About IET

Since IET was established in 1970 we have been central to The Open University’s mission to be the world leader in researching, innovating and delivering supported, open and distance learning. Since then we have contributed to research across many significant developments within education, driving understanding of how innovative technology can support learning, teaching and assessment. Explore our research programmes which focus on distinct areas of innovation taking place in IET.

As we operate within the OU, our academics have the capability to drive leading research through IET alongside teaching at the largest academic institution in the UK. This has allowed us to build a rich history of world-leading educational research, working with some of the pioneers in educational technology, open learning and many other areas of innovative pedagogy. Resultantly, there are a number of affiliated groups, teams and research areas associated to IET.

The history of IET covers our leadership in the most ground-breaking developments within educational technology including developments in computer-based learning, digital learning and remote learning. This has allowed us to support the advancements of The Open University, establishing how distance teaching and learning can be successful across all levels of education. More recently we have contributed research to mainstream topics such as open learning, virtually augmented reality learning and distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic and new normal. 

In August 2025 Bart Rienties was appointed as the new Director of IET, developing from his background of over twenty-five years’ experience in providing university-wide learning analytics and learning design solutions and conduct evidence-based research of how students and professional learn. Bart leads IET’s research and development strategy, responsible for academic and administrative management, planning and delivery.

IET Senior Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team comprises senior leaders from across IET, united in their role to support the Director through strategic guidance and operational oversight. They contribute to planning activities, ensuring that key business matters are collaboratively shared, thoughtfully discussed, and appropriately consulted on across the organisation:

Professor Bart Rienties,
Director IET

Professor Bart Rienties is responsible for providing strategic leadership to IET and is a member of the University Senior Team. He is involved in research and development required by the university to feed into the evaluate policy, provide advice and promote evidence based approach for learning, teaching and scholarship. Bart is responsible for the development of IET's internationally recognised research portfolio and cultivating innovation that builds on research and scholarship.

Dr Tim Coughlan,
Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange

Dr Tim Coughlan is responsible for developing IET's strategies for research and knowledge exchange, and supporting successful research to happen in IET. This includes facilitating the creation and completion of externally-funded projects, supporting researcher career development, and ensuring that IET's research activities are disseminated effectively. Tim has a strong track record of leading collaborative research and knowledge exchange projects in educational technology, and a particular interest in building partnerships to create impactful applied research, aligned with the OU's mission to enable education for all.

Professor Christothea Herodotou,
Associate Director of Quality Enhancement and Innovation

Professor Christothea Herodotou is responsible for implementing the Quality Enhancement and Innovation (QEI) Programme in IET. The QEI programme conducts large-scale interdisciplinary research and evaluation across the four university faculties, with the aim to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at the Open University and ensure its leading role in delivering high quality, innovative, open and distance education.

Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman,
Associate Director of Curriculum

Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman is responsible for leading the academic development of IET’s postgraduate curriculum. She leads IET’s curriculum team, which is responsible for the conceptualisation, development and delivery of IET’s Masters in Online Teaching Postgraduate Certificate in Online Teaching, and our modules and microcredentials. She also has overarching responsibility for the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and for the Applaud accreditation scheme.

Maria Di Gennaro,
Acting Associate Director, Strategy Planning and Operations

Maria Di Gennaro is a seasoned strategic operations leader with over 20 years of experience across higher education, international schools, and global corporations. As Senior Manager for Strategy, Business Planning & Communications in IET at The Open University—and now in her role as Deputy Associate Director for Strategy, Planning and Operations—Maria leads the development and delivery of long-term strategic plans. Working closely with the IET Director, she develops, leads, and delivers the Unit Business Plans, oversees the unit’s budget, manages the research forecast, drives operational excellence, resource management, and fosters collaboration across academic and professional services. She is also responsible for the unit’s internal and external communications strategy.

Maria has held previous leadership roles at the University, including managing research and enterprise initiatives, supporting sector-leading educational technology innovation, and overseeing multimillion-pound budgets.

As an integral member of the IET Senior Leadership Team, Maria works closely with the IET Director and senior colleagues within IET and across the University. She provides strategic and operational leadership to IET’s professional services teams, ensuring their activities are delivered efficiently and confidently to support the successful delivery of IET’s business objectives.

Claire Atkins,
Acting Associate Director Strategy, Planning and Operations

Claire has over a decade of experience at the Open University, undertaking a range of Quality Assurance and Enhancement management roles and responsibilities before joining IET in 2022 as Senior Manager for Curriculum and Accredited provision and then taking on the role of Deputy Associate Director of Strategy, Planning and Operations.  Claire is responsible for leading the cross-institute activities of strategy, business planning, financial and resource management. She undertakes a pivotal role of aligning and managing resources to underpin the IET Strategy, as well as enabling timely and effective decision making which allows IET to respond to changing priorities and opportunities.

Claire is an integral member of the IET Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the IET Director and senior colleagues in IET and across the University. Claire also provides strategic and operational leadership to the IET Professional Services activities across the multi-disciplinary teams. She ensures that the IET Professional Services activities are fulfilled efficiently and confidently to enable success of the IET business delivery.