Local Authorities

Building stronger communities in partnership with the OU in Scotland

We work with local authorities to help make education accessible to everyone, benefiting learners, communities and organisations. With our mission to be open to everyone, The Open University (OU) in Scotland works to expand access to lifelong learning, support workforce development and strengthen local communities and economies.

We collaborate closely with local authorities to help address region-specific challenges and opportunities. Together, we can bridge staff shortages and boost and retain vital skills in your community. With our flexible learning model, your people can study and work wherever they are – helping to keep vital skills and jobs within your local area.

Whether it’s supporting economic growth, enhancing career progression, addressing skills shortages, or driving social change, the OU in Scotland is here to help local authorities to build a stronger, more resilient future for communities.

This isn't just about The Open University helping people to change lives and to work to their potential.

This is about growing, thriving and vibrant communities. 

I've worked in local government all of my life and I passionately believe in public services and in the community leadership role of local government. 

Local government is in a really good place and we're able to bring people round the table who can make a contribution.

And The Open University has a vital role there and has a chair at that table.

The Open University brings a wealth of experience and brings extraordinary opportunities. 

We want to make education open for all. We want to help people to develop and to operate to their potential. We want communities to be thriving and vibrant. We want to have successful economies and we want Scotland to prosper. 

Our communities expect public services to work together and they should receive no less. 

All of us need to change to deliver, and The Open University can help every employer to do that.

A women using a flipchart to teach

Community councillors in Scotland can access a unique portal of free online OU courses.

The bespoke Skills Support for Community Councils portal includes collections on digital skills, business skills, finance and fundraising, and community and society.

Find out how OU in Scotland can support you.

Couple on a exercising together on a bicycle and in a wheelchair

The Open Societal Challenges programme at OU is a research initiative that aims to tackle some of the most important challenges of our time through impact-driven research. The Programme focusses on the themes of Tackling Inequalities, Living Well, and Sustainability.

Engaging with communities, charities, and businesses is at the core of our ethos. We are committed to support research co-design and participatory research drawing on the OU’s unique expertise and strengths in this area.

Our objective is to work with communities so that our research builds the power and capacity of local communities to sustain meaningful change.

Find out how OU in Scotland can support you.