The Open University

OU to provide skills boost for local communities

25 May 2022

The OU will partner with further education providers to provide high-quality, higher and technical education to more local communities across England, backed by £10 million of Government funding. Under the scheme, announced by Higher and Further Education Minister Michelle Donelan today (25 May), The Open University will work with colleges that do not currently offer […]

OU student Craig shares his experience in microcredentials.

“The OU microcredentials are so good that I’m on my fourth!”

24 May 2022

Craig Finnie first dipped his toe into the OU microcredentials waters in 2020 and says these short courses were such a great opportunity to upskill that he’s now done four – all via the OU’s social learning platform, FutureLearn. They’ve even helped him to land a new job. With two distance learning undergraduate degrees under […]

Sensitive topics: why studying them at a distance needs extra care

23 May 2022

Academic study can sometimes mean students cover difficult themes; reading, watching or hearing accounts and taking in information which can be shocking or even a reminder of a highly personal past or present experience. A team of researchers at The Open University (OU) are investigating how the OU’s students emotionally experience and deal with such […]

New programme offers Black students chance for free degree study

19 May 2022

Fifty Black UK-based students on lower incomes are being offered the opportunity to study for a degree for free through The Open University, via the Black Students Support Fund. The Fund is part of a series of scholarships, worth more than £2.6 million in total, and is designed to open doors for people who might […]

London businesswoman’s inspiring tale from homelessness to aiding her community

18 May 2022

London-based businesswoman who studied for an Open University degree whilst homeless is set to feature in front of millions in a docuseries with the OU and MTV Generation Change for her uplifting work with the community. Lea Gibson is one of three OU students to feature in the series – the second series of its […]

OU responds to Education Select Committee report about prisoner education

18 May 2022

The House of Commons Education Select Committee has today published its report ‘Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to climb the ladder of opportunity’. The Open University is the primary provider of higher education in prisons and secure units in England and Wales, operating in over 150 prisons across […]

OU in Ireland Director John D'Arcy & Ronan Keating

Ronan Keating given honorary degree from The Open University for charity work

17 May 2022

Ronan Keating has received an honorary degree from The Open University in recognition of his philanthropic contributions to charities over the past 25 years, particularly to improve cancer care. The Dublin-born musician, songwriter and presenter of BBC One’s The One Show, stepped up to receive the accolade for his charitable work, which he began following […]

Young graduate Bryan completed his OU Business degree aged 18

‘I’ve always loved to learn’ says graduate who started degree aged 16

17 May 2022

Audit professional Bryan Steinauer credits his Open University Business Management degree – which he began at the age of 16 – with landing him where he is today. He’s working for one of the global ‘big four’ accountancies, where he’s on track to become a Swiss Certified Public Accountant (CPA). “My Open University studies have […]

OU launches support package to help Ukraine

16 May 2022

The Open University (OU) has launched a raft of measures aimed at helping students and Ukrainians fleeing the war and arriving in the UK. These include financial support and assistance for existing OU students, a funding lifeline to potential students from Ukraine now living in the UK, as well as free online learning and partnerships […]

Elon Musk could roll back social media moderation – just as we’re learning how it can stop misinformation

15 May 2022

Harith Alani, The Open University; Grégoire Burel, The Open University, and Tracie Farrell, The Open University The US$44 billion (£36 billion) purchase of Twitter by “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk has many people worried. The concern is the site will start moderating content less and spreading misinformation more, especially after his announcement that he would […]

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