The Open University

Advance preview: Scientific telescope aims to be a blockbuster

23 May 2016

The world’s astronomers – including scientists from the OU – are creating a telescope which they hope will uncover the mysteries of space. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will be the world’s largest digital camera and is expected to capture the biggest and best images from the universe for all to see. The OU is among a […]

‘It’s crucial’: 6 reasons why you should embrace learning at work

19 May 2016

Combining the ability to learn and work has been a positive – and in some cases life-changing – experience for many Open University students. We asked these OU graduates to explain why ‘learning while earning’ has worked for them… 1) You already have the perfect study space – your office! Rob Clark graduated with a MSc in […]

Who Really Rules Us? Programme ponders the EU question

18 May 2016

Presenter Jeremy Paxman will take TV viewers on a journey to the heart of the European Union in a one-off hour-long programme co-produced by BBC and The Open University. Called Paxman in Brussels: Who Really Rules Us? it will ask, quite simply: Have we handed over the power to rule the UK to Europe? And if […]

Legal aid cuts prevent the police from being held accountable for their actions

18 May 2016

Who holds the police to account for their actions? Is it just institutions, such as the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the elected police and crime commissioners, and the forces’ disciplinary procedures? Something that’s often forgotten is the essential role played by lawyers as they try to obtain justice for the individuals who have been wronged […]

From left are John Addy, John D’Arcy, Sheila Coleman and Heather Laird.

Hillsborough justice campaigner honoured by OU

17 May 2016

Sheila Coleman, a leading member of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from The Open University. The honour comes shortly after an inquest into the disaster concluded that the 96 fans who died as a result of a crush in 1989 were unlawfully killed. Recognised by the university for her contribution […]

OU welcomes HE White Paper

16 May 2016

More degree awarding powers to new universities, recognising teaching quality and widening participation to HE was the rallying cry from Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities and Science in England, in the HE White Paper that promises to increase choice for students and promote social mobility. Published today (16 May) Success as a Knowledge Economy: […]

OU research reveals smartphone hazards for refugees en route to Europe

16 May 2016

The lives of refugees travelling from war-torn Syria and Iraq to Europe are made more perilous due to a deficit of vital news, Open University research has found. What they need is timely, relevant and reliable information and news, the report learned. The research also found that the smartphones carried by refugees pose both a […]

Homelessness in our towns and cities: policing disorder?

15 May 2016

Dr Daniel McCulloch, an Open University lecturer in criminology and social policy, on the complexities of policing homelessness – looking after the welfare of rough sleepers while trying to move them away from prime city spaces… Rough sleepers and the police often come into contact on our streets. Policing homeless populations is a complex […]

OU expert on ‘pregnancy, artificial sweetener and overweight children’ stats

13 May 2016

Research into women who consume diet fizzy drinks during pregnancy has revealed they’re more likely to have overweight children by the time they reach their first birthday. The study was conducted by a university in Canada with 3,000 women. But Professor Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics at the OU, says casual conclusions can’t be drawn […]

Man working on laptop, tablet and smartphone. Image credit: Thinkstock

Should the right to disconnect from work emails be law?

11 May 2016

Should the right to clock off from work emails out of hours become law? Should governments be responsible for regulating the right to disconnect? In France, President Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party is about to vote through a measure that, for the first time, will give employees the right to log off from work and enjoy, […]

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