OU Research Infrastructure

The Open University achieved the second largest climb in UK research rankings in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, with more than 50% of its research rated as ‘internationally excellent’ (3*) and 14% as ‘world-leading’ (4*).

The University has invested significantly in its infrastructure for research, and has increased laboratory space at its Milton Keynes headquarters by nearly 50% in the last seven years.  Its newest facility is the Jennie Lee Building, which houses dedicated laboratories for pervasive computing and deployment of ambient and ubiquitous technologies.

The OU’s freely accessible repository of research publications, Open Research Online  launched just three years ago is now the eighth largest university repository of its kind in the UK.  It includes more than 10,600 OU research outputs.

The University’s iTunes U site  was launched in 2008 and has included research content since last October.  In its first six months the site saw over 250,000 people around the World make more than 2 million downloads.

Other recent developments include the launch of the collaborative Centre for Electronic Imaging with the specialist systems solutions developer e2v as partners, and a new initiative in engineering with TWI and Lloyds Educational Trust.  Further infrastructure is developing through partnerships with The Environment Agency and others in the context of understanding the implications of climate change and with SEEDA to host the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Innovation & Growth Team.  The University is working with a number of other sponsors to evolve specific research priorities.