Index:

• Intro
• Requirements
• The Open University in Germany
• The Open University in Austria
• The Open University in Switzerland
• The Open University in other European countries
• Reservation and Preparation
• Course material
• What you should think about before making your course reservation
• The Credit Point System
• What the Press say about the Open University
• Open University Student Association (OUSA)
• Accreditation of the Open University courses/qualifications
• The Online Infos of the Open University

Useful Links on the Open University Web Site for Students

• Further Literature

INTRO

The Open University is one of the biggest providers of MBA-Programmes in Germany - there are currently over 500 students from this country enrolled in the programme.

The Distance-Learning MBA at the Open University is particularily interesting for the following reasons:

1. International comparability and transparency of Anglo American university degrees - Bachelor and Master- and their fast growing acceptance are an alternative to the "Diplom". The Open University MBA has been conceived for working persons (in the middle or higher management). If you have already finished a first degree, you can complete the MBA within three years.

2. The excellent reputation worldwide of the Master of Business Administration degree in particular among large enterprises. An Open University MBA requirement is several years of professional experience and the programme is internationally oriented. People from all regions of the world study at the Open University.

3. In the Internet age, virtual courses and degrees are becoming ever more popular. Teaching materials can be recalled in the Internet or online and completed and updated. By means of the conferencing software "First Class" one can participate actively in discussion forums, with associate lecturers, professors and other students about the many different aspects of the management and course concepts. You can also complete administrative matters online (registering for courses, choosing residential schools, etc.). Compared with conventional study at universities where lectures take place at fixed times, with the Internet you can study the course contents at your own rate and time. You don't have to study at one fixed place; you can study the material at home, while commuting or on holiday. Besides that you can go back to the online conferences: there the discussions are written down and accessible for all students, thus the learning effect is much larger than with conventional courses.

back

Requirements for studying the OUBS MBA
There are two ways to complete the Open University MBA.

Fast-Track Graduate entry
If you are aged 27 or over, with significant management experience and a UK Honour degree or equivalent academic or professional qualification, you are eligible for the fast track to an MBA. The Fast-Track route takes three years and begins with the (B800) Foundations in Senior Management (Stage I) Course

Open Access entry
If you do not meet the the fast track entry criteria, you may enter the MBA Programme by successfully completing both the Certificate and Diploma Programmes. Achievement of the Diploma counts as Stage One of the MBA. The Open-Access route takes four years to complete. The course Professional Certificate in Management (Stage I) takes one year and is organised around:

four, three-month modules covering key managerial functions

An interactive management development module, practicing key personal and interpersonal skills normally studied at a 2-day residential school.

regular assignments (submitted and graded by your tutor) and an examination at the end of each module

The Professional Diploma in Management (Stage I) develops the functional and general skills needed by experienced managers who want to advance their careers and extend their abilities to meet the latest developments in business practice. To achieve the Diploma, managers must already have attained the Professional Certificate in Management (or a recognized equivalent qualification).

The Diploma is an integrated programme of management learning organised around:

• two courses with the core theme of managing performance and change, the forst of which lasts nine months and the second of which lasts three months
• a management interaction component within the nine month course developing and deepening strategic understanding of the management role, which can either be studied at a three-day residential school or online
• assignments on both courses and an exam attached the first course

If you have completed the Certificate and Diploma (Stage I), you can continue with Stage II of the MBA Programme, which takes two years to complete. Stage II consists of the 6-month compulsory course (B820) Strategy and three elective courses. Students can select from the following elective courses:
(B821) Financial Strategy
(B822) Creativity, Innovation and Change
(B823) Knowledge Management
(B824) Human Resource Strategy
(B825) Marketing in a Complex World
(B826) The Management Research Project
(B890) International Enterprise

All elective courses (with exception of the Management Research Project, which takes one year) are 6-month courses. The ratio of compulsory to elective courses is 1:1.

back

The Open University in Germany
For questions or further information concerning study you can contact the Representatives of the Open University.
Alternatively you can also fill in the Prospectus Request Form on the Open University Web Site.

