The Open University

Open University welcomes tech pioneer Jacqueline de Rojas to Institute of Coding

6 March 2018

Jacqueline de Rojas CBE, President of techUK, has been appointed co-chair of the Institute of Coding (IoC) which brings together industry and academia in a co-ordinated effort to address the UK’s digital skills gap. The Open University is one of the key partners in the Institute of Coding, leading on graduate employability and the […]

How to study with mental health issues – advice to students from students

1 March 2018

The OU has more students who tell us about their mental health issues than any other university in the UK. From talking to your tutor to binge studying on the good days, from planning your day to embracing even the smallest achievement, here’s some sage advice from those who’ve been there… 1) It’s good to […]

Why “civilisation” remains a contested term: OU academics explain

28 February 2018

The new landmark BBC series, Civilisations, co-produced by The Open University, is set to bring history and art to life in a stunning piece of television. Presenters Simon Schama, Mary Beard and David Olusoga travel the globe to examine dazzling works of art and history – helping us to re-examine our own place in the […]

Open University statement on USS pension dispute

23 February 2018

The Open University is one of more than 350 Higher Education and related institutions across the United Kingdom that participate in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). It is also one of over 60 institutions facing industrial action regarding proposed changes to USS. The latest valuation of the scheme, conducted by the independent trustees of USS, […]

Civilisations: New landmark BBC series an antidote to modern life

22 February 2018

We live in an age where popular social media videos are often less than 30 seconds long, and people’s attention spans are shorter due to our busy, multi-tasking lives. But now, people are encouraged to pause and enjoy a new visual spectacular from The Open University and the BBC. Civilisations, the new landmark series starting […]

The Open University's Berrill Building in Milton Keynes

“A University of Radicals”: Vice-Chancellor says it’s time for the OU to stop looking over its shoulders

21 February 2018

The Open University is in the perfect position to pick up its founding mission – as education radicals. Speaking to an academic audience at the OU’s Milton Keynes campus on Tuesday 20 February, Vice-Chancellor Peter Horrocks outlined the university’s academic excellence vision. He said there is a golden opportunity to reinvent connections between academics, students and […]

Part-time and distance learning central to UK Government review on post-18 education

19 February 2018

Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that improving support for part-time and distance learning will be at the heart of the UK Government’s review of university and FE funding in England. The review, which will be supported by an independent panel, will report early in 2019 and will cover all aspects of the funding for […]

Six ways the OU boosted your brainpower

15 February 2018

January – a month of little cash, and a distinct lack of motivation. Well, not for our amazing social media audience. Having launched Brainteaser Month in 2017, reaching 6.5 million, we wanted to stimulate your neurons once again. Throughout January 2018, fuelled by the brainpower of over 30 of our academics, we hosted a series […]

Social mobility thread must run through new Office for Students, says OU

5 February 2018

The Open University is calling on the new Office for Students (OfS) to lead the way in improving the chances of people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university. In a policy pamphlet: Social Mobility and the Office for Students – The Five Essentials it sets out five steps to reverse the decline in numbers of students […]

OU calls for action after figures show disadvantaged students “let down”

1 February 2018

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are being let down by the university system in England, new figures show. A Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) assessment showed a further annual decrease of two per cent in the overall number of disadvantaged students. Although the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds starting full-time courses went up by three […]

OU News

Category: Around the OU