The Open University

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 […]

A praying mantis feasts on a katydid in the Madagascan jungle. Image credit: Silverback Films

The Hunt is on: brand new footage revealed as predator tracks prey

29 October 2015

Predators are often perceived as being ferocious, successful hunters but the truth is, most hunts fail. A new landmark BBC natural history series uncovers dramatic and never-seen-before footage of predators and the difficulties they face in catching their prey. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, The Hunt, produced in partnership with The Open University, travels the […]

Alan Cumming, Alison Elliot, Karen McCluskey and Heather Reid

Actor Alan Cumming becomes a ‘doctor of the universe’

25 October 2015

“I’m about to become a doctor of the universe” proclaimed actor Alan Cumming just before being awarded an honorary doctorate by The Open University for exceptional contributions to education and culture. At rehearsal for the @OUScotland #OU_Ceremonies ! I’m about to become a doctor of the universe! Oops, university! pic.twitter.com/0adsEaEgBS — Alan Cumming (@Alancumming) October […]

Businessman reading a financial report. Image credit: Thinkstock

OU responds to calls for £500m funding to be redirected from universities

21 October 2015

Leading political think-tank Policy Exchange has published a report calling on BIS to redirect £500m from universities grant funding into Further Education to boost higher level professional and technical education. The report, Higher, Further, Faster, More, says that, while UK universities are some of the best in the world, they are sitting on significant financial reserves and […]

Open University and Birkbeck join forces to call for part-time HE reform

21 October 2015

The Open University has submitted a joint response with Birkbeck to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) calling for changes to higher education policy in England to help stimulate the part-time market. Following a request for ideas by Government officials, the OU and Birkbeck have called for a number of changes, including: • […]

Wooden hashtag on a black background. Image credit: Thinkstock

#EducationDay on Twitter

15 October 2015

Today (Thursday 15th October), education-lovers across Europe were invited to come together on Twitter to participate in #EducationDay; the first European Twitter initiative to unite the educational community in a global conversation that celebrates learning and highlights how to use Twitter to research, get inspired and inform. Here’s a Storify on the OU’s contribution… [&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”//storify.com/OpenUniversity/education-day-on-twitter” […]

The Open University appoints new University Secretary

30 September 2015

Keith Zimmerman will be The OU’s new University Secretary. Currently Director, Students, Mr Zimmerman will be the fourth holder of the role since The OU was established and will replace Fraser Woodburn who is retiring. As University Secretary Mr Zimmerman will be responsible for the University’s governance, administration and operational management. He said: “I am […]

Is this the answer to ending extreme poverty?

16 September 2015

Internationally-renowned statistician Professor Hans Rosling asks whether it’s possible to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 in a one-hour BBC programme made in partnership with The Open University. Don’t Panic: How to End Poverty in 15 Years considers whether the goal set by the United Nations (UN) of wiping out ‘extreme poverty’ for almost one billion people […]

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Category: Around the OU