Distance learning at the RCNI
We are delighted to announce that the RCN and The Open University (OU) have signed a contract for a UK-wide strategic alliance to work together in the healthcare education sector.
The Open University is recognised as a world leader in supported distance learning and is the largest university in the UK, with around 200,000 students. For the last three years, the OU came top for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The Faculty of Health and Social Care already offers a range of distance learning programmes for healthcare support workers, nurses and other health professionals.
The RCN’s distance learning provision will be aligned with the existing programmes to create an exciting, enhanced range of learning opportunities for the health and social care workforce. This includes courses for healthcare support workers, through pre-registration nursing programmes in adult and mental health nursing and a suite of post-qualifying courses up to Masters level.
Our partnership with the OU aims to widen participation and maximise access to higher education, especially for the marginalised healthcare workforce who would otherwise be unable to access traditional higher education provision. All courses can be studied part-time, enabling students to continue to earn while they learn.
For more information go to the Open University website: www.openuniversity.co.uk/rcn.