大学的诞生

——英国开放大学筹建史话

韦润芳

（江苏广播电视大学 外语系，江苏南京210036）

【摘要】英国开放大学是20世纪后半期国际高等教育改革浪潮的产物，同时也是这股浪潮最有影响力的引领者。开放大学的筹建过程充满艰难险阻，前后历经8年时间。本文重温和剖解其复杂而严谨的筹建过程中的政治博弈、办学理念、师资招聘、校园建设、首次招生、经费预算以及危机的最终化解，展现了开放大学筹建者和广大教职员如何以自己的远见卓识、科学态度和奋斗精神，为当代远程开放高等教育的发生和发展垒起坚如磐石的基础。

【关键词】开放大学；大学筹建；师资招聘；校园建设；大学招生；大学预算；危机

【中图分类号】G728.8

【文献标识码】A

【文章编号】1007-2179（2009）05-0015-08

【作者简介】韦润芳，副教授，江苏广播电视大学外语系（weirunfang@jstvu.edu.cn）。

The Genesis of the British Open University: A Narrative History

WEI Runfang

（Department of Foreinge,Jiangsu Radio and TV University, Nanjing 210036,China）

Abstract: The British Open University (OUUK) has always been an international trendsetter in higher education reform and innovation since the late 1960s. This paper describes the background leading to the establishment of the OUUK. It also retells and analyzes the difficult birth process through which the Open University was prepared, established and accepted universally in terms of political confrontation, mission statement, senior staff recruitment, campus building, student admission and financial arrangement, and explains how these crises detrimental to the founding of the Open University were finally resolved. By doing this, the paper presents the contributions made and a solid foundation laid by the Open University pioneers with their breadth of vision, down-to-earth approach and a sense of dedication, to distance higher education.

Keywords: The British Open University, Staff recruitment, Student admission, University budget, University crisis