The Open University

The UK’s suspension of some arms exports to Israel was highly political – here’s how to understand it

5 September 2024

Jamie Gaskarth, Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations at The Open University explains the politics behind the UK’s suspension of the arms export licence. The UK government has announced it is suspending 30 arms export licences to Israel for military equipment used in operations in Gaza. The rationale for this decision was “the clear […]

Kyle looking aside from the camera, smiling with floral wallpaper behind him.

‘My confidence is the best it’s ever been, thanks to the OU’

29 August 2024

Hampered by low confidence, Kyle, 36, rejected the place he was offered at a campus university, despite his lifelong dream of achieving a degree. Now studying Arts and Humanities at The Open University (OU), Kyle shares how a promise to his late nan gave him the strength to fulfil his potential and unleash an insatiable […]

A young women with long blonde hair and a flower crown, smiles at the camera.

‘Every person I have met online has been so friendly, helpful and inspiring’

26 August 2024

At 19 years old, Izzy wanted to achieve a degree but knew ‘going away’ to university wasn’t right for her. She shares how studying flexibly from home with The Open University (OU) fit her lifestyle and career goals. Izzy, now 21, said, “I was lost on what to do, knowing I didn’t want to attend […]

A more varied diet would help the world’s economy as well as its health

20 August 2024

The Open University’s Professor of Environment and Development Shonil Bhagwat and Emmanuel Junior Zuza, Senior Lecturer, from the Royal Agricultural University, reveal their research on how the health and wealth of the world’s economy could change for the better with a more varied diet. More than 75% of the food consumed in the world today […]

Darren Harris wearing Paralympic kit, sunglasses, facing the camera and holding a gold cap to show 100 caps for the England blind football team.

‘OU study taught me a lot about myself,’ says dual Paralympian Darren Harris

18 August 2024

As excitement builds for the Paris Paralympic Games, we caught up with Darren who, whilst competing in two separate Paralympic disciplines, completed a Psychology Conversion Course with The Open University (OU). Darren reflects how the flexibility of OU study made it possible to juggle the demands of training with an intensive postgraduate programme, in a […]

Five books with musical backdrops if you are inspired by the BBC Proms season

15 August 2024

Are you enriched by the Proms season? Check out the five book choices of The Open University’s Dr Joanne Reardon, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. These tales feature the melodious golden threads of music and musical instruments as varied as the BBC Proms itself. From classical and opera to jazz and folk, these intensely human […]

Three steps to talking to a loved one at risk of being radicalised into rioting

15 August 2024

Psychologist and Post-Doctorial Researcher Dr Anthony English says there are ways you can identify if someone is at risk of being radicalised into rioting and three steps you can take that may help them think again. For some, the shocking scenes of violence which have erupted across dozens of locations in England and Northern Ireland […]

How a person’s accent might influence court cases

14 August 2024

An Open University academic has conducted an intriguing test for the BBC’s Morning Live programme on how the accents of people in a courtroom might influence judges and juries. Lara Frumkin is a Professor of Psychology at the OU and conducted the test in a short film, one of six OU/BBC films made in co-production […]

Worried about someone you know becoming extreme in their political views? Academic research is here to help

14 August 2024

In the wake of rioting far-right activists causing mayhem throughout the UK, The Open University is sharing research that could help someone worried about a family member or loved one participating in similar future events. The findings can help assess if someone has extreme views and is the result of an OU psychology team currently […]