Oh BoY!

Dr. Marion Bruhn-Suhr, the OU’s representative at Hamburg University, reports back on the inspiring meetings students and alumni enjoy in Germany

The OU and the Centre for Continuing University Education and Distance Learning of Hamburg University (UniHH) established a co-operation more than 10 years ago. But at the ‘beginning of the year meetings’ (BoY-meetings) in Germany, it only seems like yesterday that the partnership began. These meetings are meant to bring new and continuing students together as well as alumni, tutors, exam invigilators and representatives who can all get to know each other. Students and alumni from every continent who are currently living in Germany are welcome. About 40 per cent of the participants are German nationals, 30 per cent expats and the remaining 30 per cent come from other EU-countries, Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Russia.



Students find out about the role and responsibilities of tutors, representatives and the regional centre in Newcastle and, most importantly, learn from continuing students’ experiences. Some topics come up regularly during these events in Germany including:

Recognition: Openness of the OU is an issue for Germany because we don’t have an equivalent institution in the country. The co-operation between our two universities confirms the quality, which is backed up by the continuing students’ experience.
Tax: New students are particularly interested to hear about tax relief for their course fees and that helps offset some of the pain of the higher fees for students living outside the UK.
“Bildungsurlaub”: Due to local laws, in some German ‘Länder’ (eg. Hamburg, Berlin and so on) students can apply for study leave for a residential school. Other topics and activities enjoyed during a BoY-meeting are essay writing and study skills, workshops, OUSA branches plus events during the year (open days, British Day in Hamburg and so on).

There are also BoY-meetings run by my colleagues – Jackie Schüller (Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin) and Matthew Hawkes (Munich).

The BoY-meetings enjoy a very cheerful atmosphere with students, tutors and representatives leaving with the feeling of being part of very special, international community. Contact us for further information.

The next BoY-Meeting in Hamburg will be at the end of january.
If you are interested in Open Universty study opportunities attend one of the Open Days.
The next Open Day in Hamburg will at june, 7: Open Day

Universität Hamburg
Arbeitsstelle für wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung
Vogt-Kölln-Str. 30, Haus E
22527 Hamburg
Dr. Marion Bruhn-Suhr
Tel. 0 40/4 28 83-24 78/-2499
Fax 0 40/4 28 83-26 51
E-Mail ou@aww.uni-hamburg.de .