Students receive course guidance and support from Associate Lecturers. Associate Lecturers hold seminars, evaluate the Tutor Marked Assignments (written work) and provide course subject support for about 10-15 students. Depending upon number of students, seminars are held in various cities, e.g. Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Hamburg or Duesseldorf. You are assigned to a tutor group. My experience was that the seminars for "Foundations in Senior Management", "Strategy" and "Creativity, Change and Innovation" were held in Frankfurt , tutorials for "International Enterprise" in Stuttgart and tutorials for "Financial Strategy" in Duesseldorf.

Alternatively you can click here for an overview of the dates for the forthcoming Open Events (Information Evenings) held by the OUBS in Germany. Click here for events in Berlin.

back

The Open University in Austria
In Austria (Vienna) there is also an OUBS office with representatives. The Viennese OUBS Office offers course advice and holds regular Information evenings for prospective students.

In "OUBS Regions Open Events Information" you will find an overview of the dates for the all forthcoming Open Events (Information Evenings) held by the OUBS in Austria.

back

The Open University in Switzerland
The Swiss OUBS is located in Geneva. The OUBS office in Geneva offers course advice and holds regular Information evenings for prospective students from Switzerland.

In the document "OUBS Regions Open Events Information" you will find an overview of the dates for the all forthcoming Open Events (Information Evenings) held by the OUBS in Switzerland.

back

The Open University in other European countries
The Open University is also represented in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Please click here for contact information and dates of OU events.

In the document "OUBS Regions Open Events Information" you will find an overview of the dates for the all forthcoming Open Events (Information Evenings) held by the OUBS in various European countries.

back

Reservation and preparation
The reservation of courses at the Open University is free. You can also reserve courses online. Within a few days you receive a Reservation Letter. This letter acknowledges your reservation and contains the Registration Agreement. The brochure "How to of Accept Registration" explains the different payment methods: by student budget account, by cheque, credit card, invoice to sponsor or bank transfer. Information about "Computing Requirements" are also included stating the Recommended Minimum Specifications.

After the Open University has received your registration documents, you will receive you very helpful OU course preparation material. The MBA Handbook (which is included free-of charge) contains advice about time management, exercises for effective learning, group work and tips for writing assignments and for preparing for examinations.

The preparation for Computer Conferencing is extremely important. A prerequisite is TCP/IP Internet Access through a provider.
Furthermore there is a training program (Induction) that has three aims.
It is to make sure:
1. that you can log in on the central server, and so that if necessary technical problems can be fixed prior to the start of the course.
2. that you are familiar with the FirstClass Conferencing software, and that you can use the key functions and features of the software.
3. that you feel comfortable with participating in computer conferences. The conventions, traps, possibilities and problems of "Computer Conferencing" are introduced.


Computer Software Skills:
You must have good computer skills in Word 97 and Excel 97. Since the Word Wide Web is used as a supplementary source of information, you should be familiar with browsers such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.
As a registered student you will receives the following brochures from the university (some with CD ROM)

"Open University Internet Access" Booklet (P560 ISI)

contains information about PPP, Netscape Navigator Installation for Windows 95/98, modem setup, connnection instructions and trouble shooting.

"Internet Tools" Booklet (P560 IT)

contains information about using Netscape, making changes to your browser, newsgroups and other Internet Tools.

OU FirstClass Guide (P559)

contains information about installing and setting up FirstClass; Registration, Software Installation, FirstClass Client setup, Connecting, Disconnecting, using FirstClass with a browser. Using FirstClass; computer-mediated communication, Introductory exercises, using the OU FirstClass computer conferencing system

The

Information Search Guide

deals with the following topics:
- how to manage information;
- online libraries and how to use them;
- type of printed information and how to find and use it;
- computers of databases and the Internet and how to use them;
- organizations and how to of trace them.

Newsletters and Magazines

Sesame

This magazine is published every two months for the Open University Community worldwide and contains general news about the University.

Open Eye

This magazine is published once a year for the Open University Alumni Community, and students currently enrolled in OU courses. It contains news articles about Graduation Ceremonies and former graduates. There is also a website for alumnis):

Open Business

This magazine contains reviews for MBA Alumni of the Open University Business School.

back

Course material

MBA of programs Continental Europe Guide

it contains an important overview with information about when, where and which tutor, and locations where tutorials are held for the courses. Also contained in this booklet is information about "Support for Study" and "Advice and Guidance".

