The Open University

Abortion ban in Northern Ireland likely to worsen mental health crisis

21 June 2018

Northern Ireland is one of only two regions in Europe where abortion effectively remains illegal (Malta being the other). This is a confirmed breach of human rights – one that threatens to deepen the mental health crisis of women in Northern Ireland. Abortion is not allowed in Northern Ireland unless the life of the mother […]

Happy Birthday NHS! Three OU/BBC programmes mark 70th anniversary

20 June 2018

Thursday 5 July marks the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service, one of the nation’s best loved institutions. To celebrate this milestone and the vital role it plays in our lives, the OU and the BBC have co-produced three programmes that showcase the NHS’ achievements and debate its future. NHS at 70 – Live NHS […]

The Open University's Michael Young Building in Milton Keynes

Dr Devendra Kodwani appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law

20 June 2018

Dr Devendra Kodwani has been appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at The Open University. He joined the Open University in 2004 as a Lecturer in Finance and led the development of the triple-accredited MBA programme at the university. Strengthen presence and reach new audiences Dr Kodwani said: “I am honoured […]

OU student who battled against the odds is Wales’ Adult Learner of the Year

19 June 2018

An OU in Wales student who was mocked at school and reached his mid-30s having never read a book received the Life Change and Overall Winner of the Year awards at this year’s Inspire! Adult Learning Awards. Cardiff-born John Spence was bullied at school because he couldn’t read, and by the time he left aged […]

Photo of OU Student Entrepreneurship Competition winners

Entrepreneurship competition rewards student business talent

13 June 2018

An innovative clothes-drying product, a web platform to help older people digitise their memories, and a project to help young people in need are amongst the winners of a competition to foster fledgling companies and develop brilliant business ideas from students. Funded by Santander Universities, five successful OU students and graduates will receive up to […]

OU welcomes Parliamentary Report on problems facing students

11 June 2018

The Open University has welcomed a House of Lords report that once again underlines the impact of UK Government reforms on part-time higher education in England. The Lords Economic Affairs Committee called for a series of measures to help encourage part-time study – which has fallen by 59 per cent in England since the 2012 […]

Why Donald Trump desperately needs interpreters for his ‘chat’ with Kim

11 June 2018

After months of back-and-forth insults and compliments the US president, Donald Trump, is finally going to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a historic summit in Singapore. It has been hinted that this could be the first of several such meetings, since defusing North Korea’s nuclear strategy will probably take some time. The […]

Global education pioneer Professor Bob Moon awarded CBE

9 June 2018

The OU’s Emeritus Professor of Education Bob Moon has been awarded a CBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his pioneering work in teacher education in developing countries. Lead role in teacher education Formerly a headteacher, Professor Moon joined the OU in 1987 and was instrumental in introducing teacher education and training. The OU’s […]

Medical Detection Dogs at Buckingham Palace

Scientist, and dogs who “sniff for cancer”, meet Her Majesty The Queen

8 June 2018

A group of incredible dogs who detect cancer cells in biological samples accompanied one of the leading animal-computer interaction scientists to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Head of The Open University Animal-Computer Interaction Lab and Senior Lecturer in Computing and Communications, Dr Clara Mancini, was invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the […]

Curriculum changes to attract more students to the OU

6 June 2018

This story was updated on 25 July 2018 The Open University is refreshing its curriculum to introduce new options for students while dropping areas of study which are less popular. The OU proposes to launch 12 new degrees or degree apprenticeships, designed to appeal to a new generation of students, and to withdraw nine currently […]

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