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News from The Open University

New OU/BBC co-production explores mental health

New OU/BBC co-production explores mental health

A new OU/BBC programme Heston: My life with bipolar airs on Thursday 19 June, at 8pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Heston Blumenthal is one the world’s greatest chefs, with six Michelin stars to his name. Yet in 2023, Heston started experiencing hallucinations and suicidal thoughts, his behaviour so extreme, wife Melanie decided to […]

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“Resilience isn’t enough”: why the growth of women’s football could lead to player burnout

“Resilience isn’t enough”: why the growth of women’s football could lead to player burnout

Women’s football has exploded onto the global stage. Record-breaking crowds, major sponsorships, elite athletes and huge media deals have transformed the sport into a fast-growing spectacle. Its rise may be inspiring, but behind the success, many players are struggling with the growing physical and mental demands of the modern game, says Helen Owton, Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at […]

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Open University Tutor awarded OBE for services to Education

Open University Tutor awarded OBE for services to Education

OU Tutor Dr Diane Swift has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the King’s 2025 birthday honours list, for her services to education. Diane teaches and authors materials for the Primary Education modules and has been involved in the development of the apprenticeships for Teaching Assistants which she has shared through the OU’s […]

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Open University graduate wins prestigious national nursing award

Open University graduate wins prestigious national nursing award

Open University graduate, Fay Dudson has won the Student Innovation in Practice Award at the annual Student Nursing Times Awards. The ceremony, which took place in a glitzy ceremony on 2nd May in London, honoured the outstanding achievements of the upcoming generation of nurses and their mentors, recognising those who consistently go above and beyond […]

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Powerful new OU/BBC documentary tells the story of the murder of George Floyd and the backlash that followed

Powerful new OU/BBC documentary tells the story of the murder of George Floyd and the backlash that followed

Airing on Wednesday 21st May on BBC Two at 9pm and BBC iPlayer, Blacklash: The Murder of George Floyd”  tells the story of one of the most shocking and defining moments in modern history, one that not only exposed police brutality and birthed the Black Lives Matter movement, but also exposed deep divides in the […]

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Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration

Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration

When Keir Starmer said: “If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English”, it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK, says Sarah Cox, Research Fellow at the Open University. This view not only overlooks the UK’s rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter […]

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New Series of Inside Our Minds explores ADHD and Dyslexia

New Series of Inside Our Minds explores ADHD and Dyslexia

A new series of the OU/BBC series ‘Inside Our Minds’ airs on Mon 12 May on BBC Two and iPlayer at 21:00 and from Weds 14 May on BBC Two Wales at 21:00 Following the success of the multi-award-winning first series ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’, series two examines other forms of neurodivergence – ADHD and […]

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Vector illustration of two nurses wearing a medical mask and hat

The Open University celebrates International Nurses Day

Today (12th May) marks International Nurses Day and to celebrate, we have shared the stories of some of the incredible nursing students and staff in the OU community who have dedicated their careers to helping others. Mairi Claire Davidson from the Outer Hebrides, gained her first-class honours Bachelor of Science Nursing (Adult) degree, through studying with […]

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New series of Word of Mouth

New series of Word of Mouth

A new six-part OU/BBC radio series of Word of Mouth begins on Thursday, May 8th, and will air weekly at 15:30 on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. The series is presented by celebrated author Michael Rosen and explores the world of words and how we use them. In the first episode, Michael talks to […]

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crowd of male and female runners

London marathon: why you need a plan to prevent the post-race blues

As the sun rises over the river Thames on marathon day this year, tens of thousands of cheering spectators will fill the streets and a record-breaking 56,000 adrenaline-fuelled runners will gather at the starting line of the TCS London marathon, says Helen Owton, Lecturer in Sport and Fitness. At the start of the gun, the stampede […]

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