The Open University learning content services/OPEN/PRO/2023

The primary business objective is to deliver the OU's bi-annual cycle of updates to module

websites and supporting digital and print learning aids to required quality, time and cost

standards. The OU requires vendor partners to provide it with flexibility in its capacity so that

it can effectively handle peaks in demand that cannot be met by inhouse staff.

Additionally, we expect to work with our vendor partners on identifying, developing and

scaling ancillary and additional service lines that support and complement the core

proposition service offering, thus improving operational efficiency, achieving economies of

scale and supporting the delivery of the OU's wider strategic aims and social mission.

Core service provision

As OU modules prepare to 'present' to a new cohort of students, their study website, hosted

in the OU's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and associated digital and print learning

aids, require updating in accordance with student feedback on their learning experience, key

assessment milestones for the new cohort's study dates, changes in the academic field and

requirements for the correction or clarification of errors.

The vendor partner will need to work inside OU systems and liaise closely with the

responsible OU Project Manager within Learner and Discovery Services (LDS), graphics and

interactive media developers within LDS' Design, Development and Production (DDP)

subunit, as well as with the Qualification/Curriculum Manager and academic authoring

teams within the faculty whose module is being updated, performing requisite editorial,

quality assurance, project coordination, graphic/interactive media assets update and rights

clearance tasks as required by the project specification.

Breakdown of service lines

Core service provision: OU module updates, editorial

o Copyediting of any new text insertions of 50+ words

o Proofreading of updated sections of material, including sense checks for 'fit' with

surrounding content and any internal cross-references

o Briefing IMD/GMD team on graphic/interactive media asset updates AND/OR

origination/updates of graphics/interactive media assets

o Taking in corrections to XML source files, re-rendering and sending to OU stakeholders for

approval

o Validation of XML with QC

o Checking and editing of closed captions and module

transcripts for any new assets via the OU's 3Play platform

o Web checks" - final QC of module websites, once all other updates complete, ahead of final

'presentation ready' signoff.

Ancillary services

Graphic media assets updates/origination/redraws

Interactive media assets updates/origination

Rights and permissions clearances

Copyedit and proofread

Structural editing