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The Open University began welcoming students on 10th January 1971 - but they did not meet up for Fresher\u2019s Week, due to this innovative institution (brainchild of Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson) having been created to offer mature students the opportunity for tertiary education without stepping foot on campus.\nInstead, students would study for their courses via a radical combination of correspondence materials sent out in the mail (once the postal strike had subsided\u2026), and early-morning lectures on BBC TV and radio (which they had to watch live, because nobody had a VCR).\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the establishment hostility to the concept, even within Wilson\u2019s administration; reveal how the organisation has been affected by the rise in tutorial fees; and take solace in the week of debauchery that was on offer for those dedicated enough to journey to Milton Keynes\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018The formation of the Open University\u2019 (The Observer, 2019): https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/sep/15/from-the-archive-the-foundation-of-the-open-university-1970\n\u2022 \u2018The Open University programmes begin\u2019 (History of the BBC): https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/january/open-university\n\u2022 \u2018The Periodic Table\u2019 (BBC / Open University, 1971): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvbgYEJ08bQ\nLove the show? Join \U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS \U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n\n\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices