The Open University

Man sitting on a bench with his two daughters

‘The OU was there when life seemed impossible’

26 January 2021

Richard Dicks began studying with The Open University as a way to cope when his daughter Ella was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Though life seemed impossible at times, Richard says being able to study gave him something positive to focus on and that he found strength in Ella’s determination to keep smiling despite the […]

Talking education: school manager Syed shares his “lightbulb moment”

26 January 2021

A boarding school manager from Birmingham talks about the “lightbulb moment” he realised his career ambition in a new podcast series, hosted by presenter Gemma Cairney. Life … On Our Terms is an eight-episode podcast series from The Open University (OU) discussing a range of topics about life and the inspiring routes to success taken […]

Analyst by day and student by night, Abiola shares his story with Gemma Cairney

22 January 2021

An inspiring data analyst from Greenwich, South East London, is the latest guest on a brand-new podcast series starting this month, hosted by broadcaster Gemma Cairney. Life … On Our Terms is an eight-episode podcast series from The Open University (OU) discussing a range of topics about life and the routes to success taken by […]

Will Trump loom large over Biden’s early days?

20 January 2021

A very different US presidential inauguration happened in Washington on Wednesday January 20th 2021, as Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States. Historian Dr Sinead McEneaney, lecturer and staff tutor at the OU, talks about the day and indeed what to expect from the next 100 days from both President Joe Biden […]

OU partners with BBC World Service on ambitious new radio series

19 January 2021

An ambitious radio series starts tomorrow (20 January) on BBC World Service. Co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s (OU) Broadcast and Partnerships team, Project 17 looks at the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals through the eyes of seventeen,17-year-olds from 17 different countries. Just over five years after the goals were created with […]

TV cameras return to Cornwall to explore its fishing life

18 January 2021

The beauty of Cornwall and the fishing tales of generations of fishermen are captured in a brand new six-part BBC/OU co-produced series this month. Cornwall: This Fishing Life is back for a new series where the past 12 months have seen the impact of two hugely challenging issues for this far flung county: Brexit and […]

6 top tips for honing productivity

14 January 2021

It can be difficult staying productive at the best of times, especially in the middle of a pandemic – so we asked our community of OU students – and a tutor – to share their top tips for honing productivity. Here’s what they came up with… 1. Find the right time to study Everyone works […]

How an obscure 1909 novella that foretold the internet can guide us through the latest lockdown

12 January 2021

Dan Taylor, Lecturer in Social and Political Thought at The Open University writes for The Conversation about how literature can provide us with guidance about living through lockdown. For most people the latest national lockdown means uncertainty: precarious jobs and incomes, concerns about the safety of loved ones, and – for many parents – the difficulty […]

OU-funded research to tackle social isolation in hospice settings

12 January 2021

It’s no secret that Covid-19 is having a devastating impact on the lives of patients in care homes and hospices. The threat of the virus has forced providers to keep patients isolated from loved ones for their own safety, but this has led to a decline in mental health, an increase in anxiety and even […]

Pandemic prompts rise of creative ambition, OU survey finds

8 January 2021

Six in ten of us took up something creative in 2020 Most popular activity was reading for pleasure (30%) Nearly 20% found ways to learn a new subject Turning to study proved popular among those aged 18-34 Results reveal motivation to give things a try in lockdown Reading, writing, DIY or watching online videos, it […]

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