The Open University

Brick wall with letters spelling education written on it

How do you measure ‘teaching excellence’ in English universities?

19 November 2015

A plan to measure the quality of teaching in English universities has been contributed by a member of the OU’s top team. Professor Belinda Tynan, the OU’s pro-vice-chancellor for learning & innovation, joined senior university figures to give their views on the government’s proposals to introduce a teaching excellence framework (TEF). She was one of five witnesses giving oral […]

Author and presenter Simon Reeve in Ireland. Image credit: BBC TWO

New TV series takes viewers on an Irish adventure

18 November 2015

In a new OU/BBC series, author and presenter Simon Reeve takes viewers on a journey to uncover the history of a country which he has never visited before: Ireland. Simon explores Ireland’s breath-taking scenery, and the surprising political and social history of the Irish; from the recent financial crisis that hit the country in 2008 and the legislation of […]

#MY100: Celebrating the vision of one of University’s founders

12 November 2015

The lifetime achievements – and lasting influence – of one of the founders of The Open University has been celebrated with a centenary conference in his name. The Young Foundation, established by Michael Young (1915 to 2002), hosted the Michael Young Centenary Conference 100 years after his birth. It was held at The Barbican, London, […]

New sports science documentary asks: what makes a champion?

11 November 2015

If the 1936 Olympic gold medallist Jesse Owens was to race against Usain Bolt today, he would be 14 feet behind him. Has the human race evolved so much since then to make sporting feats like this possible? Or we have a superior understanding of how get the most out of our bodies? A new […]

Discover the life story of your T-shirt

11 November 2015

Getting dressed takes little more than five minutes. But did you know it takes as long as six months to make and market a T-shirt? And that doesn’t include the six months it takes to produce the cotton. This week is the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) Festival of Social Science week (7th to […]

Journalist Sir Harold Evans honoured by The Open University

7 November 2015

Sir Harold Evans, one of the most significant journalists of recent times, has been presented with an honorary doctorate from The Open University. He was at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 6 November to receive his award of Doctor of the University for exceptional contribution to education and culture, and was conferred alongside more than […]

Alan Cumming, Alison Elliot, Karen McCluskey and Heather Reid

Actor Alan Cumming becomes a ‘doctor of the universe’

25 October 2015

“I’m about to become a doctor of the universe” proclaimed actor Alan Cumming just before being awarded an honorary doctorate by The Open University for exceptional contributions to education and culture. At rehearsal for the @OUScotland #OU_Ceremonies ! I’m about to become a doctor of the universe! Oops, university! pic.twitter.com/0adsEaEgBS — Alan Cumming (@Alancumming) October […]

Open University and Birkbeck join forces to call for part-time HE reform

21 October 2015

The Open University has submitted a joint response with Birkbeck to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) calling for changes to higher education policy in England to help stimulate the part-time market. Following a request for ideas by Government officials, the OU and Birkbeck have called for a number of changes, including: • […]

Wooden hashtag on a black background. Image credit: Thinkstock

#EducationDay on Twitter

15 October 2015

Today (Thursday 15th October), education-lovers across Europe were invited to come together on Twitter to participate in #EducationDay; the first European Twitter initiative to unite the educational community in a global conversation that celebrates learning and highlights how to use Twitter to research, get inspired and inform. Here’s a Storify on the OU’s contribution… [&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”//storify.com/OpenUniversity/education-day-on-twitter” […]

OU News