The Open University

New ‘snap evaporation’ process controls how liquids dry

11 April 2018

Scientists at The Open University (OU) and Northumbria University have discovered a new process called ‘snap evaporation’ – that controls how liquid droplets dry by adjusting their shape and size. This is important because it could affect many everyday tasks, such as minimising watermarks on cars and removing heat from microprocessors within smartphones and computers. […]

Apprenticeship accounts have £1.28 billion stockpiled, OU analysis reveals

6 April 2018

More than £1.28 billion of the funding that has been paid into the apprenticeship levy is still sitting in National Apprenticeship Service accounts, new data analysis commissioned by The Open University has found. The analysis revealed organisations in England have withdrawn just £108m of the massive £1.39 billion they have paid into the apprenticeship levy. Meanwhile, […]

7 things you should know about cyber security

6 April 2018

When we think of cyber security many of us think it only relates to big organisations. But our computers, modern TVs, smart phones, tablets, and even some of our household utilities all connect to the internet enabling potential access to our personal data. Knowing how to protect yourself against a cyber-attack can seem overwhelming. Senior […]

Why the unlawful use of personal data matters

4 April 2018

Data, and its misuse, has become commonplace in the media headlines recently. Anne Wesemann, Lecturer in Law at The Open University Business School takes a look at one recent data privacy storm, and explains the implications on democracy of the unlawful use of personal data. A complex data storm “The Cambridge Analytica whistleblowing storm is […]

Discovering psychology led Andrew to a new career

2 April 2018

Growing up in North London, Andrew, 49, didn’t enjoy the academic side of school and left at 16 with 11 O-Levels. After a spell in retail and a long career in IT, he made a dramatic change to his working life. After a family bereavement opened up the world of psychology to him, he decided […]

photograph of UK military personnel marching

Fund opens for Disabled Veterans offering free study

1 April 2018

A new fund has been launched at The Open University especially for former services personnel who have been disabled in or as a result of military service. The fund is the first of its kind in the UK dedicated to furthering the education of the men and women who have become disabled due to their […]

Anne overcomes adversity to reach her graduation goal

29 March 2018

Anne is 69 and has wanted to achieve her degree her entire adult life. Having left school at 15 and started her career as a telephonist and receptionist, she married and gave birth to her daughter, Sandra. After her husband sadly passed in 1984, she battled with bladder cancer and severe arthritis. Recovering after years […]

Moon offers clues to life beyond our solar system

28 March 2018

You might think that comparing rocks from the Earth and the Moon would be like comparing chalk and cheese, but new research led by academics at the OU has discovered that in many ways, they are almost the same. What’s so great about that? As lead author and Research Fellow, Dr Richard Greenwood, explains this […]

Needs of children with seriously ill parents are being neglected, says OU report

28 March 2018

Lucy is 16, and her Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. Although she’s got older siblings she is the only child living at home and has ended up taking on some caring responsibilities to help her Mum. The stress and upset of this family health crisis has caused Lucy to suffer with […]

Open University shortlisted for two Guardian University Awards

27 March 2018

Two Open University projects which are at the cutting edge of educational technology and accessibility have been shortlisted for the Guardian University Awards 2018. Using technology creatively The OU has a long history of using technology to support its innovative teaching. Self-filmed video is now common in many online course materials. For instance, a volcanologist […]

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