The Open University

Attention to mental health is thrust of OU’s latest online short course

18 September 2020

The latest in a suite of short online courses to help get learning and teaching online has been launched by The Open University (OU) on its FutureLearn platform. Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum follows hot on the heels of two earlier short accredited courses – called microcredentials – by the OU which […]

OU research could improve mobility of Huntington’s patients

17 September 2020

A case study conducted by The Open University (OU) has found that wearable haptic devices – technology similar to a mobile phone vibrating at a set rhythm – could improve the mobility of people living with Huntington’s Disease. OU PhD student Riasat Islam and former OU PhD student Dr Theodoros Georgiou, used haptic rhythmic cueing […]

Open University report shows key skills gaps remain as businesses plan for recovery

16 September 2020

Since 2017, The Open University Business Barometer has provided detailed insights into the UK skills landscape, looking at the impacts across regions, nations and sectors. This year’s report, which is released in a completely new business context, is based on a survey of 1,000 business leaders representing organisations of all sizes. The report found that […]

Venus: could it really harbour life? New study springs a surprise

15 September 2020

Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, at The Open University speaks on the landmark discovery of phosphine, a rare gas, on Venus and whether this latest discovery could point to extraterrestrial life on the planet. Earth’s sister planet, Venus, has not been regarded as a high priority in the search for life. Its […]

Groundbreaking discovery could signal life on Venus

14 September 2020

Scientists from across the globe, including Dr Helen Fraser of The Open University, have detected a rare gas – phosphine – in the clouds of Venus. The landmark discovery could point to extra-terrestrial ‘aerial’ life on the planet. For decades, the scientific community has speculated that high clouds on Venus could offer a home for […]

Academic insight: Behind the mask

14 September 2020

This year has seen the world change in ways we never could have imagined: socially distancing from friends and loved ones, remote working implemented across the UK, washing and sanitising our hands for more than 20 seconds, and now wearing face coverings in supermarkets and shops. But how will this new measure affect the way […]

Paramedic Lyn shares her journey to becoming a non-medical prescriber

8 September 2020

As a qualified paramedic, the non-medical prescribing (NMP) programme has enabled Lyn to take on additional responsibilities in assessing and prescribing medication for patients within her role. Extending prescribing responsibilities to paramedics and other qualified healthcare professionals has benefits for both the NHS and service users, such as making better use of healthcare professionals’ skills […]

Academic insight: Will handwashing impact the development of early years?

3 September 2020

This week saw the return to school for many children in the UK. But, with COVID-19 still a widespread risk to our health, can handwashing be implemented in the routine of early years without disrupting their development? Dr Jackie Musgrave, Programme Leader in Early Childhood at The Open University shares her thoughts. I have to […]

OU partners with University of Oxford to improve support for older people with learning disabilities

1 September 2020

The Open University and The University of Oxford have been awarded £900,000 by the National Institute for Health (NIHR) to investigate how to improve support for older people with learning disabilities and their family carers. The project is funded through a specific call issued by the NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) programme for […]

Prescribing the ‘cherry on top’ of a successful nursing career

1 September 2020

Non-medical prescribing (NMP) enables nurses, midwives and other allied health professionals to take on additional responsibilities to prescribe medicines for patients. NMP has several benefits for the NHS, including better utilising the skills of healthcare professionals and improving care for service users. Claire started her nursing journey in Glasgow where she completed her training, before […]

OU News