The Open University

New guidance challenges myths on sex and relationships for young people with limited lifespans

2 December 2015

Assistance for supporting young people with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions who want to explore their sexuality and develop relationships is offered to practitioners in a new comprehensive OU-published guide in partnership with the charity Together for Short Lives. The publication, launched this week, gives guidance and standards for health, social care and education practitioners who […]

Will Davis Cup victory spur on a new generation of British tennis stars?

1 December 2015

After a 79-year wait, Great Britain’s Davis Cup win was an emotional day for the country’s tennis fans, players and, in particular, Andy Murray. Having won all eight of his singles matches in the tournament – a record that matches the likes of John McEnroe and Mats Wilander – he was instrumental in ensuring victory. […]

AIDS Awareness Red Ribbon. Image credit: Thinkstock

Charlie Sheen, Rock Hudson and the changing face of HIV stigma

24 November 2015

Charlie Sheen’s recent disclosure that he is HIV positive echoes a similar announcement made by another movie star, Rock Hudson 30 years ago – and it’s interesting to compare the two cases. Both tried unsuccessfully to conceal their HIV status. Hudson was betrayed by his appearance: he was visibly unwell and his disclosure came just […]

Bilingual pupils – a rich resource for future says OU academic

12 November 2015

There are now more than 1.1 million children in our schools whose first language “is known or believed to be other than English” according to the latest government figures. This confirms a continuous upwards trend that shows no sign of abating. Many of the 300 or so languages spoken in schools have relatively few […]

Pioneering Alzheimer’s research could help find new treatments

21 October 2015

A leading dementia researcher at the OU has secured nearly £370k of funding from Alzheimer’s Research UK for a ground-breaking new research project which may pave the way for new treatments. Dr Cheryl Hawkes and her team are studying how a protein called amyloid is cleared from blood vessels in the brain and how this […]

Why carers are disadvantaged even when their responsibilities end

20 October 2015

Recognition of carers and their vital role in society has never been greater. However, despite being the subject of a series of policy initiatives over the past 30 years – the Care Act 2014 being the latest – carers continue to be profoundly disadvantaged. There is an extensive body of evidence about the multidimensional, adverse […]

Refugees walking along with their belongings. Image credit:Thinkstock

OU and British Council ensure Syria’s refugees don’t leave education behind

25 September 2015

Classes set up by The Open University and The British Council are helping displaced Syrian refugees continue with their studies and develop new skills which will help with their resettlement. Around 3,000 Syrians and disadvantaged Jordanian students are accessing English, French and German lessons in Jordan and Lebanon and 300 of the highest achievers can progress […]

Polluted host cities are putting our champion athletes at risk

10 September 2015

At the recent Athletic World Championships in Beijing, not only did the athletes have to train for heat and humidity, they were also faced with competing in one of the world’s most polluted cities. Unfortunately, coping with poor air quality is nothing new for the world’s top athletes. As the world looks forward to next […]

The trouble with teenagers: it stems from what they learn about friendship in school

28 August 2015

I visited a Norwegian secondary school a couple of years ago and met a young man who had been identified as having profound and multiple emotional, physical and behavioural difficulties. In the summer, as part of his school day, this teenager would go swimming, cycling and climbing; in the winter, he went skiing. He had […]

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Category: Education, languages and health