Communications Policy

This policy is an extension to the existing policy on Public Information and Communications. Our policy for Communication at The Open College is to ensure effective communication is in place to inform our Learners, Staff and other Stakeholders accurately of all relevant information relating to programmes that we deliver.

Likewise, The Open College also ensures that platforms are in place for the college to be informed by Learners, Staff and Stakeholders of all relevant information relating to programmes and services that we deliver.

The Open College is committed to circulating up-to-date information between learners, lecturers/tutors, management and all other stakeholders in an effective and accurate manner. Information is gathered in an open, high quality and consistent manner and then shared and made available as part of our drive towards excellence.

We aim to ensure that our communications are positively evaluated by all those with whom we communicate and that we respond to feedback with improvements. In all communications, we present a positive image and demonstrate our objectives in a clear and consistent manner using plain English, so that it may be understood by all. Systems and procedures have been implemented and documented to ensure this happens. 

These are reviewed on a continual basis as part of the organisation’s management review and internal monitoring processes. A feedback system is in place for learners, staff and stakeholders to enable them to communicate their views on relevant issues.

It is the policy of The Open College to facilitate access to a range of commination platforms for access by all staff, learners and stakeholders where the sharing of information can be easily communicated and accessed. Each member of the Open College team will be provided with their own personal 365 accounts where facilities such as Outlook, OneDrive and SharePoint can be utilised.

Meetings, Emails, Training Days, Inductions, Workshops are some of the measures that will be utilised by the college for communicating with Staff, Learners and Stakeholders.

The college also upholds a fair, manageable and realistic timeline in the response to queries received:

• General Queries – 48 hours excluding weekends
• New Registrations – Between 3-5 working days
• Extension Requests – Between 3-5 working days
• Deferral Requests – Between 3-5 working days
• Draft Submission – Between 5-7 working days
• Provisional Results – Between 4-6 weeks 
• Complaints – Acknowledgments to be communicated between 3-5 working days, however, and subject to the nature of the complaint response times can vary.