The Open University

OU tops list of employer-sponsored degree providers

21 April 2016

The Open University has topped a table of providers of employer-sponsored degrees in a new report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI). The report – Making a Success of Employer Education – was written by the Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University (LSBU), Professor David Phoenix, and looks at the benefit of employer-sponsored […]

How does the language you use affect others?

19 April 2016

Stress – the focus of Mental Health Awareness Week – is a key factor in mental health, including anxiety and depression. How we talk about depression can have unintended consequences, says Dr Zsofia Demjen, a lecturer in English language and applied linguistics. Using phrases like “I’m so depressed” runs the risk of normalising serious issues […]

Ecuador and Japan earthquakes: Expert Comment

18 April 2016

Earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador have resulted in widespread destruction and many deaths. David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Sciences at The Open University, says that Ecuador’s earthquake at its underground source was about 6 times stronger than in the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in southern Japan, and the total energy involved was probably about 20 times greater. […]

No hiding place – Open University leads crackdown on online exam cheating

14 April 2016

Wiping out online exam cheating is the goal of a new Europe-wide taskforce, co-led by The Open University. The £5.5 million programme, in development, aims to create anti-cheating tools in e-learning. These include: biometrics facial recognition voice recognition keystroke recognition digital security methods and anti-plagiarism tools. They will make it possible to be certain of […]

OU academics on the Panama Papers

13 April 2016

Panama Papers is the biggest data leak in history, shining a light on tropical tax havens and the world of offshore banking. Here, two Open University academics – one an expert in personal finance, the other in law – share their views… ‘Dynamic tension’ and reining in of the Duke of Westminster principle By Jonquil […]

Q&A: Does fertility treatment affect breast cancer risk?

13 April 2016

One in eight UK women get breast cancer at some point in their lives. A study out today explores whether there are links between fertility treatments and what can be seen on a breast screening mammogram, and hence possibly to breast cancer risks. The researchers used data from over 43,000 Swedish women who had had […]

The Last Man on the Moon – a moving tale that’ll bring out your inner astronaut

5 April 2016

“Dream the impossible – and go out and make it happen. I walked on the moon. What can’t you do?” These are the final words spoken by Eugene (Gene) Cernan in the documentary film The Last Man on the Moon. They are a challenge, spoken by an man in his 80s, not just to his […]

What is brain plasticity and why is it so important?

5 April 2016

What makes the brain special is that, unlike a computer, it processes sensory and motor signals in parallel. It has many neural pathways that can replicate another’s function so that small errors in development or temporary loss of function through damage can be easily corrected by rerouting signals along a different pathway. The problem becomes […]

Occupying Turin: refugees breathe life into abandoned buildings of Olympic village

4 April 2016

Arriving at the Olympic Village in Turin, the stage for the 2006 Winter Olympics, it is easy to guess which buildings have been maintained as student houses and youth hostels, and which have been occupied by refugees. The peeling blue and grey paint is visible evidence of Olympic enthusiasm turned to detachment. Since 2013, four […]

OU’s innovative learning earns global awards

1 April 2016

The Open University is celebrating after winning top awards for its innovation and open education learning, both internationally and in the UK. The OU was named winner in four categories in the highly-competitive 2016 Awards for Open Education Excellence, presenting accolades for excellence to sites, courses and projects across the world in the field of […]

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