The Open University

Russia’s state broadcaster RT going all-out to boost legitimacy of rigged Duma election

17 September 2021

Written by Precious Chatterje-Doody, Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at The Open University and Ilya Yablokov, Lecturer in Journalism and Digital Media, University of Sheffield. Russia goes to the polls on September 19 to elect a new Duma – the country’s legislature. Russian elections are not known for their unpredictability – United Russia, the […]

Domestic homicides remain stable during lockdown but still an enduring problem says new report commissioned by police

25 August 2021

Domestic homicides remain an ‘entrenched and enduring problem’ despite figures remaining relatively stable during lockdown, a new report drawing on research by an OU academic and commissioned by police has found. ‘Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides During the Covid-19 Pandemic 2020-2021’ is the first report of the Domestic Homicide Project, established by the National […]

Flexibility in the office post Covid: More or less?

16 June 2021

As we emerge from restrictions of the pandemic, many organisations with high levels of office-based staff are considering the extent to which they want to maintain flexibility while also bringing employees back into the workplace. The OU’s Dr Volker Patent, a chartered psychologist and lecturer, specialises in business psychology and coaching. His research focuses on […]

An elderly Rohingya Refugee man looks out upon the devastation caused by the fires that burned down the homes of thousands in April 2021 Photo by Mohamned Zobair

Refugee Week – COVID19: Chronicles from the Margins

14 June 2021

The Open University’s (OU) research project, COVID19: Chronicles from the Margins began as the pandemic engulfed the world in March 2020. It aimed to investigate how diverse migrant groups like, asylum-seekers, refugees, migrant workers and undocumented people have responded to COVID-19, and invited these groups to share their experiences through poems, songs, music, photos, short […]

“Generation Covid” need support to survive job market impact

22 April 2021

As figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics reveal that the under 35s are likely to be disproportionately affected by job cuts as a result of the pandemic, the OU’s senior lecturer in economics Alan Shipman examines the picture behind the figures. Reflecting on earlier crises that have hit youth employment he […]

Suez stranding: Containing the supply chain

7 April 2021

As the movement of ships has now resumed in the Suez Canal since the Ever Given container ship became wedged across the waterway last month, the OU’s Emeritus Professor of politics and global studies Graham Thompson considers what this incident tells us about globalisation in today’s world. Firstly he looks back at a programme made […]

App-y with that: research finds tech is an aid in relationships

23 March 2021

Research funded and led by The Open University is the first to demonstrate how using an App can play an effective role in relationships among couples. A report just published by the OU and the University of Brighton studied use of the relationship app Paired, following its launch last October as part of ongoing research […]

Budget 2021: experts react

4 March 2021

Rishi Sunak has unveiled his second budget as UK chancellor a year into the coronavirus pandemic and during the worst economic collapse in centuries. Our panel of experts offer their views on what he has announced. Edited version of the article to focus on the contribution from Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal […]

Furlough scheme: UK has to extend it, but there are serious risks

26 February 2021

Dr Alan Shipman, senior lecturer in economics at The Open University, writes about the risk surrounding another extension of the UK furlough scheme. Finance ministers usually rejoice when businesses and employees alike both plead for a signature scheme to be extended. But for UK chancellor Rishi Sunak, demands to continue the country’s Coronavirus Job Retention […]

Research reveals support for Scottish reforms among legal professionals

19 February 2021

New research published this week shows support from the legal profession in Scotland to reforming elements of the Scottish jury system. The research, from The Open University (OU) and published in the Journal of Medicine, Science and Law brings fresh input into the ongoing debate over reforms to the historic jury system in Scotland. It […]

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Category: Society and politics