Student Allocation Record

this is a letter from the Open University which informs you about the contact details of your tutor. Normally within a short time this is followed by a letter from the Tutor in which he introduces himself to you.

Course File

that is the most important component of each course. In the Course File everything contained is of importance. In the "Course Calender" are all important deadlines for handing in TMAs and time recommendations for reading and working through each of the individual course units.
The"Course Guide" contains an overview of the topics covered in the course. Contained in the Course file are also the questions for the Tutor Marked Assignments, Specimen Examination papers, Residential School Booklets, Day School Booklets and Media Notes.

Course Books, Supplementary Reading, CD-ROMs and Audiovisual Material

if you have enrolled in an OU course for the first time, it is important for you to discover which learning material b>(core course material) you must work through; and which material is additional (supplementary material), because the time pressure is always great while you are already planning or writing your next Tutor-Marked Assignment. The Course Books are compulsory literature.

With the Course reader and the Supplementary Books you can be selective about which articles you read and sometimes you can go through the course without watching the video programs or listening to the audio cassettes. The Course Books are enhanced in FirstClass with discussion forums. There you can place your questions about applied theories and concepts which can then be answered by tutors, professors or other students.

Residential Schools

an important constituent of almost every course is the residential school. It lasts depending upon course between 3 - 5 days. For the course "Foundations in senior management" there are, for example, various workshops, case studies that you work on in a group, a computer simulation game and exercises for the forthcoming examination.
Apart from that you become acquainted with that many nice study colleagues and you also have a lot of fun. The Residential Schools for the MBA courses take place in the United Kingdom, Ireland or Holland ; I attended residential Schools in Windsor (Beaumont), Dublin (Trinity College) and Leiden (Leeuwenhorst). Board and accommodation are included in the course fees. You have make your own travel arrangements and pay for your travel expenses.

Examination arrangement

this letter including the handbook will reach you halfway through the course and confirms the place and date of your examination. The handbook should be read. As Karlsruher I had to take the examinations in Frankfurt (University) or Stuttgart (Berufsakademie)

back

What you should think about before making your course reservation

Time management
the biggest problem for a distance-learning student is the lack of time, the combination of full-time job and MBA - it is allegedly also the most common cause why people do not finish the course. For the MBA you must set aside at least 12-15 hours study-time weekly. It is therefore very useful to have a strategy for finding this required time; e.g. in that you could spend less time on your hobbies, or at work, that you cut down on the number of overtime hours that you work.

Cost
the costs for study are substantial. Beside the course fees which roughly amount to 35,000,- DM (3 years study "Fast-Track") you incur costs from travels to seminars, Residential Schools, purchasing a PC, modem costs & telephone costs, various study utensils etc. In Germany, all the costs you incur from your professional development you should make a claim on your tax returns form as Werbungskosten. There are different possibilities to reduce your study costs:

1. Sponsorship - at present over 4000 companies sponsor their employees on Open University courses. Therefore it may be woth talking to your employer about sponsorship.

2. Co-operations and Partnerprogrammes:
The Verband der Metallindustrie Baden-Württemberg (VMI) last year started the education- and qualification initiative "Start 2000". The initiative consists of six educational provisions, among other things:
Internationalen Aufbaustudiengang der Berufsakademie Stuttgart
this course has been designed for very successful graduates of the Berufsakademien. The Berufsakademie Stuttgart and the internationally accredited Open University Business School (OUBS) and VMI member firms that have subsidiaries abroad. In this way the companies receive leaders for international projects.

3. Student loan - apart from the possibility to pay the course fees prior to the beginning of course, you can finance your course fees through a loan from the Open University. The open University offers cheap conditions (interest rate 8,5% per annum, status 1999) through the Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA). For example, you can pay for a 6 month course in five monthly installments.

