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News from The Open University

OpenLearn launches hub to offer fresh perspectives on race, racism and ethnicity

OpenLearn launches hub to offer fresh perspectives on race, racism and ethnicity

The Open University’s free learning site, OpenLearn has today launched a new hub page to offer fresh perspectives on race, racism and ethnicity. The Race and Ethnicity Hub will host existing and new content, including articles, videos, audio recordings and courses, which draw on expertise from across the OU’s core faculty areas. With support from […]

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Coronavirus is no longer seen as high risk by many – and that’s undermining control measures

Coronavirus is no longer seen as high risk by many – and that’s undermining control measures

Victoria Murphy, Postdoctoral Researcher in Professional Learning in Uncertainty at The Open University discusses why people are not following  Coronavirus guidelines and what the implications are. During the era of US prohibition, illegal speakeasies thrived. And while the UK socially distances, there are similar reports of secret parties and raves today. Beyond such gatherings, there […]

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OU receives £1 million to support small businesses across Scotland

A £1 million grant has been awarded to The Open University in Scotland to support small to medium-sized businesses with skills training to boost productivity and growth in response to Covid-19. The new funding announced today by Scottish Government Business, Fair Work and Skills Minister Jamie Hepburn will enable small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to […]

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OU offers free digital course to Lancashire and Greater Manchester residents

OU offers free digital course to Lancashire and Greater Manchester residents

People across Lancashire and Greater Manchester have a chance to retrain to become a tech engineer for free with The Open University (OU). The OU is offering residents across Lancashire and Greater Manchester the opportunity to upskill and make a career change into the technology sector. DevOpsSkills, a 20-week part-time course, developed by The Open […]

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The Open University joins The 5% Club to further drive earn and learn opportunities

The Open University (OU) is joining The 5% Club, an employer-led movement which champions investment in the next generation through workplace training. The initiative, which boasts a huge range of industry and businesses as members, was established by Leo Quinn, Group CEO of Balfour Beatty, to create a shared prosperity across the UK by driving, […]

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A creative education – a writer’s insight           

Dr Ed Hogan, Lecturer in Creative Writing at The Open University, and a successful novelist, offers an insight into the reality of being a writer and finding inspiration in unlikely places… Where do you get your ideas from? Often, writers hate that question. Is it because it might lead to an uncomfortable revelation? Did they […]

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hand seen writing on a notepad while sat outside

8 cheats and tricks for sparking writing ideas 

Moments of intense inspiration – when the whole story arrives fully formed and sends you sprinting to your desk – are rare for most writers. Much of the time, we have to rely on tricks and cheats to get the words flowing. Dr Ed Hogan, Lecturer in Creative Writing, offers some advice, if you’re struggling […]

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Could you be a creative writer?

Could you be a creative writer?

The short answer is yes. Anyone can develop skill in writing fiction; most of us were happy making up simple stories when we were children, just as we were confident about painting pictures. As we get older, we lose some of that artistic intuition, and feel as if the creative arts are the province of […]

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Three ways Flash Fiction can help your future writing

Three ways Flash Fiction can help your future writing

Dr Sally O’Reilly, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, offers further insight on how to get your creative writing juices flowing if you are taking part in our #OU50words flash fiction competition… Writing flash fiction is useful for anyone wanting to develop as a fiction writer. It enables you to produce short pieces of finished work […]

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Hospital returns to our screens with a first-hand experience of the pandemic

Hospital returns to our screens with a first-hand experience of the pandemic

Tonight, sees the return of the award-winning Hospital, the eye-opening, fly-on-the-wall series that follows the heroic men and women on the COVID-19 pandemic frontline. Co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s Broadcast and Partnerships team, the five-week series airs at 9pm on BBC Two and focuses on London’s Royal Free Trust, a world-leader in the […]

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