The Open University

Budget 2017: Reducing VAT threshold is a stealthy tax rise for small businesses

21 November 2017

Ahead of this year’s Autumn Budget, we asked OU lecturer in personal finance, Jonquil Lowe, about one of the key issues expected to come up – what the anticipated reduction in the VAT threshold will mean, if you have a small business or are self-employed. Jonquil’s thoughts ahead of Budget 2017 “Self-employment is often a […]

From Ayurveda to biomedicine: understanding the human body

20 November 2017

What is a human body? This may seem a facetious question, but the answer will be very different according to which medical tradition you consult. Take Ayurveda, a traditional system of medical knowledge from India which has enjoyed a renaissance of popularity in the West since the 1980s – and is the subject of a […]

Online cheating: new resource to support those affected

6 November 2017

In the light and shade of today’s internet, there are some who blame the world wide web for creating more relationship problems and increasing online cheating. Whilst there is currently no clear research evidence to suggest that internet infidelity is on the rise, the rapid growth of the internet and social networking means there are […]

Catalonia declares independence – and Spain enters uncharted territory

30 October 2017

Shortly after Catalonia’s parliament in Barcelona voted to declare independence from Spain on October 27, the senate in Madrid voted to trigger Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, removing Catalonia’s autonomy. In his speech to the senate requesting that deputies approve the proposal, the Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy justified his request in the face […]

Brexit, academic freedom and where the law stands on universities being quizzed about what they teach

26 October 2017

It started with a letter. A seemingly simple request for information, sent by the Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris to university vice-chancellors. But you don’t even have to read between the lines before alarm bells start to ring, because in the letter, Heaton-Harris requests access to university course documents as well as the names of professors […]

Harvey Weinstein, Sexual Harassment and 21st Century Living

25 October 2017

Senior lecturer in psychology Lisa Lazard writes about sexual harassment and today’s society: Over the last year, the topic of sexual harassment seems rarely out of the news. The case of Harvey Weinstein is the most recent in a series of high profile sexual harassment cases that have been brought to public attention in 2017. In reverse […]

Five vital things you can’t do properly when you’re on your phone

12 October 2017

In a recent RAC survey, 26% of UK 1,700 motorists reported using a handheld mobile phone while driving, despite it being illegal. In response, road safety charity Brake, argued that society’s phone “addiction” can have very serious consequences. A quick online search throws up many articles suggesting that people are “glued” to their smartphones and […]

Explainer: what you need to know about Catalonia

9 October 2017

Expert in Spanish Politics, Dr Georgina Blakeley, who is Director of Teaching (Politics) at The Open University, explains the background to Catalonia’s calls for independence, which in recent weeks have rarely been out of the headlines, as a referendum and rallies showed the turmoil of a divided nation. About Catalonia Catalonia is a region in the […]

Seven fails by drivers on hands-free mobiles

9 October 2017

Using hand-held mobile phones in cars is illegal for drivers, and many people have turned to using hands-free mobiles as a safe option – but there’s mounting evidence this is just as dangerous, with drivers using their phones four times more likely to crash. Psychology expert Dr Gemma Briggs has been studying the distraction of […]

India in Britain – celebrating a shared heritage

26 September 2017

A major touring exhibition based on research from the OU and the University of Exeter to celebrate the long history of the Indian presence in Britain and its impact on British life has been shortlisted for an Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award 2018. “At the Heart of the Nation” exhibition is one of […]

OU News

Category: Arts and social sciences