Some students need an alternative to the four-year, full-time college concept entirely. That’s the reason for the UK’s Open University (OU). The OU pioneered the idea of “distance learning” – studying independently, on your own time, and not in a classroom. Many people who work or have families can’t go to a campus for scheduled classes and can’t study full-time. They need flexibility. So with the OU college comes to you.

　　有些学生需要用完全不同的另类学校来代替四年全日制的大学概念。这就是英国开放大学(OU)的创办理由。开放大学开创了“远距离教学”的先河。你可以根据自己的时间独立学习，也不需要待在教室里。许多人因为工作或家庭的缘故无法到学校参加排定的课程，也无法全时间学习，他们需要弹性。如果你属于此类人，那么开放大学是你的首选。

　　The process is simple. When you sign up for course the university sends you your study materials in the mail. The course material might be a combination of printed texts, CD-ROMs, videos, audio-cassettes, and online information. You’re also assigned a personal tutor.

　　过程非常简单。你报名参加一个课程，学校就邮寄给你学习资料。这些学习资料可能包含印刷课文、一些CD-ROM、视频材料、录音带以及在线讯息等。学校同时给你指派一个私人辅导。

　　In the UK, the Open University has 13 regional centers (and more around the world) where you can meet directly with your tutor or other students for informal study groups. Or you can stay on the couch. It’s up to you. Your tutor marks your assignments and is available by phone, mail, or email to help you along. As you work through your course, you mail in or drop off your assignments and then receive regular assessments and feedback in return.

　　在英国，开放大学有13个区域中心(全世界更多)，你可以在中心直接见到你的辅导老师或和其它学生组成不正式的学习小组。或者你也可以待在家里的沙发上。这都取决于你。辅导教师会给你的作业评分，你可以通过电话、信件或电子信件跟他联系请他帮助。在学习过程中，你可以邮寄或上交作业，也会定期收到评价和反馈等。

　　If a college degree from a school you never see sounds strange, then consider this: the OU is considered Britain’s largest university with over 200,000 students enrolled. It employs hundreds of highly qualified faculty and has won many awards for the quality of its academic programs. Plus, two hundred thousand people can’t be wrong!

　　如果你对一个素未谋面的学校所提供的大学学历感到奇怪的话，请想一想：开放大学被视为英国最大的大学，拥有20多万学生；有着数百个资深的合格教学人员；并因其学术质量而多次获奖。而且，20万学生足以证明一切！

　　As the technology develops, the OU has been able to offer more courses entirely over the Internet. No going to the post office, no stopping by a regional center. Everything is done electronically. Now that’s a college couch potato’s dream!

　　随着技术进步，现在开放大学完全可以在因特网上提供更多的课程。不需要去邮局、不需要去区域中心，所有事项都电子化。这不就是一个懒人的大学梦吗？

　　Similar concepts to the UK’s Open University exist around the world. Just look up “open university” on the Internet.

　　类似英国开放大学这样的办学思想在全世界都普遍存在，你只要在因特网上搜索“开放大学”即可。