The Open University

“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 […]

Open University takes lead role in new Institute of Coding

25 January 2018

More than 500,000 computer scientists are needed by 2022 The £40M Institute of Coding aims to give the UK an edge in the global digital economy It will deliver industry-focused, innovative Higher Education across the UK The Open University (OU) has been announced as a major partner in the UK’s new £40 million Institute of […]

OU calls for “urgent action” to address fall in part-time students in England

12 January 2018

The OU is renewing its call for urgent action by the UK Government after new figures showed a further year-on-year fall in the number of part-time students in England. Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) revealed a 14 per cent drop in the number of people starting undergraduate courses in England between 2015/16 […]

Hugh’s Wild West: new BBC wildlife programme explores the West Country

3 January 2018

Lifelong nature-lover Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall pursues his fascination with the wildlife of the West Country as he teams up with the region’s most dedicated nature lovers for a new series, produced in partnership with The Open University. Hugh’s Wild West begins on Saturday 6 January at 6.15pm on BBC Two and runs for twelve episodes. Amateurs are contributing […]

2017: an award-winning year of inspiring BBC TV and radio

20 December 2017

2017 has been the most successful year to date for The Open University and BBC partnership. Our TV and radio programmes reached more people than ever before and have won an unprecedented number of awards, including a BAFTA and a Grierson. Everything we produce creates unique resources for our teaching and learning. Exploring the planet, […]

7 gifts an OU student might love

20 December 2017

This one’s for all OU students. Something to casually link to; share on Facebook with an *ahem*; or go old school and print out and highlight for your nearest and dearest. Or just place near a chimney and hope! We know how hard our students work. You’re awesome, and you deserve an awesome Christmas too. […]

OU News

Category: Around the OU