Nearly half of OU graduates in Scotland are the first in their family to attend university
More than 800 graduates of The Open University (OU) in Scotland are the first in their family to experience higher education.
New figures reveal that 815 graduates, representing 47 per cent of the university's 1,735 qualifiers this year, reported that neither parent had continued studies beyond school.
The milestone was marked at graduation ceremonies held in Glasgow on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October, celebrating the achievements of students across Scotland.
For many graduates, gaining a qualification has meant fitting studies around existing responsibilities, with the university's flexible approach allowing people to pursue higher education alongside employment and other demands on their time. That connection with working life continues beyond study, with 96 per cent of OU in Scotland graduates in employment, the university reported.
The ceremonies recognised academic achievements while highlighting the importance of making higher education accessible to people whose backgrounds or circumstances may have otherwise made university study difficult.
Alongside the focus on access, the university's teaching continues to be highly rated by its students, with 90.8 per cent of OU students in Scotland satisfied with the overall quality of their course in the 2026 National Student Survey, placing the university second in Scotland for student satisfaction.
Martin Boyle, principal of the OU in Scotland, said: “Degree ceremonies are always special occasions, but knowing that nearly half of our graduates are achieving something neither of their parents had the opportunity to experience makes this year's ceremonies particularly significant.
“Behind that 47 per cent are hundreds of individual stories, of people who have worked and dealt with the challenges that life brings, while finding the time and determination to complete a university qualification.
“Having parents who went to university should never be a requirement for feeling that higher education is within your reach. We want people across Scotland to know that university is an option for them, whatever their background or stage of life.”
Four honorary graduates were also recognised at the ceremonies. Paralympic tandem cyclist and double gold medallist, Jenny Holl MBE, received an honorary doctor of the University award. She studied with the OU while managing international racing and training, giving her first-hand experience of combining elite sport with higher education.
She said: “I believe that access to education is so important and the way that the OU makes higher education more available to so many people is a great thing. For me, with training and racing commitments, including regular travel for competitions and training camps, trying to do a degree with a regular 'in-person' university simply wouldn't have worked.
“The flexibility of the OU made combining professional sport and higher education possible and that opens up more opportunities for anyone wanting to combine education with the other big things in life, whatever they may be.”
The same principle extended beyond Scotland in the work of Marlyn Somers, founder of Uganda Aid Person To Person, who was honoured on Thursday as a master of the University for her work supporting education in Uganda.
She said: “I believe that education is one of the greatest gifts we can give someone. Making education accessible to everyone, whatever their background or circumstances, gives people the chance to change not only their lives but the lives of their families.”
The OU also made honorary doctor of the University awards to novelist and poet, Jenni Fagan and Scots-language poet and mental-health advocate, Len Pennie.
Len delivered some of her speech in Scots, highlighting a language that the OU is helping to celebrate and preserve through its free online learning opportunities.
She said: “I truly believe in the value of education and the vital need for that education to be adapted to the needs of each learner. Education is a human right, and we are all lifelong learners.”
The university offers free Scots language and culture courses through its OpenLearn platform, allowing learners to explore the language at introductory and intermediate levels. It also works with Education Scotland to provide a professional learning programme which helps teachers and lecturers bring Scots language and culture into the classroom.
The OU is the largest academic institution in the UK and a world leader in flexible, supported online learning. Since it began in 1969, the OU has taught more than 2.3 million students worldwide and currently has around 200,000 students, including over 16,450 in Scotland.
The OU in Scotland is the largest provider of part-time higher education in Scotland, with 51 per cent of Scottish-domiciled part-time undergraduates studying with the OU.
The university works with Scotland's employers and businesses to provide high-quality learning and skills including a range of support to enable training. Close to three quarters (71 per cent) of OU students in Scotland are in full-time or part-time employment, and 72 percent of FTSE 100 companies have sponsored staff to take OU courses.
Pictured: Len Pennie, Scots-language poet and mental-health advocate
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