EVENTS PROGRAMME 22 – 24 JUNE 2018

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WELCOME TO THE OU STUDENTS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 2018!We’re really pleased you could join us for this fantastic weekend, which is a celebration of what it means to be a student of this unique university! After all we are #OUstudents!

We hope you meet some great study buddies this weekend and have plenty of fun along the way!

CONTENT MAY CHANGE…This programme, and its contents are subject to change. We’ll keep you informed of any major alterations to the timetable

FRIDAY, 22 JUNE Find your feet on Friday. A chance to get to grips with the OU Campus, see

what the University is up to at the OU Expo and most importantly meet fellow students. There is an opportunity to socialise at the Delegate Reception, say hello, to other students.

SATURDAY, 23 JUNE Saturday is business before pleasure. The Business section of the programme

is the most important part of Conference. Your votes on Saturday morning are vital to the future direction of the Association – but then it’s time for an afternoon of fun workshops and activities. Then a fancy dress disco and quiz!

SUNDAY, 24 JUNE Your Association is running four BIG workshops to help develop your

community, strengthen your voice, encourage volunteering and develop support. Be a part of the Students Association’s future. Then pledge, meet and say farewell at the Association Celebration.

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USEFUL INFOSTUCK? PROBLEM?If you need some help, seek out a member of staff – we are wearing black t-shirts and we will do our very best to help. An emergency number will also be provided by email before you arrive.

CHILL OUT ZONELooking for a moment of calm among all the vibrant activities of the weekend? Head over to Jennie Lee or The Park in the Library where you’ll be signposted to the Chill Out Zone for some quiet reflection and colouring.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOSWe’ll be capturing photos and video over this weekend to promote the work of the Association in print and online. If you do not want your photo taken and would prefer not to appear in video footage, please make yourself known at registration and we’ll do our best to help!

WIFIThe Cloud network is available across campus. You’ll be given a leaflet at registration which explains how to connect.

WHO ARE THE OU STUDENTS ASSOCIATION? Most importantly you are! If you weren’t already aware, all OU students are automatically made members of the OU Students Association free of charge when they begin their OU studies.

Not come across your student union before? Our mission is to be the community and voice for all Open University students, and on Saturday morning we’ll all be gathering in two lecture theatres to vote on important decisions on how this organisation is run.

We’re run by a student leadership team, who are all student volunteers, with support from an office of staff. A new team of reps will come into post on 1 August and you’ll get the chance to meet them on Sunday!

STAY IN TOUCH!We hope you enjoy this weekend and find plenty of reasons to stay in touch, whether it’s through volunteering, making use of our support services, finding out how your reps are representing you or even just getting lovely student discounts!

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Time Berrill Foyer Hub Theatre Juniper & Medlar

Hub Café Jennie Lee Ambient Lab

Jennie Lee Foyer

The Park (Library)

2-3pm Registration and start of Campus Tours

Postgraduate Poster Competition

Student Association display

Quiet Area OU Expo

3-4pm

4-5pm

5-6pm Dinner (2 sittings)

PLEXUS

6-7pm

7-8pm Delegate Reception

8-9pm

FRIDAY TIMETABLE 22 JUNE 2018

Tours Campus Tour Observatory Tour Laboratory Tour Technology Enhanced Learning Tour

Meet and Greets Disabled Students Group – Meet and

Greet in Jennie Lee Ambient Lab 4-5pm PLEXUS – Meet and Greet in The Park

(Library) 5-6pm

FRIDAY AT A GLANCE…Friday is time for registration. At this point, you can join a variety of Conference Campus Tours. These include a visit to the observatory and exploring the fantastic grounds and history of the campus.

Be sure to call in at the OU Expo for all the latest initiatives and OU projects including virtual reality, robotics and more. Catch up with the Poster Competition in the Hub Theatre to find out about our postgraduate students’ work.

The bar opens at 4pm, followed by dinner from 5pm to 7pm, then meet up with your fellow students at our Delegate Reception.

Look out for Students Association staff in their black t-shirts and for our wonderful Conference Maker volunteers. They are here to help, make you feel at home and guide you on your way.

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WORKSHOPS – FRIDAY SEE FRIDAY TIMETABLE FOR LOCATIONS ON PAGE 4.

2pm: OU Expo Take a trip to the OU Expo is a chance to get an insight into some of the amazing projects happening within the University at the moment. You will also discover some mind blowing demonstrations of new technology!

4pm: Disabled Students Group Meet the wonderful team who run this group at our meet and greet on Friday 4-5pm in the Jennie Lee Ambient Lab. This room will also serve as the Disabled Students Group Quiet Area throughout Conference - a place to come and relax away from the bustle of the Hub. Our prize quiz will also take place here 9-10am on Sunday. Come and join the fun!

