News Story

OU Vice-Chancellor visits KMi: A showcase of Innovation and Impact

Friday 6 Feb 2026

It was a great pleasure for KMi to welcome The Open University’s Vice-Chancellor; David Phoenix, on Wednesday 4 February. KMi gave the VC a tour of our flagship research and innovation around open science, communities and social impact, AI for teaching & learning, collective intelligence, student retention, and using AI to enhance OU operations and create new partnerships. Everyone in KMi found it particularly inspiring to see the VC’s forward-looking questions and focus, which demonstrated his understanding and appreciation of innovation’s potential and vital role in shaping the future of the OU and higher education.

KMi’s Director, Harith Alani, commented: “As KMi’s Director, I regularly face complexity and risk aversion that can constrain innovation. It was therefore uplifting to hear the VC’s ambition to lower barriers, strengthen our culture of innovation, and support us in creating even greater impact at the OU, across higher education and in wider society.”