A-levels he found that he didn’t fit in at college and left to find work. After a series of jobs and attempts to study A-levels and BTEC courses, he took an apprenticeship as an Electrician and stayed close to home in Fowey. Chris found it difficult to find satisfaction in his work and found himself moving from job to job. He was regretful of not pursuing an academic path after leaving school and began to feel like he was not making the most of his abilities. He taught himself computer programming in his spare time and became interested in oceanography after taking up SCUBA diving. Finally, he decided to focus on a change of career into science and after an OU course explored entry to university to do a degree at Plymouth. Successful completion of the OU Discovering Science course enabled Chris to study Oceanography whilst commuting from Fowey daily. Financially Chris says he ’just managed as money was very tight’ but earned money doing maintenance work at a local school during his free time and a summer-student funded job at the University during a summer vacation. Following graduation he took a six month research post with the University before landing a job at the Met office in Exeter. Chris still has the learning bug and has been supported by his employer to gain further qualifications in mathematical modeling via the Open University and a RedHat Linux System Administrator certificate.

You can download this video case study at: https://vimeo.com/41570878

Nina, merchant navy to engineering research

Nina was at an all girls’ secondary school when she made the decision to join the Merchant Navy. By way of preparation for a male dominated environment she transferred to a mixed school to complete her studies, but admits that she did not apply herself because she knew that she had already secured a placement as the first female deck cadet in the MN.
After 7 years on-going training to become a qualified deck officer she left the Merchant Navy as Second Officer and moved to Cyprus with her new husband. As the wife of a serving soldier, she was not permitted to work and used her new found ‘spare’ time to begin a Technology foundation course with the Open University. Although interested in engineering, Nina was not confident about her mathematical ability and so her course choice was partly “to avoid maths!”
On returning to England, Nina decided to attend a full time university and discovered a groundbreaking course at the University of Warwick, Engineering design with appropriate technology, an IMechE accredited course attracting many mature students. She thrived in the camaraderie of her fellow students and went on to study for a PhD at Liverpool University, researching concrete durability.
Working now in research support at the University of Strathclyde, Nina is also a City Councillor and believes passionately that we need more scientists and engineers in elected political positions to understand the technical nature of decision-making, particularly around contemporary planning and energy issues.

You can download this video case study at: https://vimeo.com/41709987

Karen, from advertising manager to science communicator

Karen Dickens attended her local all-girl County High School as it converted to a comprehensive. Science teaching was high on the agenda and Karen particularly enjoyed Biology and Chemistry. With O-Levels completed Karen embarked on her A-Levels including Zoology and Botany. However, as the only student enrolled on these two courses she became very isolated and left after a short time to join a secretarial course.
After leaving college with more English and Business O-levels, plus RSA typing and shorthand skills, Karen started her first job in an American bank then moved to Stockbroking, but found the dealing rooms a bit of a culture shock!
In the meantime, friends had suggested trying the Open University as a way of continuing to follow her interest in the sciences. Karen spread her BSc studies over 6 years with the Open University, graduating with 2:1 honours and working throughout in Secretarial and then Marketing roles in the Leisure and Record industries finally settling in Advertising.
Karen has remained in Advertising for over 20 years now, using her science qualifications and knowledge to support science oriented clients with an understanding of their technical as well as business needs.
Over the last 5 years with her young children beginning their school careers, Karen has also become involved with a local group of mums taking practical science activities into local primary schools and then joined the STEM Ambassador programme.
She has now started a Masters Degree in Science Communication and works as a co-ordinator for the STEM Ambassador programme in the Dorset region. Karen hopes that these latest developments in the direction of her career will allow her to become involved the science education sector and help to inspire and encourage young people into thinking about science careers.

You can download this video case study at: https://vimeo.com/41811401

Sharon, from farming to phsyics research

Sharon describes herself during her school years as being something of a misfit. Expectations of her to aspire to be a chief executive’s personal assistant or simply that nice girl who works at the bank didn’t fit with her personality and passion for how things worked. At 16 she moved from London to the West Country and very soon met the farmer who was to become her husband and soul mate. She spent 17 years milking cows and being a farmer’s wife, raising 5 children until circumstances meant she had to become the main breadwinner. All this time though she was exploring and researching how things work and fixing equipment. She started on an Open University foundation course hoping to be able to become a lab technician or similar and a chance meeting with a bio-chemist at a summer school changed her life.
With no formal qualifications under her belt she found herself being interviewed to study chemistry at the University of Exeter . Hers was not the usual undergraduate experience: with a 70 mile round trip to campus and 5 children, summer work placements in research labs and opportunities to attend conferences as a second year offered opportunities to expand her horizons. Sharon secured a student stipend to undertake a PhD and then, after a period of ill health, a Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowship for returners helped her progress her career.
Sharon is now a member of staff at the University of Exeter in Physics and manages to juggle her expanded family of six children with an exciting research career. Sharon talks about time management, treating being a mature student as a 9 to5 job and separating home and work clearly as her method for managing a complex life.

You can download this video case study at: https://vimeo.com/44007534

Nina, from accountant to research scientist

Nina always enjoyed maths at school and solving puzzles. She never questioned that she would study a maths degree. Holiday work in an accountancy firm was followed with a job offer in her final year which led to a successful career – moving through audit into training and then into regulation and standards.
Nina was always though on the lookout for a challenge and ‘something extra’. To keep herself amused and her brain active she took a variety of Open University courses from psychology to education to genetics. Nina’s husband was a research scientist in bioscience and a chance opportunity to check the maths in a draft paper gave her an insight into a different world.
She says her maths was a bit rusty but she soon got back up to speed. Further research into the idea of a career change, bolstered by her OU modules enabled her to apply successfully for a funded PhD studentship. Nina is now working in mathematical biology as a post doctoral research fellow at Oxford and is bringing together her accounting and business skills with bioscience to research and model the impacts of genetically modified ‘sterile’ male mosquitoes to reduce the spread of Dengue fever.
She has brought her financial knowledge to start exploring the health economic impacts and benefits of a variety of studies adding a new dimension to existing work.
Nina was concerned about being distinctly older than other students and not fitting in, but found the college atmosphere to be welcoming and inclusive and is truly happy in her new environment.

You can download this video case study at: https://vimeo.com/39528359

Staff involved

Prof David Harwood
Project lead, Plymouth University

Jan Peters
Project coordinator, Katalytik

Betsy Bowerman
University of Bristol

Carol Rothwell
Katalytik

Deborah Mcallister
University of the West of England

Dr Ruth Williams
The Open University

Dr Tracey Sweet
South Devon College

Gary Ayles
Devon and Somerset Training Provider Network

Heather Campbell
STEMNET

Julie Kirkby
The Open University

Karen Dickens
Katalytik

Rob Martin
University of Bath

Stephanie Hulford
Open College Network South West Region

Sue Lewis
University of Bath

Tom Staniford
Major Minor Media