In any consideration of the Open University it is as well to recall the words of Lord Crowther its Chancellor. He said “We are open first as to people…. We took it as axiomatic… that no formal academic qualifications would be required for registration as a student. Anyone could try his or her hand and only failure to progress adequately would be a bar to continuation of studies…. We are open as to methods…. Every new form of human communication will be examined to see how it can be used to raise and broaden the level of human understanding…. We are open finally to ideas.”