The Open University

Top trends to disrupt education over next decade

1 December 2016

New findings in a report from The Open University outline future trends which will impact on education and teaching. The Innovating Pedagogy report says that the productive failure, formative analytics and design thinking are amongst the stand-out developments for the sector over the next 10 years. Success and failure analysed Mike Sharples, Professor of Educational […]

Diamond Review: Wales leading the way on sustainable HE funding

29 November 2016

Higher Education funding and student support in Wales is set for significant change. As the Welsh Government responds to Professor Sir Iain Diamond’s review and consults on a progressive new funding regime, Hannah Pudner, Assistant Director (External Strategy) at the OU in Wales, considers the implications for part-time students in Wales. When it was set […]

We must challenge the culture of silence about child sexual abuse in football

25 November 2016

Professional footballers, including the former Crewe Alexandra player Andy Woodward, have been speaking out recently about their experiences of sexual abuse as children. They include alleged victims of football coach Barry Bennell, who was sentenced to nine years in prison in 1998, and are waiving their right to anonymity. The NSPCC said a special hotline, […]

Autumn Statement 2016: Tories shift to growth strategy in an Ed Balls-style pirouette

23 November 2016

Needing to perform a fiscal twist in a confined space, it looks like Philip Hammond has borrowed some dance steps from former shadow chancellor Ed Balls. Despite some mockery of his recent turns on TV show Strictly Come Dancing, Balls’ footprints are clearly visible on the spending boost the chancellor unveiled in his first Autumn […]

‘Understanding vision impairment is more imperative than ever’

22 November 2016

Older people with Vision Impairment (VI) from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups in England are less likely to access vital support services than those from White British backgrounds, a recent study by The Open University (OU) has concluded. The research, commissioned by the national sight loss charity, Thomas Pocklington Trust, interviewed 50 older […]

Mike Tomlinson, Richard Gillingwater and Sir Gary Verity

Honorary degrees for inspiring Yorkshire sports and charity leaders

22 November 2016

The efforts of two inspirational men from Yorkshire in promoting sport and fundraising for cancer charities have been honoured by the OU. Mike Tomlinson, who has devoted his life to continuing the the extraordinary legacy of his wife Jane – who completed seven years’ worth of physical challenges after being given just six months to live – […]

New search site offers ‘rich’ resources for adults returning to learning

21 November 2016

Adults returning to learning, whether at college, home, or at work, now have a great way to find their route into study, thanks to a new Open University-led initiative, supported by the HEFCE National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO) programme. The PEARL (Part-time Education for Adults Returning to Learn) website signposts educational opportunities for adults, so […]

Success for OU co-productions at The Grierson Awards

18 November 2016

The OU is celebrating success at an international awards ceremony for two of its co-productions with the BBC. The two programmes, How to Die: Simon’s Choice and The Hunt achieved success at the 44th Grierson Awards, hosted by Jon Culshaw and held at The Mermaid, London on Monday 7th November. The awards recognise and celebrate […]

Prison violence is not about staffing: they’ve always been dangerous for prisoners

18 November 2016

In an attempt to force the hand of the government in negotiations regarding the numbers of prison officers employed in public sector prisons, more than 10,000 prison officers have taken part in a 24-hour “protest action”. It is illegal for prison officers to strike, but officers stopped work at midnight on November 15. Prisons went […]

Want to be the master of your money in 2018? Here are 11 ways you can be

17 November 2016

Two experts in personal finance from the OU offer top tips on how you can manage your money effectively. Why shouldn’t you make financial decisions on a Friday, and why should you figure our your ‘essential non-essentials’? 1) Check your credit rating and your credit file This can be done at no cost and you may find there is […]

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