-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
OU opens crack for open source
,----[ Quote ]
| But the OU has refused to precipitate the wholesale switch of students from
| bought Microsoft software to (where appropriate) free open source
| alternatives because it would require too much effort and the costs would be
| too high at a time when the governments is squeezing student funding.
|
| Professor Brenda Gourley, vice chancellor of the Open University promised in
| a letter to the OSC last week to do more to promote Open Source software
| across the university.
|
| "We have achieved a position where most students can complete their studies
| using Open Source tools if they wish. This trend will continue - including
| raising the profile of Open Source options - and we are likely to expand
| provision of FLOSS software where suitable opportunities arise," she said.
|
| Moreover, Andy Lane, director of Open Learn, the OU's open educational
| resources, has made further commitments to increase the use of open
| technology in the university.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/051/1050051/ou-opens-crack-for-open-source
Yes, that's right. They say it's too expensive to move to Free software.
Excuses, excuses. They've just put a Microsoft mole (employee Martin Bean)
among their chiefs.
Recent:
Open University appoints Microsoft boss
,----[ Quote ]
| The Open University has appointed a Microsoft boss to be its fifth
| vice-chancellor.
`----
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/nov/20/open-university-microsoft
"Open University" Becomes "Closed University"
,----[ Quote ]
| Of course, the first thing Mr Bean will have to do is change the name: we
| can't have any of that stinky "openness" around, can we?
`----
http://opendotdotdot.blogspot.com/2008/11/open-university-becomes-closed.html
University challenged to ditch Microsoft
,----[ Quote ]
| The OU provides students with technical support, but only if they use
| Microsoft software. It advises students that if they don't use a Windows PC
| they "may have problems accessing the software and data files supplied with
| course materials". It has produced a 31-page guide to using Microsoft
| software and extensive demonstrations. It has produced upgrade advice for
| Microsoft's Vista operating system and even gone as far as promoting a
| Microsoft discount offer to its students.
|
| The OU does distribute copies of the Open Source Star Office to all students,
| but that endorsement pales in comparison to its backing of Microsoft. It has
| given no such advice, support or endorsement of Ubuntu, the free operating
| system lauded as the Open Source movement's viable alternative to Windows.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/11/11/university-challenged-ditch
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
iEYEARECAAYFAklITRsACgkQU4xAY3RXLo4K4gCgrIg+B3aSLR3dia22XU61TF2b
Sn8An39Pk9Qp/xAiZ5uQhxmCgUqR/xEU
=LyyM
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
|
|
