The Open University

Statement from The Open University on policy regarding comprehensive U.S. sanctions

25 July 2017

The Open University reaches many thousands of international students and operates in numerous countries. Operating at this scale globally means that we are bound by laws in different jurisdictions, including the United States. The US has comprehensive sanctions in place against a number of countries, including Cuba, meaning that it is not lawful for organisations […]

Prejudice & Pride: The People’s History of LGBTQ Britain

24 July 2017

A new BBC/Open University co-production will take a look back at the 50 years since the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality – from the perspective of the people who lived through them. Prejudice & Pride: The People’s History of LGBTQ Britain begins on Thursday 27 July, on BBC Four, at 9pm. In 1967 the Sexual Offences […]

Robots – friend or foe? New OU/BBC series explores the rise of the robots

19 July 2017

Are robots our companions or could they become our greatest rivals? In a special two-part series, electronics engineer, Professor Danielle George, and evolutionary biologist, Dr Ben Garrod, explore everything from driverless cars, to a robot destined to set up home for us on Mars. An obsession with robots in human form Produced in partnership with […]

Addicted Parents: Last Chance to Keep My Children

18 July 2017

Addicted Parents: Last Chance to Keep My Children is a new OU/BBC TV co-production telling the stories of residents at Phoenix Futures’ Specialist Family Service – the only family rehab in the UK, where children live with their addicted parents as they recover. These parents have six months to get clean or they will lose their […]

The Open University's Berrill Building in Milton Keynes

Founding Director of the OU, John Greenall, dies

5 July 2017

John Greenall, a founding director of The Open University, has died. Mr Greenall served as Director of Information Services from the University’s opening in 1969 until 1987. His role encompassed press relations, publicity, promotional materials and internal newspapers. With a background in professional PR, his greatest challenge in the early years was to bring the […]

Row of university graduates holding their scrolls. Image: Thinkstock

Diverse needs of part-time learners must be recognised, says OU Vice-Chancellor

4 July 2017

For many people in Britain, part-time study is the only way to access Higher Education. Speaking at the launch of the Office for Fair Access‘ report Evaluating the impact of outreach for adult learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, which was led by the OU, the Vice Chancellor Peter Horrocks spoke about how the diverse needs of part-time […]

“Be more ambitious!” universities are told in approach to mature students

4 July 2017

A new report says effective outreach to potential adult and mature students is vital to widen participation in Higher Education among under-represented groups. University leaders must be more creative and try innovative initiatives to entice adult learners from disadvantaged backgrounds into Higher Education, concludes a report looking at better ways to widen access and participation […]

Study finds UK skills gap is costing UK businesses £2.2 billion

3 July 2017

A new study commissioned by The Open University has found that the country’s skills gap is costing businesses more than £2 billion1 a year in higher salaries, recruitment costs and temporary staffing. The OU Business Barometer – which monitors the skills landscape of the UK – has found that 90 percent of businesses across the UK have found […]

Open University Vice-Chancellor Peter Horricks and Universities Minister Jo Johnson

Minister Jo Johnson sees breakthrough OpenSTEM Labs at the OU

29 June 2017

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson paid a visit to The Open University on Thursday 29th June to see its award-winning OpenSTEM Labs, which are transforming online teaching and learning. During a tour of the Walton Hall campus, Mr Johnson learned about the OpenSTEM Labs, an exciting initiative which allows OU students to study science […]

OU student achieves career dream and wins Inspire! Award

20 June 2017

A student from the OU in Wales has received recognition at the Inspire! Awards for his determination and resilience in pursuing his studies through distance learning. Shafiq Mohammed, from Cardiff, started studying with the OU in 2010 and is due to complete his BA (Hons) Humanities in summer 2017. His goal has always been to improve […]

OU News

Category: Around the OU