Welsh Open University receives fresh funding for student nursing places
A distance learning university in Wales has won a contract for a fresh round of funding to educate nurses during the next academic year, representing a small increase on previous numbers.
The strategic workforce body for the Welsh NHS, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), has appointed the Open University (OU) to educate around 130 new student nurses.
“One of the things that makes us stand out as a provider is that we train nurses for the whole of Wales”
Linda Walker
Beginning in October 2024, the new contract with HEIW will fund a maximum of 132 nursing places a year. The initial contract period is for one year, with an option of extending to a further two.
The OU in Wales nursing programme was established in 2018. Under an initial annual agreement with HEIW, just 17 students were funded that year.
This number has increased over the years. In 2022-23 and 2023-24, there were 45 and 130 places, respectively, created through the agreement between HEIW and the OU.
A spokesperson for the OU told Nursing Times that the places were previously covered by an annual agreement but from 2024 they would be formalised in a contract.
The spokesperson added: “The initial contract period is for one year, with an option of extending to a further two years. This gives the contract a maximum value of £12,636,000.”
The OU in Wales highlighted that its nursing degree scheme allowed healthcare assistants to study flexibly for a nursing degree while continuing to work in their local hospital or care home.
It noted that the course covered all four fields of nursing: adult, mental health, learning disabilities, and children’s.
Key features of the programme is distance learning online via the OU’s virtual learning environment, and interactive tutorials.
As well as support from academic and practice tutors, a modern curriculum based on the latest health research, it features bilingual resources and Welsh- and English-language learning groups.
In addition, it said it supported under-represented groups to apply, or to achieve the necessary entry qualifications via a partnership with Cardiff and Vale College.
Dr Linda Walker, nation manager for Wales at the OU’s Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, described the new agreement as a “significant milestone for nursing” at the university.
“One of the things that makes us stand out as a provider is that we train nurses for the whole of Wales,” she said.
“Students study from home and gain practical nursing experience by working in appropriate local healthcare settings.
“This means that they don’t have to relocate to study and can continue to serve their local community,” said Dr Walker.
She added: “We have a great relationship with Wales’ health boards, trusts and local healthcare providers.
“We’ve developed an innovative approach to distance learning, and we put the student at the centre of our teaching – something which brings out the best in them and helps them reach their potential.”
A spokesperson from HEIW said: “We are delighted to work with the Open University to support in maximising opportunities for employed support workers to train to be registered nurses.
“Widening access to healthcare professional education is important to HEIW in our mission to meet the workforce requirements of health and social care in Wales,” they said.
