The Open University

9 books about dogs

26 February 2018

It’s the Chinese year of the dog, so why not add a book about dogs to your reading list? Dr Alex Hobbs, Associate Lecturer on the AA100: The Arts Past and Present and EA300: Children’s Literature module, has hand-picked these nine canine-led page-turners. Warning: some titles may induce weeping! 1) The Art of Racing in […]

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Five things you need to be a Winter Olympian

23 February 2018

The Winter Olympics has given a perfect illustration of how the nature of elite sport requires athletes to push themselves to their limit in high-pressure competitive situations. The OU’s Candice Lingam-Willgoss, lecturer in sport and fitness notes how the performances in PyeongChang this year reveal typical examples of courage, determination and gold medal winning achievements. […]

Open University statement on USS pension dispute

23 February 2018

The Open University is one of more than 350 Higher Education and related institutions across the United Kingdom that participate in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). It is also one of over 60 institutions facing industrial action regarding proposed changes to USS. The latest valuation of the scheme, conducted by the independent trustees of USS, […]

Civilisations: New landmark BBC series an antidote to modern life

22 February 2018

We live in an age where popular social media videos are often less than 30 seconds long, and people’s attention spans are shorter due to our busy, multi-tasking lives. But now, people are encouraged to pause and enjoy a new visual spectacular from The Open University and the BBC. Civilisations, the new landmark series starting […]

The Open University's Berrill Building in Milton Keynes

“A University of Radicals”: Vice-Chancellor says it’s time for the OU to stop looking over its shoulders

21 February 2018

The Open University is in the perfect position to pick up its founding mission – as education radicals. Speaking to an academic audience at the OU’s Milton Keynes campus on Tuesday 20 February, Vice-Chancellor Peter Horrocks outlined the university’s academic excellence vision. He said there is a golden opportunity to reinvent connections between academics, students and […]

‘Discrimination needs to stop.’ Being a woman in construction and engineering.

21 February 2018

Although a high achiever academically, Steph Lee, 27, from Newcastle, realised that instead of traditional university, she wanted to start a career and get earning. But she felt she faced discrimination along the way to her dream role in engineering. Despite this, she’s forged ahead in this sector, and has almost completed her Bachelor of Engineering […]

Part-time and distance learning central to UK Government review on post-18 education

19 February 2018

Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that improving support for part-time and distance learning will be at the heart of the UK Government’s review of university and FE funding in England. The review, which will be supported by an independent panel, will report early in 2019 and will cover all aspects of the funding for […]

The Oxfam Case: Why are we so outraged?

16 February 2018

As headlines persist in the controversy surrounding Oxfam, Professor Helen Yanacopulos Director, Development Policy and Practice, takes a candid and honest look at what has prompted the ongoing furore. “The last thing I want is to be an apologist for badly behaved people exploiting others,” said Professor Yanacopulos, “but I have to admit I’m surprised that […]

Six ways the OU boosted your brainpower

15 February 2018

January – a month of little cash, and a distinct lack of motivation. Well, not for our amazing social media audience. Having launched Brainteaser Month in 2017, reaching 6.5 million, we wanted to stimulate your neurons once again. Throughout January 2018, fuelled by the brainpower of over 30 of our academics, we hosted a series […]

How “not very academic” Linda is now on track for a psychology degree

14 February 2018

Linda has always been fascinated by what makes “people tick” and in her current role at a law firm she’s worked for many years with clients who have sustained severe brain injuries. “In my role I get to see neurological reports and I find these fascinating. How the brain works, its cognitive functions and how […]

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