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Open University ‘alarmed and concerned’ at watering down of UK Government proposals for part-time maintenance loans

The Open University expressed deep concern at proposals in the UK Budget to delay and limit maintenance loans for undergraduates in England who wish to undertake part-time distance learning. Treasury Budget documents revealed that plans for distance learners – who make up one third of all those who study part-time in England – were being […]

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Why apprenticeships are a perfect fit for the OU

To mark National Apprenticeships Week, we take a look at the new Apprenticeship Levy. This will come into force from next month, following the Westminster Government’s announcement that three million apprenticeships will be created by 2020. From April, large employers – with a pay bill over £3million each year – will be required to contribute to the […]

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International Women’s Day: yes, we still need to protest this sh*t

“I can’t believe we still have to protest this shit,” proclaimed a multitude of signs at a protest in London on January 21 2017. These signs, and others, were photographed, filtered, edited and uploaded to social media, linking protesters around the globe. The protests, which spread from the initial Women’s March on Washington, spurred by […]

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Academics respond to the Budget 2017

Following the Chancellor, Philip Hammond’s, first Budget Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in economics and personal finance and Mick McCormick, Head of Social Work at The Open University give their opinions on some of the big issues announced on Wednesday 8 March. Social Care Mick McCormick, Head of Social Work at The Open University: “The Chancellor’s […]

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Austerity isn’t working for everyone – especially women

Austerity isn’t working for everyone – especially women

Women have borne the brunt of government austerity policies since 2010. Cuts to spending on services and social security have a disproportionate gender impact because women rely more on these services, benefits and tax credits than men do. It is therefore ironic that the UK is set to announce another budget that will do little […]

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BBC iPlayer - Hunting the Martians

OU academic hunts for Martians with BBC Radio 4

As part of a special week of Mars programmes on BBC Radio 4, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, Monica Grady, presents a 30 minute special programme about the search for life on the Red Planet on Monday 6 March 2017, 21:00. In Hunting the Martians, Professor Grady explores the balance of evidence for Mars […]

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Home Office rule change adds to febrile atmosphere for EU nationals in Britain

The House of Lords may have backed an amendment to protect the rights of EU nationals after Brexit, but the level of fear among nationals of other EU countries about their future has hit new highs. On March 1, the Lords voted by 358 to 256 in favour of an amendment to the Brexit bill, […]

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England Rugby’s ‘ruckgate’: when playing by the rules is seen as unfair

England Rugby’s ‘ruckgate’: when playing by the rules is seen as unfair

The Six Nations match between England and Italy at Twickenham on February 26 created quite a stir. Not so much for the quality of the rugby, but for a tactic adopted by the Italian team which appeared to catch England completely off guard for the best part of the first half. The tactic involved a […]

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Sound Sphere

OU programme explores the science of sound

In a two-part BBC series, broadcaster and physicist, Dr Helen Czerski, reveals what the physics of sound can tell us about the world and how it works. Produced in partnership with the OU, and broadcast on BBC Four from Thursday 2 March 2017, 21:00, Sound Waves: The Symphony of Physics explores the extremes of the […]

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woman business

OU research informs prominent IT gender report in India

Open University researchers have co-produced the latest edition of a high-profile report on the state of the IT industry in India and female participation in particular. The OU’s researchers produced the spring edition of the 2017 Women in IT Scorecard-India with the support of India’s leading IT trade association, NASSCOM. This aims to improve understanding of the make-up […]

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