The Open University

Liz Truss: three areas where the new foreign secretary will have the most influence

17 September 2021

Written by Jamie Gaskarth, Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations at The Open University. In naming her as the new foreign secretary, Boris Johnson has handed Liz Truss a bewildering array of global problems and relationships to manage. Foreign secretary is a difficult role, quite distinct from other posts in government. Many occupants are […]

Russia’s state broadcaster RT going all-out to boost legitimacy of rigged Duma election

17 September 2021

Written by Precious Chatterje-Doody, Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at The Open University and Ilya Yablokov, Lecturer in Journalism and Digital Media, University of Sheffield. Russia goes to the polls on September 19 to elect a new Duma – the country’s legislature. Russian elections are not known for their unpredictability – United Russia, the […]

OU graduate Lea shares her story from homeless student to proud businesswoman

‘My degree gave me hope when I was homeless’

11 August 2021

At the start of her Open University (OU) journey, Lea was homeless and suffering with her mental health. She’s now completed a Social Sciences undergraduate degree and a Master’s in Psychology with the OU, is living independently and has started a business to help others in the community to feel less alone. Lea shares how […]

Amazons and warrior princesses on screen – the legacy of Xena 20 years on

18 June 2021

Written by Dr Amanda Potter, Visiting Research Fellow, at The Open University . Xena the warrior princess, played by Lucy Lawless, captivated audiences around the world for six series with her high kicks, sword skills and distinctive war cry. The series followed her as she fought her way through armies, monsters and gods, alongside her […]

OU alumna and published author, Eva Verde

OU creative writing student to published author

14 June 2021

Eva Verde has always enjoyed writing but kept her dream of being an author a secret, until studying Creative Writing at The Open University (OU) made her dreams a reality. Eva tells us about her journey from OU student to published author. I’ve been writing since I can remember, but it wasn’t until I […]

An elderly Rohingya Refugee man looks out upon the devastation caused by the fires that burned down the homes of thousands in April 2021 Photo by Mohamned Zobair

Refugee Week – COVID19: Chronicles from the Margins

14 June 2021

The Open University’s (OU) research project, COVID19: Chronicles from the Margins began as the pandemic engulfed the world in March 2020. It aimed to investigate how diverse migrant groups like, asylum-seekers, refugees, migrant workers and undocumented people have responded to COVID-19, and invited these groups to share their experiences through poems, songs, music, photos, short […]

BBC/OU co-pro Bad People podcast asks does ‘good cop, bad cop’ interviewing work?

22 April 2021

The latest episode of the BBC Sounds podcast Bad People, features an interview with OU academic Dr Zoe Walkington and asks, does the ‘good cop/bad cop’ style of police interviewing ever work? Presented by criminal psychology scientist Dr Julia Shaw and comedian co-host Sofie Hagan, Bad People deconstructs true crime, turning to psychological science to […]

Why deaf prisoners have been in a state of lockdown since well before COVID-19

13 April 2021

Written by Daniel McCulloch, Lecturer in Criminology and Social Policy, The Open University and Laura Kelly-Corless, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Central Lancashire. The pandemic has worsened already dire conditions for prisoners since the UK Prison Service locked down the prison estate last year. Following drastic changes to the regime, most imprisoned people have since spent between […]

Greta Thunberg: A Year To Change The World

9 April 2021

“I don’t want you to listen to me, I want you to listen to the science,” says Greta Thunberg in the first episode of a new three-part documentary, co-produced by The Open University (OU) and the BBC. The series, set to air from Monday 12 April 2021 at 9pm on BBC One, follows climate activist […]

Furlough scheme: UK has to extend it, but there are serious risks

26 February 2021

Dr Alan Shipman, senior lecturer in economics at The Open University, writes about the risk surrounding another extension of the UK furlough scheme. Finance ministers usually rejoice when businesses and employees alike both plead for a signature scheme to be extended. But for UK chancellor Rishi Sunak, demands to continue the country’s Coronavirus Job Retention […]

OU News