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Category: Society and politics

Ukraine’s air strikes on Russian air fields “strategically important”: academic opinion

Ukraine’s air strikes on Russian air fields “strategically important”: academic opinion

As Russia has been left counting the cost of multiple Ukrainian drone strikes on its air fields over the weekend, Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at The Open University, focuses on three key factors in this latest stage of the war. The first key point is that these were the […]

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The UK might have accepted the idea of youth mobility with the EU, but it’s not happening any time soon

The UK might have accepted the idea of youth mobility with the EU, but it’s not happening any time soon

The language might be dry, but the political shift is significant says Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics & International Studies, The Open University. Monday’s summit between the UK and EU leaders in London resulted in an acknowledgement of the “mutual interest to deepen our people-to-people ties, particularly for the younger generation”. This announcement is an important […]

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Westminster launch of Mumentum campaign

OU tackles workplace barriers to support mothers’ career re-entry

New evidence review from The Open University highlights 10 key barriers that hinder working mothers, spotlighting the ongoing ‘motherhood penalty’ Practical toolkits for employers and mothers are launched at an event with opening remarks delivered by Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP to support mothers and primary care givers returning to work Partnership with the […]

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A young blonde woman, wearing a mortar board and holding a certificate, in front of a sea-view with mountains in the distance.

‘The OU allowed me to fit my studies in a schedule that worked for me,’ says busy working mum

Rebecca, 37, from the Isle of Ulva in Scotland, always had an interest in higher education but didn’t want to leave the beloved island she calls home. It wasn’t until she was 27 and a busy working mum of two children that she discovered The Open University (OU). Through her BA (Honours) Politics, Philosophy and […]

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Westminster and the River Thames

Spring statement: defence spending boosted as further disability benefit cuts announced

Not even six months on from Labour’s first budget, and the world is a much-changed place. Geopolitical tensions and uncertainties, already high last year, have risen further, and with them the cost of the UK’s debt, while economic growth has stalled. As such, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confronted an array of unpalatable choices – notably […]

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tower block, social housing

Why the social pain of welfare reform overshadows any economic gain

The UK government is calling it the “biggest shakeup to the welfare system in a generation” – prompted by what the Prime Minister described as the “devastating” cost of sickness and disability benefits.  Alan Shipman, Senior Lecturer in Economics, writing in The Conversation, says planned reforms to cut those costs are designed to save £5 […]

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Pot of coins. Photo: Josh Appel, Unsplash

Five things you need to know about: releasing trapped pension surpluses

In a bid to fuel-inject the economy and provide opportunity for growth, the UK Government is intending to announce plans to make it easier to tap into the surplus funds lying in corporate pension schemes. Following an earlier heads-up about this intention, we can expect the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reveal more in the coming […]

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person studying. image: Unseen Studio, Unsplash.

Reducing reoffending rates: Open University awarded UK government contract to provide education in secure environments across England and Wales

OU has been awarded a contract to continue delivering transformative HE education Education is a key aspect of rehabilitation to help end cycle of reoffending Evidence highlights the correlation between education and reducing reoffending The Open University (OU) will continue to deliver life-changing education to those serving in prisons, after successfully securing a new contract […]

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Criminologist’s joy that funding will highlight a dark part of Lancashire’s history

Criminologist’s joy that funding will highlight a dark part of Lancashire’s history

An Open University criminologist Dr David Scott could never have imagined that a walk in the park with his new rescued dog five years ago would lead to unearthing a massacre in Lancashire that the world forgot. Now, he’s just secured £170,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to commemorate the bicentennial of a bloody […]

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BBC’s Forensics: The Real CSI shows the specialised work of police and forensic teams investigating a violent crime

BBC’s Forensics: The Real CSI shows the specialised work of police and forensic teams investigating a violent crime

The Open University has once again teamed up with the BBC for another episode of Forensics: The Real CSI that shows the work of police forensic teams investigating a woman’s death. The episode, titled ‘Murder in a Brothel’, airs at 9pm on Sunday, 2 March, on BBC Two and iPlayer, and will be available on […]

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