The Open University

The Sun: study shows it’s less active than sibling stars – here’s what that could mean

1 May 2020

Andrew Norton, Professor of Astrophysics Education at The Open University, writes about the magnetic activity on the Sun and what this could mean. All stars emit varying amounts of light over time – and the Sun is no exception. Such changes in starlight can help us understand how habitable any planets around other stars are […]

How OU students are making a difference during global pandemic

30 April 2020

OU students work so hard and the university is incredibly proud of them for studying while juggling full-time jobs, childcare and other responsibilities. On top of that, many have been playing a supporting role in the fight against Coronavirus, helping local and wider communities. From working on the frontline to creating resources to help with […]

Surge in visitors to OU’s online counselling advice course

29 April 2020

Academics at the OU have received overwhelming support for their expertise in providing assistance to counsellors needing to move their services online in the current lockdown. Counselling of all kinds, dealing with mental health, abuse, anxiety, bereavement and relationship advice among other things, has been quickly moved to digital platforms to permit continuity for clients. […]

Open University joins Government’s scheme to share free learning

28 April 2020

Free courses from The Open University (OU) will feature on a new online learning platform the UK Government is launching today (Tuesday April 28) to help boost the nation’s skills while people are staying at home. The Skills Toolkit has been launched today by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to give people access to free, top […]

Escape with the sounds of nature – Forest 404 Experiment returns for a second run

27 April 2020

An exciting national experiment reopens today, aiming to shed light on how listening to nature could impact wellbeing. In collaboration with The Open University’s nQuire platform, BBC Radio 4 and the University of Exeter, one of the biggest investigations ever conducted into the therapeutic effects of sound returns and is launching alongside Forest 404, a […]

OU develops world’s first COVID-19 digital immunity passport

24 April 2020

Tech experts from The Open University (OU) have developed the world’s first digital application to certify COVID-19 immunity test results. Researchers from the OU’s Knowledge Media Institute have created a prototype mobile phone app that enables instant verification of tamper-proof coronavirus test results and vaccination certificates. Immunity passports backed by government In recent weeks, the […]

Learning links around the world thanks to OU and FutureLearn

22 April 2020

A free course to help teachers and instructors move learning online during the pandemic has attracted a huge following around the globe on The Open University’s part-owned FutureLearn site. How to Teach Online: Providing Continuity for Students is a three-week course that is attracting massive audiences and great engagement from all across the world, united […]

“Remember that you are a person as well as a carer” – applications remain open for the OU’s Carers Scholarships Fund

20 April 2020

With a reported 6.5 million people providing unpaid support for a family member or friend, it’s important now more than ever that we recognise the incredible work of the caring community. Last month, The Open University opened applications for its Carers Scholarships Fund, which offers the opportunity for 50 current or recent carers to study […]

OU leads the way with £1 million software engineering project

20 April 2020

Researchers from The Open University (OU) spearhead a £1 million project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), to change the culture of software engineering. The socio-technical resilience in software development project, also known as STRIDE, will challenge the focus of software engineering on automation and new technologies, to put people at […]

New, Earth-sized planet found in habitable zone

15 April 2020

A team of scientists from around the world have discovered an Earth-size exoplanet orbiting in its star’s habitable zone, the area around a star where a rocky planet could support liquid water. Scientists from The Open University, NASA, University of Texas, SETI Institute and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics discovered a new planet, called Kepler-1649c, […]

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