5pm: PLEXUSWe are the group representing LGBT+ students and allies and would love to connect with you at the Conference. Our meet and greet is in The Park (Library top floor) on Friday 5-6pm. In addition, we will have a stand in the Marquee and are running a session on Identity on Saturday 5-6pm in Jennie Lee Meeting Room 1. Everyone is welcome, so come and join us!

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Time Hub Theatre/Berrill

Hub Café

Library seminar 4

Library seminar 1&2

Jennie Lee Meeting Room 1

Jennie Lee Atrium

Mulberry Lawn

Mulberry Marquee

8-1pm Registration

Business 8.30-1pm

1-2pm Lunch Zumba 1.30-2pm

2-3pm Amy King Meet your reps - afternoon tea

Hula Hooping

Societies Showcase and OU Students Shop

3-4pm Pop up conference Choir 3.45-4.30pm

Workshop: Understanding sex-linked serial killing

Open Programme Debate: Generalist v specialist

Workshop: How we support you

Tea & Scones

4-5pm Workshop: The psychology of driving into disaster

Workshop: How to spot fake news and images

Workshop: Improve your confidence in public speaking

5-6pm University Challenge

Workshop: Mock trial

Workshop: Creative writing

Workshop: PLEXUS – Identity

7-8pm Dinner at Kents Hill sittings

9pm Quiz & Disco till late – Kents Hill (See bus timetable)

SATURDAY TIMETABLE

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23 JUNE 2018

BUSINESS AT A GLANCE…There will be the opportunity to hear the current Association President reflect on all the wonderful achievements the Association has been part of for the last year.

Conference will also hear on Saturday morning from Mary Kellett, Acting Vice Chancellor. We’ll make sure you as OU students have a chance to ask questions that relate to being distance learners at the biggest UK university. Start thinking of some good ones now!

This year you will vote on several resolutions such as receiving reports and accounts from your Central Executive Committee. A key decision you will make will be voting on a new way of structuring your Association. The proposal is to change from an unincorporated charity to an incorporated one.

BUSINESS Get the buzz for Business! Are you ready for an exciting and very important Business session?

You have this special opportunity to influence important decisions that affect the Association. It’s a crucial time as you’ll get to shape the future of your Association!

Why it’s important to voteYour opinion matters to the Association and your fellow members, so make sure your voice is heard loudly and clearly. Decisions made at Conference 2018 influence our direction over the next two years.

How do I vote? Casting your vote on Saturday morning won’t even require you leaving your seat in the lecture theatre! This will be done using a simple handset provided to you. All necessary information will be provided on the day

What if I have a question? There will be a fully trained team of volunteer student Business Champions on hand during Conference to support you before the Business session on Saturday morning.

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SATURDAY AT A GLANCE…Catch the bus or the ‘walking bus’ down to Campus bright and early on Saturday. The morning is all about the Business! You’ll be required to participate in important votes that will shape the future of your Students Association, so be sure to read your Business folders and speak to the Business Champions who’ll be there to help. Join in the fun on our Mulberry Lawn, with games and activities.

The Societies Showcase in the Marquee is a must! Watch a demo, and join a society or club. All the info will be there, along with the OU Students Shop. Saturday afternoon also sees a number of talks and workshops: fake news, law, psychology and science as well as tea and scones! Dinner follows, then dance or quiz the night away.

Outdoor Activities Come and join the fun activities on the Mulberry Lawn on Saturday afternoon. Get dancing and exercising with Zumba 1.30-2pm or join the fun and relaxed Hula Hooping at 2-3pm. Both classes are suitable for all ages and abilities. There is no special clothing required.

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WORKSHOPS – SATURDAY SEE SATURDAY TIMETABLE FOR LOCATIONS ON PAGE 8.

2pm: Guest Speaker – Amy King Amy King is both an OU student and the founder of a charity for female scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds – GlamSci. Don’t miss the chance to hear her sharing her experiences from this inspirational organisation.

3pm: Understanding sex-linked serial killing – Psychological Society In order to understand sex-linked serial killing, we can gain considerable insight by studying how normal sexual desire works. The talk will be illustrated by considering some of the textbook cases including Andrei Chikatilo, Dennis Rader, Fred West and Jeffrey Dahmer.

3pm: How we support you – Student Support The session has been designed to explain what support is provided to students before, during and between modules and provide the opportunity to ask questions about student support.

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3pm: Generalist versus Specialist Degrees – which do employers prefer?A fun, yet informative session, relevant to all students, regardless of which side of the fence you’re on. You might even find that your allegiance changes during the course of the session!

3.45pm: Pop up conference choir A fun informal singing session. No experience or expertise is needed, just come along and sing for the joy of it under the tutelage of Trainee Choir Wrangler and Student Trustee Peter Bell.

