History and milestones

DateMilestone
1969The Open University founded by Royal Charter
1983The Open University Business School (OUBS) founded, attracting 1,600 in its first year
1987Funding to develop MBA announced
1989MBA launched, and OUBS almost immediately becomes the largest business school in Europe
1989OUBS offers courses in Eastern Europe
1992First MBA degrees awarded
1994OUBS awarded ‘excellent’ rating for business teaching by the UK Higher Education Funding Council
1994OUBS is accredited by AMBA
1994The Business School receives an IiP (Investors in People) award
1997OUBS launches Law programme in partnership with the College of Law
1997The Business School receives the Queen’s Award for Export
2000First undergraduate management programme launched – the BA in Business Studies
2002Launch of Corporate Learning Development Centre (now known as Centre for Professional Learning and Development)
2002As a founder member of WADE (World Alliance on Distance Learning), OUBS involved in developing online post-MBA international business education programme
2004Launch of Masters degree programmes. OUBS became triple-accredited with AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditation.
2005OUBS awarded Certification of e-Learning by the European Foundation for Management Development, in partnership with the Swiss Centre for Innovation in Learning
2007The OU joins Santander Universities, an international sponsorship scheme. Among other things, it will support an academic and international professorship programme at OUBS
2007OUBS becomes founding partner of the SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) project to develop a leadership academy
2007Electronic Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) launched to harness technology-led learning opportunities
2009OUBS celebrates 20 years of its MBA programme and its 20,000th graduate
2010The Business School launches the new MBA programme
2010AACSB accreditation retained
2011AMBA accreditation retained
2011Signatory to UN Global Compact ‘Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME)
2012EQUIS accreditation retained
2013OUBS launches Executive Education
2013OUBS celebrates its 30th Anniversary Year and is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award
2014The 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
2014OUBS accepted into the Global Business School Network
2014OUBS is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award for the second consecutive year
2014Launch celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the MBA, celebrating our 25,000th graduate
2014OUBS ranked highly in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) for impact (top quarter) and outputs (top third)
2015AACSB and EQUIS accreditation retained
2016Launch of innovative portfolio of MOOCs
2016OUBS ranked 6th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and QS Distance Online MBA Rankings
2016OUBS featured in AACSB's Innovations That Inspire for significant investment in free online learning resources
2016OUBS is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award for a third time
2016OUBS is shortlisted for the Association of MBAs Innovation Award
2017OUBS is the winner of the Business Partnership category at the Guardian University Awards 2017
2017OUBS ranked 7th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and 1st for UK institutions
2017OUBS is nominated for Times Higher Business School of the Year award for a fourth time
2018Professor Devendra Kodwani takes up post of Executive Dean of the Business School
2018EQUIS accreditation retained
2018Advanced Signatory to UN Global Compact ‘Principles for Responsible Management Education’ (PRME)
2018OUBS ranked 12th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and 1st for UK institutions
2019OUBS MBA Alum awarded an international Influential Leader Award by AACSB
2019OUBS ranked 5th in Global Online MBA Rankings by CEO Magazine and 1st for UK institutions
2020OUBS ranked 31st in QS Distance Online MBA Rankings
2021Professor Siv Vangen appointed as Head of the Business School
2022EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accreditations retained
2022Research Excellence Framework (REF) ranks 75% of OUBS's impact cases as internationally excellent or world-leading
2024Appointed Prof. Keith Schofield as new Head of the Business School