4. Tip for your tax returns:
If you are neither sponsored by your employer nor participating in a partner programme as mentioned above. If you say that your postgraduate degree is a consequential response to the ever increasing demands of skills of employees that industry requires of them, which in the future will guarantee and increase the income from your job.
With this argument I had my study expenditures accepted by the Karlsruhe tax office as Werbungskosten abzugsfähige Fortbildungskosten. In my case there was a lot of correspondence with the tax office, which was finally resolved by a confirmation letter by my employer that the tax office Karlsruhe required, which stated that the purpose of the course enabled me to enhance existing and learn new skills and competences for my job. After all, you have to continously develop your skills in order to keep up with the demands of your job.
This applies also to many jobs in various industry sectors.

(detailed info about this tax tip you will find in the book "1000 ganz legale Steuertricks" from Franz Konz)

English language skills
You have to decide for yourself whether your English is sufficiently good enough before you start an Open University course. Compared to some other business schools GMAT or TOEFL are not a precondition. Ideally you should read through sample course materials and check whether your English is good enough to understand the contents.

(Comment 2018: In today's digital age you can easily access study materials online. On the digital learning platform Openlearn, which was founded by the Open University in year 2006, you can access and read free course materials from a wide range of subjects. Click here for a sample.

If you prefer so-called Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS),you can participate in one of the online course on Futurelearn, which was founded by the Open University in the year 2012. Click here for a sample.)

back

The Credit Point system:

to complete the MBA degree you need to have collected 180 Credit Points. The course can be completed within 3 years, even though you may be working full-time
The subjects (B800) Foundations in Senior Management and (B820) Strategy are compulsory subjects.
In addition you have to take three electives, such as for example, B822 Creativity, Innovation and Change and (B821) Financial Strategy, and (B890) International Enterprise.

Course / Modul	module duration	points
B800 Foundations in Senior Management	12 Months (11/97 - 10/98)	60 Credit Points
B820 Strategy	6 Months (11/98 - 04/99)	30 Credit Points
B822 Creativity, Change and Innovation	6 Months (05/99 - 10/99)	30 Credit Points
B821 Financial Strategy	6 Months (11/99 - 04/00)	30 Credit Points
B890 International Enterprise	6 Months (05/00 - 10/00)	30 Credit Points

What the Press write about the Open University
"Als Anbieter beruflicher Qualifikationskurse nimmt Milton Keynes mit seiner Business School (OUBS) inzwischen europaweit die Spitzenrolle ein. Gut ein Viertel der 22 000 Studenten strebt den MBA-Abschluß an." (Süddeutsche Zeitung 2/3 Mai 1998).

"Gemäß dem Ranking des "Higher Education Funding Council" das in Großbritannien die in Großbritannien die Qualität der Lehre bewertet, nimmt die Open University Platz dreizehn ein unter 98 geprüften Universitäten." (Focus)

"Virtuelles Studium - Ein ausländischer Abschluß ohne ein einen Schritt vor die eigene Haustür zu setzen? Immer mehr Universitäten ermöglichen Studenten ein Diplom über ein Online-Fernstudium, begleitet von gedruckten Materialen. Meist halten sich die Kosten in Grenzen, der Zeitplan kann nach Vorstellung der Studenten eingerichtet werden und eine Berufstätigkeit ist möglich: Per Email ist die Nähe zu den Professoren häufig größer, als an einer Präsenzuniversität..... International ein hohes Ansehen besitzt die Open University Großbritannien." (Der Spiegel)

"Daß das Projekt des weltweiten Studierens am heimischen Computer Erfolg haben kann, Machen derzeit die Engländer vor: An der Open University sind derzeit über 200 000 Studenten immatrikuliert." (Badische Neueste Nachrichten 6. Mai 1998)

"Ein MBA aus dem Internet..... Eine MBA-Ausbildung (Master of Business Administration) im multimedialen Fernstudium starten die Fachhochschule (FH) Furtwangen und die britische Open University Business School, Milton Keynes,.......Das englischsprachige Weiterbildungsangebot richtet sich an Betriebswirte und junge Führungskräfte." (Handelsblatt 23.7.1998)

