OU News

News from The Open University

  1. Home
  2. Category: Honorary Graduate

Category: Honorary Graduate

Michael wearing graduation gown and blue glasses, looking at the camera with a background of plant leaves.

‘The OU gives you the tools to embrace who you are, and how you connect with the world’

When celebrated historian and Arts and Humanities graduate Michael, 72, received an invitation from The Open University (OU) to become an honorary graduate, he was so stunned he thought it was a prank! Now a proud Doctor of the University he regards as one of the “greatest British institutions”, Michael describes what the OU means […]

Read more about ‘The OU gives you the tools to embrace who you are, and how you connect with the world’

Charity retail changemaker awarded prestigious honour by The Open University

Charity retail changemaker awarded prestigious honour by The Open University

Dedicating a career spanning more than 30 years to charity retail, Maria Chenoweth has been awarded The Open University’s prestigious degree of Honorary Doctor, in recognition of her lifelong work championing the social and environmental benefits of second-hand fashion. From leaving school without any formal qualifications to becoming a transformative force in the charity retail […]

Read more about Charity retail changemaker awarded prestigious honour by The Open University

Distinguished author and Nobel Laureate is awarded honorary degree

Distinguished author and Nobel Laureate is awarded honorary degree

Distinguished Zanzibar-born author and Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, who has been celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The Open University. He won global recognition in 2021 for becoming the first African writer in 30 years to receive the Nobel Prize for literature. It resulted in many earlier […]

Read more about Distinguished author and Nobel Laureate is awarded honorary degree

Honour for racial inequality activist and campaigner Lord Simon Woolley

Honour for racial inequality activist and campaigner Lord Simon Woolley

Activist and campaigner Lord Simon Woolley, who has devoted his life to tackling racial inequality in British politics and society, has just received an honorary doctorate from The Open University. One of the many achievements of Lord Woolley, who was adopted at the age of two and grew up on a council estate in Leicester, […]

Read more about Honour for racial inequality activist and campaigner Lord Simon Woolley

Comedic novelist’s award in recognition of his life’s work

Comedic novelist’s award in recognition of his life’s work

Celebrated novelist and academic Howard Jacobson has been awarded an honorary degree for his life’s work and contribution to British literature – reinventing the comic novel for the modern age. The Manchester-born academic was made a Doctor of The Open University at one of its degree ceremonies – this one in the city’s Bridgewater Hall […]

Read more about Comedic novelist’s award in recognition of his life’s work

Photo of Emily Hollis in her graduation robes

Inspirational education leader awarded honorary Open University degree

Emily Hollis MBE has been awarded an honorary degree from The Open University (OU) for devoting her career to promoting educational inclusion and raising standards for all. A distinguished educator, and passionate advocate for inclusion, Emily was presented with the honorary degree of Master of the University for her services to education and culture at […]

Read more about Inspirational education leader awarded honorary Open University degree

Michael wearing graduation gown and blue glasses, looking at the camera with a background of plant leaves.

Historian who challenged the view of Black British history is honoured

A pioneering Black historian whose research has transformed the nation’s understanding of our Black British history has been awarded an honorary degree from The Open University and confessed he is “unashamedly woke” . A delighted Michael Ohajuru made the comments as he accepted his Doctor of the University award, for all that he has accomplished, […]

Read more about Historian who challenged the view of Black British history is honoured

Bereaved mother’s honour for helping others

Bereaved mother’s honour for helping others

Grief and trauma therapist Lucy Herd has been awarded an honorary doctorate from The Open University for devoting her life to ensuring grieving parents receive support from employers after the loss of a child. Jack’s Law, in honour of Lucy’s son who tragically died in 2010 just before he was two, has created a new […]

Read more about Bereaved mother’s honour for helping others

Menopause and ethics expert receives accolade from The Open University

Menopause and ethics expert receives accolade from The Open University

An expert in women’s reproductive and post-reproductive health has been awarded an honorary degree by The Open University (OU). Among hundreds of published works by Professor Margaret Rees are more than 20 textbooks – several of which have gone on to win awards from the British Medical Association. In accepting the award Professor Rees said: […]

Read more about Menopause and ethics expert receives accolade from The Open University

NASA scientist is awarded an OU honorary degree

NASA scientist is awarded an OU honorary degree

A NASA scientist who has been part of the space exploration teams of our solar system for three decades has been awarded an honorary degree by The Open University at a recent graduation ceremony in Manchester. As part of a team, Dr Ashwin Vasavada has helped mankind visit Jupiter, Saturn, Earth’s Moon and the surface […]

Read more about NASA scientist is awarded an OU honorary degree

Page 1 of 3