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Category: Arts and social sciences

“You can achieve if you put your mind to it” – how Gareth studied while travelling the world

“You can achieve if you put your mind to it” – how Gareth studied while travelling the world

At the age of 19, Gareth Hand from Derbyshire was working as a teaching assistant in a secondary school. His dream of becoming a Music teacher meant he needed a degree, but with a mortgage to pay and a very busy musical life performing as a percussionist all over the world from Dubai to Singapore, […]

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Research recommends united action to attract more women into IT leadership

Research recommends united action to attract more women into IT leadership

 An OU research project finds there are continuing barriers to overcome to get women better represented in highly-skilled positions in UK Information Technology (IT), with lessons to be learned from their counterparts in India. The global IT sector is characterised by low participation of women, with the UK being no exception. Many attempts have been […]

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Reaching out

How to measure happiness

Finland is the happiest country in the world, according to the annual World Happiness Report, with the UK ranked 19th this year (2018).  But the report shows that countries with a higher GDP, such as the USA – ranked 18th; China – in 86th place; and Japan – 54th – don’t automatically have a happier […]

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Sharenting: why mothers post about their children on social media

Sharenting: why mothers post about their children on social media

On Mother’s Day, social media feeds are often full of celebration. Facebook reported that in 2017, Mother’s Day “drove more posts in a single day than any other topic on Facebook in the last year”. For some countries, Facebook even created a temporary emoji – the purple flower – so people could fully express their […]

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Homeless people could avoid life-saving services, if there’s a risk of deportation

Homeless people could avoid life-saving services, if there’s a risk of deportation

As the UK was hit by snow and freezing temperatures last week, more beds in shelters were made available, and people in England and Wales were advised to use the StreetLink app and helpline to report rough sleepers. The project sets out to ensure that no one in a wealthy country dies of cold because […]

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Women's rally

Sexual violence may be in the Hollywood spotlight, but there are limits to speaking out

The entertainment award season hits its peak with the 90th Academy Awards – the Oscars – on March 4 2018. Since the public outing of Harvey Weinstein as a serial sexual abuser, award ceremonies have become spotlights to display solidarity and declare time on sexual harassment and gender inequalities in and beyond the film industry. […]

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5 of the top orchestral film scores of all time

5 of the top orchestral film scores of all time

Whether it’s the haunting theme from Schindler’s List or the magical motif from Harry Potter, there’s no doubt that film scores are hugely evocative and an integral part of the cinema experience. Dr Ben Winters is a Senior Lecturer in Music, an expert in Hollywood film music, and can often be found digging through manuscripts […]

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Burger eaten by young boy

Children are far from protected from junk food ads – especially on social media

From spreading fake news, to fostering narcissism and online bullying, social media is under increasing fire. The question of how to harness its potential while limiting negative effects is one of the biggest of our age. And its effects on children’s physical and mental health is perhaps one of the greatest challenges. Yet among all […]

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Man reading a book with a dog

9 books about dogs

It’s the Chinese year of the dog, so why not add a book about dogs to your reading list? Dr Alex Hobbs, Associate Lecturer on the AA100: The Arts Past and Present and EA300: Children’s Literature module, has hand-picked these nine canine-led page-turners. Warning: some titles may induce weeping! 1) The Art of Racing in […]

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Food, donation

The Oxfam Case: Why are we so outraged?

As headlines persist in the controversy surrounding Oxfam, Professor Helen Yanacopulos Director, Development Policy and Practice, takes a candid and honest look at what has prompted the ongoing furore. “The last thing I want is to be an apologist for badly behaved people exploiting others,” said Professor Yanacopulos, “but I have to admit I’m surprised that […]

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