"Die Zielgruppe für Open Learning MBAs...sind Berufstätige, für die regelmäßige Präsenzphasen der berufsbegleitenden Programme aus Zeitgründen nicht in Frage kommen und die flexiblere Lernmöglichkeiten suchen. Marktführer solcher Programme in Europa und wohl auch weltweit ist der britische Riese des Fernstudiums, die Open University mit ihrer Business School (OUBS)." (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 08./09.09.2001)

"One quarter of all MBA students in the UK study with the Open University Business School. Perhaps the most surprising fact is that 84% of the MBA students who begin the course also complete it - the norm for distance learning courses is often less than half. (Financial Times)

"The Open University's business school has become the leading provider of management education and a centre of research excellence" (The Independent)

"Using techniques so far unique to the OUBS, students on the Strategy course, be they in London, Dublin or Frankfurt, will follow the same syllabus and take part in the same tutorials using the school's computer mediated computer conferencing" (The Observer)

Open University Student Association (OUSA)
if you have enrolled in an Open University course, you automatically becomes a member of the Open University Students Association, which, for example, publishes the magazine "OU Student" and supports students in student matters.

The OUSA is is also regionally represented, e.g. in Frankfurt. There is also a newsletter that the Frankfurt OUSA branch publishes on a regular basis and a "Stammtisch" which takes place once a month in Frankfurt.
Taking care of all OU student in Germany is the Regional Centre for Continental Western Europe in Newcastle upon Tyne, which regularly publishes the "Newsletter for Students in Germany". Both the Regional Centre and the OUSA can be contacted online (discussion forums).

With the OUSA Student Card you get discounts on theatre-, cinema-, flight-tickets and other discounts.

back

Recognition of the Open University courses/qualifications
both Bachelor and Master degrees awarded by the Open University are recognized in Germany.

The legal basis for carrying the title "MBA (Open University)" in Baden-Württemberg can be read in the "Amtsblatt für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst", ISSN 1434-5390, 18. Jahrgang, Stuttgart 31. August 1999, Nr. 8, Seiten 287, 325 und 327 in the section "Bekanntmachung über allgemeine Genehmigung zur Führung ausländischer Hochschulgrade". A copy of this official document can be found, for example, in the Badische Landesbibliothek Karlsruhe.

A copy of this legal accreditation is available on request from the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst (MWK)

Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst (MWK)
Königstrasse 46
70173 Stuttgart
Tel: 0711-279-0
Fax: 0711-279-3081

Finally a current press release (in German) from the Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst in Baden-Württemberg regarding the international accreditation of Bachelor and Bachelor with Honours degrees awarded by Open University:
BA-Studium international anerkannt: Akkreditierung der Berufsakademien bei der Open University, London, trägt zur internationalen Anerkennung des Studiums bei.
(dated 22.03.2001 No. 54/2001)


Accreditation of the Open University Business School MBA in Europe

EFMD EQUIS
The efmd (European Foundation for Management Development) in Brussels has been evaluating the quality of MBA schools. Under the name EQUIS a commission of representatives from economics, teachings and national institutions evaluate MBA programmes according to a very strict, differentiated system. Only 53 programmes have been awarded this accreditation, among them the Open University Business School. Further information about EQUIS and the list of the 53 accredited business schools can be found on the EFMD Web Site.

AMBA in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom management education has a long tradition. The Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredits programmes in the UK according to strict rules and quality features. The MBA program the Open University Business School is accredited by AMBA.

More information about AMBA and the list of all AMBA accredited business schools can be found on the AMBA Web Site

back

The Online Information of Open University
Useful links on the Open University Web Page for students

You need a computer username and password to log on, in order to view the following sites:

Open University Student Home
Here you will find a personalised main page and you can can access a variety of sources of information:

1. Your record
Gives an overview of the courses you are currently enrolled in, personal data and previously completed courses and qualifications.

2. MBA Alumni website
This page is for MBA alumni of the Open University Business School - here you will find information about Alumni services, the Online MBA directory, meetings and interesting links.

3. FirstClass Desktop
Here you can access directly your personal First Class account, read or write emails or participate in the discussion forums.

