The Open University

OU welcomes focus on part-time study in Spending Review

26 November 2015

On Wednesday, the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement and Spending Review, setting out the Government’s spending priorities over the next five years. This includes cuts to most central government departments, including BIS. Although The Open University receives the majority of its funding through student fees, direct government funding for certain activities is nonetheless an important […]

(from left to right) Julie Cook from Wales TUC with Kevin Pascoe, Jos Andrews and Ruth Brooks from The Open University in Wales

‘Triple crown’ for The Open University in Wales for widening participation

25 November 2015

The Open University in Wales has been commended for its innovative free online learning platforms, FutureLearn and OpenLearn, in the 2015 Wales Trade Union Congress (TUC) Quality Awards. The three awards were presented to The Open University in Wales at the Wales TUC Union Learning Representatives’ Conference in Ebbw Vale on Friday 20 November 2015. […]

The Open University's Berrill Building in Milton Keynes

Q&A: What office closures mean for staff and students across the country

24 November 2015

The Open University has confirmed it is to proceed with plans to create three larger student support centres, resulting in the closure of seven smaller offices around England. In this Q&A, the Vice-Chancellor of the OU, Peter Horrocks, explains what the changes will mean for staff and students around the country… What’s this going […]

Brick wall with letters spelling education written on it

How do you measure ‘teaching excellence’ in English universities?

19 November 2015

A plan to measure the quality of teaching in English universities has been contributed by a member of the OU’s top team. Professor Belinda Tynan, the OU’s pro-vice-chancellor for learning & innovation, joined senior university figures to give their views on the government’s proposals to introduce a teaching excellence framework (TEF). She was one of five witnesses giving oral […]

Author and presenter Simon Reeve in Ireland. Image credit: BBC TWO

New TV series takes viewers on an Irish adventure

18 November 2015

In a new OU/BBC series, author and presenter Simon Reeve takes viewers on a journey to uncover the history of a country which he has never visited before: Ireland. Simon explores Ireland’s breath-taking scenery, and the surprising political and social history of the Irish; from the recent financial crisis that hit the country in 2008 and the legislation of […]

New report explores decline in part-time study

16 November 2015

A new study from a conservative think tank has explored some of the reasons behind a decline in the number of people studying part-time in recent years. The report from Bright Blue has been featured in the Financial Times and also proposes steps which could be taken by government and business to reverse the decline. […]

Investment boost for social learning platform, FutureLearn

12 November 2015

The Open University will build on the early success of its social learning platform, FutureLearn, thanks to a £13 million investment to kick-start a new phase of development and establish its position as a world leader in free online learning. Since the first courses went live on FutureLearn in October 2013, the platform has seen rapid growth, […]

New sports science documentary asks: what makes a champion?

11 November 2015

If the 1936 Olympic gold medallist Jesse Owens was to race against Usain Bolt today, he would be 14 feet behind him. Has the human race evolved so much since then to make sporting feats like this possible? Or we have a superior understanding of how get the most out of our bodies? A new […]

OU highlights skills gap to business leaders

9 November 2015

The Open University has been out in force at this year’s Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference. The annual event in London is a gathering of business leaders from across Great Britain, and the OU was in attendance to highlight the benefits of developing skills through lifelong and part-time learning to delegates, and to promote […]

Journalist Sir Harold Evans honoured by The Open University

7 November 2015

Sir Harold Evans, one of the most significant journalists of recent times, has been presented with an honorary doctorate from The Open University. He was at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 6 November to receive his award of Doctor of the University for exceptional contribution to education and culture, and was conferred alongside more than […]

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Category: Around the OU