OPEN University chiefs have claimed that the proposed sacking of 500 staff and closing of seven regional offices will “improve the way our students are supported.”

Thousands of existing and potential students will be affected by the planned closures of centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Gateshead, Leeds, London and Oxford.

But OU deputy head of media relations Rachel James told the Morning Star: “The rationale behind the proposed closures of our regional offices is to improve the way our students are supported.

“Instead of having nine regional offices in England, we are proposing three main centres in Milton Keynes, Manchester and Nottingham.

“This will allow us to provide quicker response times to student enquiries, offer more proactive and reactive support and offer longer opening hours.”

OU vice-chancellor Peter Horrocks added: “This recommendation, if approved, would allow us to enhance student support in a way that’s simply not possible in our current office network, and offer our students the sort of support they expect and deserve.”

But lecturers’ union UCU general secretary Sally Hunt argued that sacking 500 staff and embarking on a centralisation strategy is no way to improve things for students.

“We believe there is a need for more regional centres, not fewer,” she said.

“By getting rid of regional staff you lose their expertise and those vital links with local businesses and local areas.”

The final decision will be made by the OU’s governing university council in late November.

UCU members are considering their response to the plans and have not ruled out industrial action.