8. Open BTEC — Updating for Business

Supporters of open learning now need to turn their attention to delivery aspects and how open approaches can be embedded into mainstream education and training. This is likely to be achieved by recognising the essential, though radically different, role of the open learning tutor, and providing for an extensive programme of professional development for teachers and trainers. This is the conclusion of the Business Education Council (BEC) following the establishment of its open BTEC, which enables individuals to gain credits towards BEC (now BTEC (Business Technical Education Council)) qualification by open learning as well as other traditional methods. The design and structure of materials and their development, project piloting and review and the revision and publication of the different units in the project are described and discussed as are the ways in which open learning can be successfully implemented.