The Open University

Free education for prisoners in three-year pilot scheme

28 March 2017

Ex-offender James “Jimmy” Harris knows first-hand how life changing education can be. When he was first jailed at the age of 23, he decided to turn his life around and dedicated his time to learning new skills. He began studying for an Open University degree and is continuing this on his release, determined to complete […]

Open University scholarship fund for disabled Veterans

20 March 2017

The OU is launching a fundraising drive to offer free undergraduate degree courses to disabled veterans of the armed forces. It aims to raise an initial sum of £2.5 million from private and public donors to establish a Disabled Veterans Scholarship Fund to help tap a huge untapped pool of talent by helping former service […]

Empty wallet in the wrinkled hands of an old woman, close-up

Open University ‘alarmed and concerned’ at watering down of UK Government proposals for part-time maintenance loans

8 March 2017

The Open University expressed deep concern at proposals in the UK Budget to delay and limit maintenance loans for undergraduates in England who wish to undertake part-time distance learning. Treasury Budget documents revealed that plans for distance learners – who make up one third of all those who study part-time in England – were being […]

Man working on laptop, tablet and smartphone. Image credit: Thinkstock

Why apprenticeships are a perfect fit for the OU

8 March 2017

To mark National Apprenticeships Week, we take a look at the new Apprenticeship Levy. This will come into force from next month, following the Westminster Government’s announcement that three million apprenticeships will be created by 2020. From April, large employers – with a pay bill over £3million each year – will be required to contribute to the […]

OU programme explores the science of sound

1 March 2017

In a two-part BBC series, broadcaster and physicist, Dr Helen Czerski, reveals what the physics of sound can tell us about the world and how it works. Produced in partnership with the OU, and broadcast on BBC Four from Thursday 2 March 2017, 21:00, Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics explores the extremes of the […]

OU/BBC production allows viewers to Meet the Lords

27 February 2017

A peek into the biggest parliamentary body outside China, the Chamber of Lords, is in store in a new two-part documentary co-produced by The Open University and the BBC. Meet The Lords on BBC2 from Monday 27th February will help to explain what the 800 plus peers do on a day to day basis. Production company […]

Backing from UK Government for part-time study welcomed by OU

24 February 2017

The Open University has welcomed moves by the UK Government to ensure that the importance of part-time study and distance learning are fully recognised in the biggest shake-up for decades in higher education in England. Peter Horrocks, Vice-chancellor of The Open University, welcomed proposals that would require the new regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), to include explicitly options for part-time and distance learning when […]

Dr Michael Mosley, The Secrets of Your Food

OU programme explores the mysterious science of food

20 February 2017

In a three-part BBC series, broadcaster and scientist, Dr Michael Mosley, and celebrated botanist, James Wong, take us on an exploration of the science behind our everyday food. Produced in partnership with The Open University and broadcast on BBC Two from Friday 24 February 2017, 21:00, The Secrets of Your Food celebrates the biology, chemistry, […]

Open University VC announces need for change

9 February 2017

The Open University has started a root and branch review of its work to ensure it is fit to face the growing challenges of the future. The University’s traditional market – part-time higher education – is under threat from a decline in student numbers and potential competition from new providers. The Higher Education and Research […]

Why the OU is not entering this year’s Teaching Excellence Framework

26 January 2017

The UK Government is piloting a new framework for measuring teaching excellence in universities called the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), with a view to providing students with more information about the quality of teaching and to improve standards. The Open University’s Vice-Chancellor, Peter Horrocks, explains why the OU has decided not to participate in this […]

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Category: Around the OU