The Open University

Researchers challenge sea level stats, but warn forecast still poor

7 February 2019

Researchers, including academics from The Open University (OU), say predictions about rising sea levels may not be as high as feared. But they warn that unless there is a drastic reduction in carbon emissions, sea levels will keep rising. In a research paper, just published in the journal Nature, they suggest that sea level rise could […]

Karolien Verheyen: Sarcoidosis diagnosis was my study inspiration

7 February 2019

In 2007, Karolien Verheyen was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a rare condition that causes small patches of red and swollen tissue (granulomas) to develop in the body’s organs. Her diagnosis led Karolien to find out more about how the human body functions and she registered for a module in human biology with The Open University, later […]

Time to Talk Day – importance of friendship

6 February 2019

On the 7 February 2019, it’s Time to Talk Day – a day to encourage conversations about mental health and raise funds and awareness for charities, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Mental health affects one in four of us each year in the UK, with anxiety and depression being the most common problems. Even with so […]

Alan Turing named greatest icon of 20th century

6 February 2019

Father of the computer, World War Two code breaker and scientific genius Alan Turing was named the greatest icon of the 20th century in the live final of Icons, co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s Broadcast and Partnerships team. Turing won the public vote having been pitted against fellow finalists Dr Martin Luther King, […]

How do junk food adverts affect your children? – new OpenLearn course gives us the facts

4 February 2019

The Open University has launched a free OpenLearn course, which explores children’s food, marketing, eating and health in the context of their rights. Children and young people: food and food marketing, asks what the factors are that influence the foods that children eat – is it children’s or parents’ choices? Family or cultural influences? Or the wider food […]

Finlay Games: my OU success story

1 February 2019

Finlay Games, 44, from Eastbourne, is studying with The Open University (OU) for an Open Degree. As a transgender man with a history of mental health issues, his recovery experience and gender transition awoke a passion to inspire and support others to make changes in their own lives, in order to overcome personal obstacles to […]

Why Glasgow’s ‘Bolshevist Uprising’ in 1919 wasn’t quite the red threat to UK many believed

30 January 2019

January 31 is the centenary of Bloody Friday 1919, in which thousands of protesting workers were attacked in Glasgow’s main civic square by police, causing multiple injuries. Coming barely a year after the Russian Revolution and with insurgency in the air across much of Europe, then Scottish Secretary Robert Munro claimed that Glasgow was in […]

Institute of Coding marks its first anniversary with the OU

28 January 2019

The Open University (OU) is celebrating its partnership with the Institute of Coding (IoC), created in January 2018. In just 12 months, IoC partners have successfully signed-up over 5,000 people onto its leading tech courses at universities across the country. To date a total of 5,875 people enrolled onto courses, with 175 staff members employed across […]

Evelyn Lipmann: In her own words

25 January 2019

Evelyn Lipmann survived the Holocaust. She survived internment in four concentration camps; many of her family did not. As a pioneer student of The Open University, she’s asked us to share her story so that future generations can learn from the atrocities that took place. Since publishing her story in August 2018, we have now […]

New contract deal for Associate Lecturers

25 January 2019

The Open University (OU) and University and College Union (UCU) have announced the successful negotiation of a new permanent contact for Associate Lecturers (ALs). The 4,000 ALs play a vital role in the delivery of OU course material and are the primary point of contact for all current students. What the new contract means The […]

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