The Open University

Professor Dame Nicola Dandridge to lead post-employment tribunal review

7 May 2024

Professor Dame Nicola Dandridge has been appointed to lead an independent review at The Open University following the ruling of the Employment Tribunal in the case brought by Professor Jo Phoenix earlier this year. Formerly Chief Executive of the Office for Students, Universities UK and the Equality Challenge Unit, Professor Dame Dandridge’s independent review will […]

Photo of Dan Richards standing outside, smiling

Disabled veteran’s life-changing journey and his bid to help others

22 April 2024

Dan Richards is a disabled veteran whose life was turned around thanks to an Open University (OU) scholarship. Dan, 38 living in Lancashire, lost his right arm and shoulder in a motorbike accident in 2009 ending his military career in the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. It was back in the UK, two years after […]

OU Alum Sir David Harrison, one of Universities UK’s 100 faces campaign

15 April 2024

Sir David Harrison, MBA alumnus and Honorary Graduate of The Open University has been named as part of a new campaign led by Universities UK, that promotes 100 faces who were the first in their family to attend higher education. UUK’s ‘100 Faces campaign’ aims to champion and celebrate the positive impact of ‘first-in-the-family’ (FitF) […]

Largest-ever UK report into online violence against women launched at Westminster event, urging for action

21 March 2024

The Open University launches major new report unveiling trends around Online Violence Against Women and Girls in the UK at Houses of Parliament event on Tuesday 19th March Online violence against women and girls is most rife on X/Twitter, followed by Facebook and Instagram Public sentiment supports the criminalisation of online violence against women (OVAW) […]

Scores of disadvantaged students to benefit from free Open University study worth £2.2m

20 March 2024

The Open University continues to offer scholarships to people who face barriers to accessing Higher Education via a new package of funding this year worth £2.2 million. The scholarships are aimed at disabled veterans, carers, people seeking refuge in the UK, Black students and young people who have experienced care. The generosity of donors will […]

City innovation is centre stage thanks to OU and City Council partnership

19 March 2024

Milton Keynes City Council and The Open University (OU) are once again teaming up to promote Milton Keynes as one of the world’s leading smart cities through the hugely successful MK:Smart initiative. Led by the OU and involving more than 20 organisations, MK:Smart began ten years ago to introduce large scale technology trials to Milton […]

Open University launches ‘Challenge Us!’ competition to tackle most pressing societal challenges

15 March 2024

The Open University (OU) is inviting UK charities to join them in addressing society’s most pressing challenges. The Challenge Us! competition aims to bridge the gap between OU researchers and local businesses and charities, encouraging collaboration that will tackle real-world problems. The competition opens today, Friday 15 March, and runs until Wednesday 15 May 2024. […]

Image shows Tim Blackman being presented with the Queen's Anniversary Prize by The Queen at Buckingham Palace

The Queen presents The Open University with Queen’s Anniversary Prize at Buckingham Palace

22 February 2024

The Open University has been presented with a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education by Her Majesty The Queen today at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace. It was announced in November that the OU had been awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its OpenSTEM Labs initiative – the highest national Honour in […]

Image shows the cover of the Open University ESG report cover

Open University report reveals Environmental, Social and Governance skills gap in UK businesses

26 January 2024

Dr Victoria Hands, Director of Sustainability at the Open University, discusses the skills gap in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) within UK businesses on the latest Sustainability Uncovered podcast. The OU surveyed more than 500 businesses in 2023, and published findings that revealed four in five UK businesses face an ESG skills gaps. While 75% […]