4pm: Improve your confidence in public speakingWant to find out how to improve self-confidence in public speaking and at job interviews, and have fun along the way? Patricia will be talking about how she has gone from ‘terrified talker’ to ‘competent communicator’ in just one year.

4pm: How to spot fake news and images Ever been taken in by fake news? In this workshop you will be introduced to tips, tools and resources that will help you make judgements, and select good quality material with activities designed to develop your skills in distinguishing between real and fake.

4pm: The psychology of driving into disaster Driving tests our sensory and cognitive capabilities to the limit, sometimes with disastrous consequences. This talk will explore problems associated with perceiving hazards on the roads and why we sometimes drive into something that is clearly visible. This will presented by the OU Psychological Society.

5pm: Creative writingWrite Club will be offering a Creative Writing workshop covering some writing exercises to get you started on the path to your own pieces.

5pm: Mock trial and courtroom etiquette – OU Law SocietyEver wondered what goes on in a court of law? This session will set up a mock trial, looking at how the process works and highlighting the etiquette of the legal system.

5pm: PLEXUS – IdentityIdentity – we all have one but have you ever felt that you identity has been assumed? Join PLEXUS as they provide an interactive session discussing identity.

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Time Hub Theatre Jennie Lee Atrium

Library Seminar 6

Jennie Lee Ambient Lab

The Park (Library)

Library Seminar 1&2

Mulberry Lawn

Mulberry Marquee

9- 10am

Bag Drop Association Workshop: Student Community

Disabled Students Group Fun prize quiz

Chill Out Zone

Association Workshop: Student Volunteering

Lawn activities

Societies Showcase

OU Students Shop 9:30-12pm

10-11am

Association Workshop: Student Voice

Association Workshop:

Student Support

11-12pm

Association CelebrationNew Central Executive Committee, Pledge Drive, Final Address

12- 2pm

Lunch 12.30-1.30pm

SUNDAY TIMETABLE

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24 JUNE 2018

SUNDAY AT A GLANCE…After a hearty breakfast, drop your bags in the Jennie Lee building and come and meet your new Central Executive Committee. These are the folk who will represent you and steer the Students Association work. The Disabled Students Group are running a fun prize quiz and then you can attend workshops led by the Student Association’s Community, Voice, Volunteering and Support teams.

Then after a celebration of the Association, it’s lunch and home.

WORKSHOPS – SUNDAY SEE SUNDAY TIMETABLE FOR LOCATIONS ON PAGE 16.

9am: Student Volunteering Come and join the Volunteer team to explore how OU students can be supported to run their own charitable projects in their local community. Come and share your ‘big ideas’ in this creative and fun session!

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9am: Student CommunityThe Student Community team are here to help you feel part of the amazing OU student community. We help connect thousands of students each year through our work with Societies and Clubs, Freshers events and meet-ups. Come to our Sunday morning meet-up to find out how we can help you connect with OU students in your area and judge our Best Biscuit Competition!

10am: Student VoiceJoin the Student Voice team and hear more about the key elements to our work in the Association. Come and hear updates on current important research and the exciting Kitemark project and find out more about how the Association influences decision making within your university through student reps. We’d love to hear what you think.

10am: Student SupportThe Student Support team invites you to get involved in an interactive session, where as a group you will get the opportunity to work collaboratively on our future campaigns and awareness days for OU students.

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CONFERENCE SAFETY FIRST AID If you require any first aid, please let a member of the Association team know, who will locate a qualified first aider for you.

FIRE ALARMS AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES There are no fire alarm tests scheduled to take place during the conference. If the fire alarm rings continuously please safely exit the building in a calm manner and follow the designated fire wardens to the nearest assembly point.

Do not re-enter the building unless you are instructed to do so by a fire marshall.

SMOKINGThere is a no smoking policy throughout all the buildings on campus. If you’re unsure please ask a member of staff. OU STUDENTS SHOP

Pick up all your wonderful OU and OU Students Association goodies at the Marquee on the Mulberry Lawn on Saturday and Sunday.We accept both cash and card payments.

CONTACT USEnjoyed meeting other OU students this weekend? Join our online communities:

Facebook facebook.com/OUstudentsTwitter @OUstudents Instagram @OUstudentslive

Share your photos and thoughts on the conference using

#OUstudents18 on Twitter or Instagram

OU Students Association, PO Box 397,Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6BE

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CAMPUS MAP Here you will find the key areas that you will be visiting around the campus for workshops, activities, games and most importantly the Business of conference.

CAMPUS KEY

1 Betty Boothroyd Library

2 Berrill Lecture Theatre

3 Berrill reception

4 Jennie Lee Building

5 Walton Hall

6 Hub

7 Hub Theatre

8 Mulberry Lawn

9 George Abell Observatory