The Open University

‘Fundamental culture change’ needed to address skills shortage

13 April 2017

The Open University (OU) and The Association of Colleges (AoC) have come together to call for a national skills strategy, with long term investment and reform in adult education to address the skills crisis. The organisations want to work with the Government to shape adult learning across Further and Higher Education in England, and say […]

Barbican - photo courtesy of Claudia Rosani

Degree ceremonies offer chance for renewal, says OU VC

5 April 2017

The OU’s degree ceremonies have started in earnest, kicking off at London’s Barbican recently. Peter Horrocks, the OU’s Vice-Chancellor, shares his experiences and explains why they give an opportunity to both celebrate and strengthen our resolve… “They start off quietly. A few early birds arrive for the ceremony, nervously checking the logistics and where to get […]

Double celebration at Guardian University Awards

30 March 2017

Teams from The Open University picked up two wins in a glittering night at the Guardian University Awards. The Open University Business School won the Business Partnership category for its collaboration with financial services company True Potential LLP and the TESS India team, who run a large scale educational initiative, swept the board in the International Projects […]

Understanding today’s Teenagers: Child of Our Time returns to BBC One

28 March 2017

Child of Our Time: BBC ONE, 9pm, 3rd & 4th April Since the year 2000, The Open University and the BBC have followed the lives of 25 children born across the UK, to find out what makes us who we are. Now, the hugely popular series Child of Our Time returns to the BBC on […]

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 […]

OU News

Category: Around the OU