The Open University

Demelza Dachtler receiving Commanding Officers Commendation with her mother, Julie

Following in her mother’s footsteps

29 March 2019

As a child Demelza Dachtler grew up watching her mother, Julie, study for a Masters with The Open University. Today, she’s an OU graduate herself, is on the verge of completing her own OU Masters, and is about to become a mother for the first time. We spoke to Demelza last year, and now, in the […]

Blue Planet Live: BBC/OU series celebrates marine life characters

24 March 2019

An exciting week of programmes, delving into the depths of marine life around the globe – begins on Sunday 24 March, in a series co-produced by the BBC and The Open University. Blue Planet Live will aim to assess the state of the world’s seas, following three different marine hotspots: Mexico, Bahamas and the Great […]

Honorary degrees celebrate contributions to culture, education, veterinary science and linguistics

22 March 2019

Today’s Open University degree ceremony at The Barbican, London, kicked off the spring graduation season in the OU’s 50th anniversary year. Alongside hundreds of Open University students receiving their awards, Sharon Corr, Baroness Jean Coussins and Professor Noel Fitzpatrick were conferred with honorary degrees. Sharon Corr – exceptional contribution to education and culture Singer, songwriter and […]

“I took my refugee status as an opportunity” – Shabnam’s inspiring story

20 March 2019

“I took my refugee status as an opportunity, not a disadvantage,” says Shabnam Nasimi, 28, who was just eight years old when her parents, fearful of the wrath of the Taliban, abandoned their belongings and made the perilous journey across Europe. The family settled in the UK and her father Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi, went on […]

How will history view the UK’s Brexit process?

19 March 2019

As negotiations continue over Brexit and politicians hold various votes on leaving and delaying one might well wonder how historians will look back at this unprecedented time in UK/EU relations. Last week Theresa May’s deal was rejected for a second time and then MPs voted to rule out leaving the EU without a deal and […]

Making the most of your OU degree ceremony

19 March 2019

The date is booked and the graduation ceremony is looming. The hard work is done and you’re getting ready to cross the stage to cheers and applause as you pick up your degree. But what to expect?! Fear not, because we asked our Instagram alumni community for their best tips on how to make the […]

Research reveals role of Indian Summer Monsoon on global climate stage

18 March 2019

A study by an international research team led by The Open University (OU) has revealed new insights to help understand the historical importance of the Indian Summer Monsoon. The study shows how the Monsoon acted as a conduit for moving heat and moisture during a period of climate transition, thousands of years ago. • Study […]

£1million to research care of child migrants

18 March 2019

A researcher who travelled to ‘the Jungle’ refugee camp in Calais to see how unaccompanied child migrants lived has secured £1million of funding from the Economic and Social Research Council to study the care of lone child refugees. The new research project, which is co-led by The Open University and University College London, will investigate […]

Imperfect and absurd, the modern literary heroine is a woman of our times

15 March 2019

Sally O’Reilly, Lecturer in Creative Writing at The Open University discusses how the female characters in the books that we read are changing. The way women are portrayed is changing. In film, The Favourite has won numerous awards and features three women, variously wild and untameable, as joint protagonists. Other movies such as The Wife and Can You Ever Forgive Me? show older […]

Schools need to prepare today’s students to tackle global challenges

14 March 2019

Professor Peter Twinning, Professor of Education (Futures) at The Open University discusses why the UK’s school system needs to change. Traditional models of schooling are based on a desire for standardisation and compliance, for a mass of industrial age ‘production line’ workers (with the majority of the small number of leaders and thinkers coming from […]

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