Skip to content
The Open University The Open University The Open University The Open University The Open University The Open University The Open University

Toggle service links

  • Sign in|
  • Sign out|
  • My Account |
  • StudentHome |
  • TutorHome |
  • IntranetHome |
  • Contact the OUContact the OUContact the OU|
  • Accessibility hubAccessibility hub
  • Courses
  • Postgraduate
  • International
  • Research
  • About
  • News & media
  • Business & apprenticeships

The Scholarship Centre for innovation in online Legal and Business education (SCiLAB)

  • Home
  • About us
  • What we do
  • Our research
  • Blog
  • Contact us
Accessibility statement

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us

About us

SCiLAB is a centre of innovation and thought leadership in the fields of Business and Law.

Our work promotes research and innovation in open and distance learning, as well as best practice sharing, both within and outside of The Open University.

Our aims

  • Develop research into online teaching and learning that enhances and informs policy and practice
  • Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in our activities, operations and partnerships
  • Enable practitioner-led, evidence-based research which enhances the student experience in open and distance education

The SCiLAB Team

The SCiLAB team manage the Centre and its operations.

Liz Hardie photo

Mrs Liz Hardie, Director

Liz is the Director of SCiLAB, the Scholarship Centre for Innovation in online Legal and Business Education for the Faculty of Business and Law. She is also a senior lecturer in the law school, and an Associate Lecturer tutoring a variety of law modules.

Liz has worked for the law school since 2006, initially as an Associate Lecturer, from 2010 as a Student Experience Manager, from 2020 as Teaching Director and from 2023 as senior lecturer. As Teaching Director she led the introduction of the OU's new LLB from 2021 - 2023.

Prior to joining the law school Liz was a practicing solicitor in the areas of family law and employment law.

Dr Helen Selby-Fell photo

Dr Helen Selby-Fell, Deputy Director

Helen is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Policing Organisation and Practice (POP), where she is Module Chair and involved in both production design and presentation for a number of policing related modules. In addition, Helen is (co) Lead for Research & Scholarship for the POP Department, and a member of the POP Leadership Team. Helen works closely with the Centre for Police Research & Learning (CPRL) and is currently involved in a number of research endeavours. Helen’s professional career specialised in research and analysis in the police service (where she held the roles of Head of Analysis and Director of Commissioning, Policy & Research for most of her career in the police service). Helen’s academic career and research interests have centred around both ‘evidence based policing’, and forensic (investigative) psychology.

 

 

SCiLAB logo

Blog posts

  • Rethinking Tuition: Reflections from the Staff Tutor / Student Experience Manager (SEM) Symposium, 4-5 December 20246th June 2025
  • ‘Hitting the keyboard’ : Exploring student feelings and approaches to developing legal research skills9th May 2025
  • From Feedback to Action: The Student Voice Festival in Law Education15th April 2025
More blog posts

Can we help?

Get in touch to speak to a member of the team

Contact us

Back to top
The Open University Crest
The Open University Crest

The Open University

Explore Menu toggle

  • Study with us
  • Work with us
  • Supported distance learning
  • Funding your studies
  • International students
  • Global reputation
  • Sustainability
  • Business
  • Apprenticeships
  • Develop your workforce
  • Research
  • News & media
  • Contact the OU

Undergraduate Menu toggle

  • Accounting
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business and Management
  • Chemistry
  • Classical Studies
  • Combined Studies
  • Computing and IT
  • Counselling
  • Creative Arts
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Design
  • Early Years
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Electronic Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English
  • Environment
  • Film and Media
  • Geography
  • Health and Social Care
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • International Studies
  • Languages
  • Law
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Mental Health
  • Music
  • Nursing and Healthcare
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Software Engineering
  • Sport and Fitness
  • Statistics

Postgraduate Menu toggle

  • Postgraduate study
  • Research degrees
  • Masters in Social Work (MA)
  • Masters in Creative Writing (MA)
  • Masters in Education (MA/MEd)
  • Masters in Engineering (MSc)
  • Masters in English Literature (MA)
  • Masters in History (MA)
  • Masters in International Relations (MA)
  • Masters in Finance (MSc)
  • Masters in Cyber Security (MSc)
  • Masters in Psychology (MSc)
  • MBA
  • A to Z of Masters degrees

Policy Menu toggle

  • OU Accessibility statement
  • Cymraeg
  • Conditions of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Manage cookie preferences
  • Modern slavery act
  • Copyright
  • Follow us on Social media Menu toggle

    • Facebook
    • X (formerly Twitter)
    • YouTube
    • LinkedIn
  • OU Accessibility statement
  • Conditions of use
  • Copyright
  • Cymraeg
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie policy
    • Manage cookie preferences
    • Student Policies and Regulations
    • Student Charter
    • System Status
  • Contact the OU Contact the OU
  • Work with us
  • OU Accessibility statement
  • Cymraeg
  • Conditions of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Manage cookie preferences
  • Modern Slavery Act
  • Copyright
The Open University Crest

©.. .