| Date |
Milestone |
| 1969 |
The Open University founded by Royal Charter |
| 1983 |
The Open University Business School (OUBS) founded, attracting 1,600 in its first year |
| 1987 |
Funding to develop MBA announced |
| 1989 |
MBA launched, and OUBS almost immediately becomes the largest business school in Europe |
| 1989 |
OUBS offers courses in Eastern Europe |
| 1992 |
First MBA degrees awarded |
| 1994 |
OUBS awarded ‘excellent’ rating for business teaching by the UK Higher Education Funding Council |
| 1994 |
OUBS is accredited by AMBA |
| 1994 |
The Business School receives an IiP (Investors in People) award |
| 1997 |
OUBS launches Law programme in partnership with the College of Law |
| 1997 |
The Business School receives the Queen’s Award for Export |
| 2000 |
First undergraduate management programme launched – the BA in Business Studies |
| 2002 |
Launch of Corporate Learning Development Centre (now known as Centre for Professional Learning and Development) |
| 2002 |
As a founder member of WADE (World Alliance on Distance Learning), OUBS involved in developing online post-MBA international business education programme |
| 2004 |
Launch of Masters degree programmes. OUBS became triple-accredited with AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditation. |
| 2005 |
OUBS awarded Certification of e-Learning by the European Foundation for Management Development, in partnership with the Swiss Centre for Innovation in Learning |
| 2007 |
The OU joins Santander Universities, an international sponsorship scheme. Among other things, it will support an academic and international professorship programme at OUBS |
| 2007 |
OUBS becomes founding partner of the SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) project to develop a leadership academy |
| 2007 |
Electronic Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) launched to harness technology-led learning opportunities |
| 2009 |
OUBS celebrates 20 years of its MBA programme and its 20,000th graduate |
| 2010 |
The Business School launches the new MBA programme |
| 2010 |
AACSB accreditation retained |
| 2011 |
AMBA accreditation retained |
| 2011 |
Signatory to UN Global Compact ‘Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME) |
| 2012 |
EQUIS accreditation retained |
| 2013 |
OUBS launches Executive Education |
| 2013 |
OUBS celebrates its 30th Anniversary Year and is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award |
| 2014 |
The Business School MBA is ranked 13th in the world in the Financial Times Online MBA Rankings, 2nd by CEO Magazine and 8th by QS Top MBA |
| 2014 |
OUBS accepted into the Global Business School Network |
| 2014 |
OUBS is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award for the second consecutive year |
| 2014 |
Launch celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the MBA, celebrating our 25,000th graduate |
| 2014 |
OUBS ranked highly in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) for impact (top quarter) and outputs (top third) |
| 2015 |
AACSB and EQUIS accreditation retained |
| 2016 |
Launch of innovative portfolio of MOOCs |
| 2016 |
OUBS ranked 6th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and QS Distance Online MBA Rankings |
| 2016 |
OUBS featured in AACSB's Innovations That Inspire for significant investment in free online learning resources |
| 2016 |
OUBS is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award for a third time |
| 2016 |
OUBS is shortlisted for the Association of MBAs Innovation Award |
| 2017 |
OUBS is the winner of the Business Partnership category at the Guardian University Awards 2017 |
| 2017 |
OUBS ranked 7th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and 1st for UK institutions |
| 2017 |
OUBS is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award for a fourth time |
| 2018 |
Professor Devendra Kodwani takes up post of Executive Dean of the Business School |
| 2018 |
EQUIS accreditation retained |
| 2018 |
Advanced Signatory to UN Global Compact ‘Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME) |
| 2018 |
OUBS ranked 12th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and 1st for UK institutions |
| 2019 |
OUBS MBA Alum awarded an international Influential Leader Award by AACSB |
| 2019 |
OUBS ranked 5th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and 1st for UK institutions |
| 2020 |
OUBS ranked 31st in QS Distance Online MBA Rankings |
| 2020 |
Professor Siv Vangen appointed as Head of the Business School |
| 2022 |
EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accreditations retained |
| 2022 |
Research Excellence Framework (REF) ranks 75% of OUBS's impact cases as internationally excellent or world-leading |
