The Open University received legal advice that, due to various operational links with the United States, it should comply with US comprehensive sanctions against a number of countries, including Cuba.

Taking into account the relevant regulations, the legal advice and after a careful assessment of risk, the OU reluctantly decided that it should suspend the ability to supply educational services into the affected countries on an interim basis, pending the outcome of applications to the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for a licence to trade with the comprehensively sanctioned countries.

The Open University has been engaging with the UK Government on this issue, and worked with the US authorities to achieve resolution. In the light of these strenuous efforts and a response from the US authorities, the OU is now in a position to resume the supply of educational services into the affected countries.

The OU is strongly committed to being open to all people in all places, and we are pleased that we have been able to resume these services.