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Connecting Globally: The Open University’s Contribution to an International Sustainability Symposium
~~ By Catriona Matthews and Paul Astles, Learning Designers When it comes to the challenges facing our planet, no single institution, country, or discipline has all the answers. Creating a more sustainable and equitable future requires collaboration, shared expertise, and a willingness to learn from one another across borders. That’s why we are delighted…
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From insight to impact: The evolving role of learning design in higher education
~~ By Alice Gallagher, Interim Head of Learning Design Introduction When I stepped into the role of Interim Head of Learning Design earlier this year, I found myself looking at a familiar discipline through a new lens. Having spent much of my career in learning design before moving into curriculum and service leadership roles, returning…
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Learning through play: delving into diverse student experiences
~~ By Catriona Matthews and Clare Hill, Learning Designers When you become a student, you don’t suddenly exist in an educational bubble where the reality of life fades away and your only worry is your next assessment. It is not always possible to avoid the impact that wider life events, experiences or responsibilities can have…
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CATE 2026 awards: Reflections on what being The Open University nominee means to us
Paul Astles, Joanna Helms, Eleanor Moore, James Openshaw, Jack Orbell ~~ Learning Designers In the autumn of 2025, after a rigorous application process, the Learning Design AI group was proud to be chosen as the OU’s CATE (Advance HE’s Collaborative Awards for Teaching Excellence) nomination for 2026. Competition for the award was high and we…
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Looking through the lens of compassionate pedagogy: attending the Open University WELS EDI Festival
Hayley Kelly, Cinzia Imbriano-Merner, Anna Judd-Yelland, Catriona Matthews, and Mark Williams ~ Learning Designers The WELS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Festival 2026 ran from 20 April –1 May online for Open University staff and student reps. It was organised to celebrate the diverse journeys of OU students and staff in the Faculty of…
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Maximising student support: Equitable Outcomes Challenge Week 2025
Jannah Aljafri, Anna Judd-Yelland, Penelope Lee, and Catriona Matthews ~ Learning Designers The days may be getting colder and darker, but the Christmas season is upon us, plus we’ve just enjoyed some great virtual ‘fireside chats’ during The Open University’s Equitable Outcomes Challenge Week. 🍵🔥 Colleagues from across the University shared their projects on…
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Innovating Learning Design in Higher Education: Reflections from an International Collaboration
Paul Astles and Catriona Matthews ~ Learning Designers Since 2022, members of The Open University’s (OU) Learning Design and Institute of Educational Technology (IET) teams have played an integral role in the Erasmus+ project Innovating Learning Design in Higher Education (iLED). The three-year iLED project was co-ordinated by the University of Zagreb and alongside…
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‘Words of Wisdom’: Presenting our project at the EAUC conference 2025
Paul Astles and Catriona Matthews ~ Learning Designers We felt proud (and lucky, given the uncertain financial situation across Higher Education) to be invited to speak at the 2025 Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (aka EAUC) conference and to represent both the Open University and the Learning Design team for the second year…