Ms Rehana Awan

Rehana is the Open University's (OU) first Academic Lead for Interdisciplinary Studies. She started this role in June 2024 and is working for half of her time to bring together interdisciplinary learning and teaching at the OU. This role aligns well with Rehana's own interdisciplinary background and research interests. Rehana is also a Senior Lecturer in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Implementation in the School of Computing and Communications in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. In this role Rehana leads the school in identifying, designing and delivering improvements to student support, curricula, and resources to close degree awarding gaps. 

Rehana joined the OU in September 2008 working as a Regional Coordinator for Openings in the Centre for Widening Participation in East Grinstead. Openings were entry level courses designed for students with little or no previous learning/educational experiences. She has held a number of roles over the years including Access Presentation Manager supporting the Senior Manager, Curriculum, Senior Manager in AL Support and Professional Development, Open Programme’s Manager for Communications and Engagement, and she was the first Staff Tutor/Lecturer for Open and Access in 2019. The Ope degree has the largest number of graduates and is the OU's original degree. As a Staff Tutor/Lecturer she was responsible for the Open Box Modules and the Acccess module for Arts and Humanities (having also looked after the largest Access module People, work and society for 2 years). As Academic lead for the Open Programme Student Support Team , Rehana represented the Open qualifications during the University's Periodic Quality Review. She was commended for her ‘breadth and depth of knowledge and experience’.

Before joining the OU, Rehana worked in Further Education as Head of Teacher Training, and Access to HE. Prior to that she worked in the private sector for several years in training and mangagement development.

Rehana was co-chair of the Black and Minority Ethnic staff network (2020-2024). She chaired the first ever event for South Asian Heritage month, was part of the team that set up the Race and Ethnicity Hub, and was Chair of the group looking to improve support for Black students with mental health conditions. She also set up a peer mentoring scheme for racially minortized staff, and contributes to the student pipeline group as part of the OUs submission for the Race Equality Charter.

Rehana is also an Associate Lecturer and has been since joiining the OU. Currently she supports students on an introductory Social Sciences module. She tutored on Access for 11 years. Rehana has demonstrated her commitment to leading and managing teaching and learning as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association (FSEDA). 

As a professional doctoral student, Rehana is researching student narratives and degree awarding gaps at the OU, and she has set up a Community of Practice for other PGRs also investigating awarding gaps.