4. Handy Sites
Here you'll find general information about studying at the Open University. The information is divided into sections e.g. Courses & qualifications, Learner's Guide, Credit transfer, OUSBA, Named degrees Residential schools, Graduation ceremonies, Research at the OU, Regional centres OU on TV, OU Library, Buying set books

5. IT Sites
Here you will find free software downloads and IT support.

6. OU Community
Here, for example, you will find links to the Open University Students Association (OUSA), press releases and the regularily published magazines Sesame and Open Eye.


Materials Dispatch
If you are waiting for the shipment of your course material, you can check here the status of the despatch for the respective courses.

Residential School
Here you find detailed information about Residential Schools and their locations - for many OU courses the attendence of the Residential School is compulsory.

Library
Here you can log into the library - particularly useful if you are researching a particular subject.

back

Further Literature
General information about the topic MBA and MBA-Pprogrammes
Staufenbiel - Das MBA-Studium. Mit ausführlichen Porträts der besten Business Schools der Welt.
Autor: B.Giesen, 3. Auflage 2000, ISBN: 3-922132-15-4

This book introduces 80 internationally accredited European and American business schools and their programmmes in detail. Among them the programmme of the Open University Business School MBA. These are considered as the world-wide best. Detailed tables enable comparisons between the programmes. In addition another 70 programmes are briefly introduced. The book contains all necessary information around the MBA study and is helpful in searching and selecting a suitable programme.

The MBA-GUIDE 2002 - Teilzeit- und Vollzeitprogramme zum Master of Business Administration from the Luchterhand Verlag.
Authors: Hans Jürgen Brackmann/Detlev Kran, 2002, ISBN 3-472-03836-5
The MBA-Guide gives a systematic overview of the MBA-market and describes country-specific different types of programmes. It also examines critically the background the attraction of MBA-Programmes an gives useful tips and that help in the decision of choosing the appropriate MBA-Programme. This Study Guide has a special focus on Distance-Learning and Part-Time Programmes for people in employment.
In this book I have written an article on page 132 about the OUBS MBA course.

Informative study guide about distance-learning
The study guide Online studieren - Fernstudium und virtuelle Universität from the publisher Lexika Verlag.
Author: Ulrich Holst, 2002, ISBN 3-89694-288-3
This study guide contains information around the subject of distance learning. From the history of distance-learning to the use of most modern technology in learning and teaching, this guide contains a lot of useful information, many tips, ideas and examples.
In the section Erfahrungen eines MBA-Studenten an der Open University Business School (Pages 69-73) you can read about my experiences with the distance-learning course.

Interesting study (in German) about the MBA in Germany
The Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung has published the study Praxisnah und international - der MBA in Deutschland in June 2001.
The summary of this BMBF study including the results from a survey with universities, business schools, students, alumni and companies on the subject of Master of Business Administration (MBA) is available in form of a .pdf brochure (1,2 MB).


Preparation Tips for the Distance-Learning MBA
The MBA Handbook - Study Skills for Managers, Autor: S. Cameron, Pitman Publishing, ISBN 0-273 62346 X

back

Many current students, alumi and staff of the Open University as well as people interested in distance-learning have contributed through their questions and comments to the contents of this page.
Thank you for visiting my page!


Finally two pictures from the Open University Graduation Ceremony on June 9th 2001 in the Royal Festival Hall in London.

back

The above article has been written by Tillmann Henssler

Last update: 12.04.2002

More interesting pages on this website (in German only) Infos und Tipps zum Fernstudium an der Open University Tips for studying at the Open University Business School Meine Lieblingswitze Englischsprachige Witze Tillmanns Witzestunde Bambos Quiz für Musikfans Aktuelle Wandertermine Überblick über die früheren Wanderungen Wanderungsbilderbuch Bilder von der Wanderung um Neustadt/Weinstrasse Bilder von der Wanderung von Dobel nach Bad Wildbad Bodensee-Radtour (1998) Donau-Radtour (1999) Rügen-(Rad)wandertour (2003) Canal du Nivernais Hausboot-Tour (1995) Saone Hausboot-Tour (1997) Canal de Bourgogne Hausboot-Tour (1999) Canal de Nivernais/Canal de Lateral 2001 Hausboot-Tour Hausboot-Tour Tagebuch 2001 Französische und norwegische Kochrezepte