The Open University

The Open University commits to White Ribbon accreditation to end violence against women and girls

27 November 2025

To mark White Ribbon Day on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, The Open University has committed to achieving White Ribbon accreditation. White Ribbon is the leading charity in England and Wales engaging men and boys to prevent men’s violence against women and girls. Each year in the UK, 2 million […]

MK College, Santander, The Open University and City Council combine for big skills push

1 October 2025

Milton Keynes College Group, Santander, The Open University and Milton Keynes City Council are joining forces to provide a host of training courses to help people in the city learn new skills. Together, they’ve launched a new website at skillupmk.co.uk giving access to a host of courses, many of them free. The courses cover sustainability, […]

In depth: What is a smart city?

23 July 2018

The Open University is at the forefront of examining how ‘smart cities’ work. But what is a smart city? Do you know if you live in one? And how might they change how we live and work in the future? Dr Oliver Zanetti and Professor Sophie Watson – who appear on Radio 4’s Thinking Allowed […]

Milton Keynes is bidding to be 2023 Capital of Culture – it should be taken seriously

1 September 2017

The British city of Milton Keynes is probably not the most obvious contender for the title of 2023 European Capital of Culture. It hasn’t exactly got a reputation for being a cultural hot spot: jokes about the blandness of Milton Keynes are entrenched in the popular imagination. In his travel notes, popular writer Bill Bryson’s […]

OU/BBC documentary to explore history of Milton Keynes

15 August 2017

Milton Keynes and Me: Wednesday 16 August 2017, 21:00: BBC Four The most famous new town in the UK – Milton Keynes – has turned 50 and so (it just so happens) has the documentary maker, Richard Macer, who grew up there. In this special programme, which is due to broadcast on BBC Four on […]

Three Open University soapbox scientists in their lab coats

Soapbox Science: Raising the profile of women in science

5 July 2016

A trio of female scientists from the OU will be sharing their love of science at the first ever Milton Keynes Soapbox Science event. Claire Batty, a researcher; Dr Julia Cooke, a lecturer in ecology; and PhD researcher Vibha Srivastava will each ‘stand on their soapboxes’ at Middleton Hall at thecentre:mk in Milton Keynes from […]

Will our Smart Cities be people friendly?

3 June 2016

Smart Cities – including Milton Keynes – look to a future which is more sustainable and economically-sound. But does that future involve us all? That question is the focus of research just announced at The Open University. A team of researchers, led by the OU, has been awarded £750,000 to study the impact and engagement of Smart Cities, […]

Mercury Transit gets its own show on OU campus

29 April 2016

Members of the public are being invited to join scientists on the OU’s campus in Milton Keynes to experience a once-in-a-generation celestial event. The Transit of Mercury will see Mercury pass directly across the Sun’s face on May 9th. The Open University is throwing open its doors to schools and budding astronomers to come and […]