The Open University

Three exceptional individuals honoured at OU degree ceremony in London

30 September 2022

A disability rights campaigner, a champion of life-long learning, and a musician who is diversifying the world of classical music, all received honorary degrees from The Open University in ceremonies at the Barbican Centre. Over four thousand guests and 1,200 graduates gathered in the Grade II listed building in the City of London for four […]

The rise and fall of Topshop. OU/BBC series lifts the lid on iconic brand’s fall from grace

26 September 2022

The story of how a huge fashion brand fell dramatically to earth is the subject of a new two-part OU/BBC co–production. Through the testimony of insiders as well as fashion and investigative journalists, Trouble at Topshop explores how the brand is transformed by a group of young, talented, and creative women, into a mecca for […]

OU publishes new whitepaper to help businesses encourage social mobility

20 September 2022

The Open University (OU) has collaborated with TrainingZone to publish a new whitepaper which highlights the importance of Learning and Development teams in enabling social mobility. The author is Jessica Leigh Jones MBE, a multi-award-winning engineer and entrepreneur based in Wales. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of iungo Solutions, a technology start-up developing immersive […]

Cost-of-living crisis – greatest challenge for 40 years says academic

8 August 2022

The Bank of England has raised rates, a recession is looming and cost-of-living issues are dominating the headlines. Martin Upton is a senior lecturer in finance at The Open University, who spent 17 years working in the financial services industry before moving into academia. Here, he warns people against ill-judged decisions through the cost-of-living crisis […]

‘Alternative’ weddings could become legally binding – report

29 July 2022

An Open University academic’s research has helped pave the way for the possibility of ‘alternative-style’ weddings becoming legally binding in England and Wales. Celebrants from non-religious belief organisations, such as humanists, already conduct legally binding weddings in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. If you attended a really personalised wedding-style ceremony this year, it was probably conducted […]

OU drives forward new skills routes with transport and logistics sector

28 July 2022

A new partnership between The Open University and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT(UK)) has been announced to develop strategic and leadership skills within the sector. The OU’s Business School already delivers an established MBA (Master of Business Administration) qualification and has a global network of more than 100,000 alumni […]

Inflation, recession fears and tax cuts: any new UK chancellor faces an unenviable in-tray

8 July 2022

Alan Shipman, Senior Lecturer in Economic at The Open University and Phil Tomlinson, Professor of Industrial Strategy at Bath University, talk about the range of ministerial resignations in Boris Johnson’s government and the unenviable job of the new chancellor. The flood of ministerial resignations from UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s government in recent days started […]

It’s tough going for UK businesses, finds the OU’s 2022 Business Barometer

29 June 2022

According to The Open University’s Business Barometer 2022, published in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, UK organisations are experiencing the knock-on effect of ongoing skills shortages and recruitment challenges. The OU’s annual report provides a temperature check on the UK skills landscape and found more than three quarters (78%) are seeing reduced output, […]

Joy for academic on news of her OBE in Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours

27 June 2022

An academic from The Open University’s Business School has just learned she is to receive an OBE for her work promoting Black history and heritage. Joyce Fraser (Joyce King to her OU colleagues) founded the Black Heroes Foundation in memory of her late husband ‘Flip’ Fraser, the first editor of The Voice newspaper (a publication […]

Our daily bread – how craft bakers fared during the pandemic and what happens now

22 June 2022

As the cost of living continues to rise researchers at The Open University (OU) are looking into how craft bakers are faring in an uncertain future. Emma Bell, Professor of Organisation Studies at the OU, has launched a survey to see how they are responding to today’s challenging market and what kind of support they […]

OU News

Category: Business and law