The Open University

New year, new me? OpenLearn courses to try out in 2024

31 December 2023

A new year is a great time to try something different. We’ve pulled together some of the best collections and courses from OpenLearn for keeping your mind and body fresh in 2024. Don’t give up, take up! Although you may have made a resolution to give something up this year, why not try taking something […]

OU academic, Professor Mark Brandon, awarded The Polar Medal in the New Years Honours list

30 December 2023

Mark Brandon, Professor of Polar Oceanography, at The Open University has been awarded The Polar Medal by His Majesty King Charles III in recognition of his outstanding work and contribution to the scientific knowledge of the Polar Regions. Mark has been at The Open University for over 20 years and has been Professor of Polar Oceanography since 2018 […]

Undergraduate Research Bursary Programme at the School of Mathematics and Statistics Empowers Future PhD Hopefuls

28 December 2023

In a bid to nurture aspiring researchers and provide them with experience in the world of academia, the School of Mathematics and Statistics offers a research bursary programme that aims to offer a unique research experience for individuals contemplating future pursuits of PhD degrees. Under this programme, successful bursary holders will have the opportunity to […]

Top ten most popular free courses to indulge in on OpenLearn

26 December 2023

Since its launch in 2006 The Open University’s free learning resource website OpenLearn has received more than 112 million visits with many people going on to complete several of the hundreds of free courses available. Each year we collate which are the most popular – some are just a few hours long while others – […]

Image shows presenter Greg Wallace standing next to a production line of yorkshire puddings

New series of ‘Inside the Factory’ co-produced by The Open University

24 December 2023

In an exciting new venture, The Open University (OU) has teamed up with the BBC to co-produce the eighth series of the much-loved “Inside the Factory.” The first episode of the new series airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday 27 December and will be exploring the production of the Christmas dinner staple, Yorkshire […]

Watch this year’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: The Truth About AI

22 December 2023

Join Professor Mike Wooldridge for this year’s Royal Institution (RI) Christmas Lectures, as he tackles arguably the most important and rapidly-evolving field of science in the world today – artificial intelligence. Beginning on Tuesday 26 December, the first of three new Open University / BBC co-produced programmes The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures – The Truth […]

Interest rates have stopped rising, but 2023 hikes could still cause recession for some economies

20 December 2023

Alan Shipman is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at The Open University who says that even though interest rates have stopped rising the sting in the tail is there’s still a danger of recession for some economies. Central banks on both sides of the Atlantic kept their main interest rates unchanged for the fourth successive month […]

Putin’s four-hour Q&A is a valuable insight into the Russian president’s version of reality

19 December 2023

Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody is a Senior Lecturer in politics and international relations academic at The Open University and specialises in communication, misinformation and security, particularly in Russia. Here she gives her view on Vladimir Putin’s appearance at his annual press conference. Russian television audiences didn’t have much choice but to watch Vladimir Putin’s annual press […]

Open University graduate and falsely accused ex-prisoner, Andrew Malkinson, to guest edit Radio 4’s Today Programme

19 December 2023

Open University graduate and falsely accused ex-prisoner, Andrew Malkinson, who was released from prison in July 2023 after serving 17 years for a rape he did not commit, will appear as a guest editor on Radio 4’s Today Programme. Together with the Today team, Andrew has created a programme on 29 December that will look […]

Image shows group of attendees of the OU visit standing in front of the gold tree in the university library

Education Minister visits The Open University

15 December 2023

On a visit to The Open University in Milton Keynes, Universities Minister Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP met with students, apprentices, and alumni, as well as the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Blackman. The Minister was joined by the MP for Milton Keynes North, Ben Everitt. At a roundtable discussion, the Minister heard inspiring stories from […]

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