Darren Jones

Darren Jones is the Partnerships Manager for the Open University in Wales. His job is to develop partnerships across Wales with other organisations and to help bring the opportunity of OU study to even more learners. 

His first role at the OU was as a student mentor in the GO Wales work placement programme, and before that he worked in valleys communities in South Wales, supporting people to get back into work, adult learning and active lifestyles.  

Darren is also an OU student, studying for an MBA. He returned to learning as an adult after not doing very well in school. He says ‘I’m now doing what I do for the OU, which wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t take that plunge back into learning. So, I always take with me a message that I discovered on the wall of Penrhiwceiber Miners Institute: “knowledge sets you free” … it does!’