OU

Weeks 15-16, Top-down or bottom-up? & Governing weapons proliferation

by Matthew

I’ve been asked before just what the format and structure of study is like with the Open University. I’ve decided to create this post and make it (nearly) entirely Open University based. I’ve attached some images in the slide show below, and I hope that it assists with giving a picture of what I do (or should be doing every week 🙂 ).

My study planner for this Week highlights that I should be at “Week 16 – Governing weapons proliferation“. Which I’ve just finished!

Each week usually has a chapter from the OU module materials, that must be read along with activities in the book and online. Further reading sources are provided every week, and it’s expected that 6 hours every week should be allocated to this. I also try to read a chapter from my outside text “The Globalization of World Politics“.

I’ve tried to keep it relatively brief here. I could go on and on and make this essayish but I figure anyone interested would lose interest! Audio and video material is provided online nearly each week too. Attendance in face-to-face tutorials isn’t required but recommended. I think I’ve missed about one or two during my whole degree. As you progress to level 3. Tutorials are few and far between.

That’s it for now. I have a more exciting post coming up in the next few days, I’m still on a high from the news I received and can’t wait to share it with my readers. I can’t wait! Just am so excited 🙂

As I was typing this I was listening to Loick Essien – Number One 😀

Have a good week all!

DD313 Materials have arrived!

by Matthew

So, my DD313 module materials have arrived! I actually meant to publish this last week. But I’m all ready to start my final Open Uni module in October.

I’m eager to get started. Though I know when the going gets tough, I’ll be looking for the end!

Brussels for the nth time :)

by Matthew

Brussels for the nth time 🙂 – My return for the day on Tuesday 16th June 2015.

It’s nice to be back in Brussels as always. Even if I found it extremely tiring (got back at 10:30pm after my French lesson the Monday) then had to be up extremely early as I booked an earlier Eurostar train then usual, up at 5:30am. Then kind of ran out of places to go, not enough time, and too tired to think. There are tons more places in the city that I have not even explored yet, but they can’t be done in a day. I will only do a max of two more visits this year before saving up for the future.

In terms of University news. I was extremely disappointed that the Open university stopped graduation ceremonies in Versailles. Very, very upset about this. I was so looking forward to it. It was going to be one of the highlights of my 2016. So now, it’s not to be. I’m still not sure of the reasoning behind it. It seems a tad opaque. The OU cited costs, how much would they have needed to charge to make it profitable? Could it have had anything to do with government funding? I’ve been local for a way to become more vocal on this issue. Below is the letter sent by the OU to students. Is it just me who finds the explanation a bit hazy? 🙁

Letter from the OU about the withdrawal of Versailles as a place of graduation.

So, here are a few videos that I took of my trip to Brussels. Enjoyed my time there even if it was just a day!

My images of that week are below, they are in random order.

Lastly, Rest in Peace to all those killed in terror attacks worldwide. Good and freedom will always prevail. Also, sad to hear of the tragic events in Belgium that killed a coach driver, and left many injured schoolchildren and teachers from Brentwood, Essex.