The Open University

Three things today’s teachers need to consider for tomorrow’s students

19 September 2018

It’s argued in increasing measure that teachers have low job satisfaction; but one antidote to this could be asking educators to re-imagine their role and think about their own vision for education in the future. Today’s teachers face many challenges inside and outside the classroom, but there are also larger global changes approaching which those […]

Depressed man sitting on bridge in a smart shirt

Stock market crashes linked to higher rates of suicide – new research

17 September 2018

Writing in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, New York Times columnist Will Rodgers commented that the level of panic was such that it induced a spate of suicide among traders. Although stories of increased rates of suicide in the aftermath of a financial meltdown are deeply ingrained in the folklore of finance, […]

Free OU course for teacher educators in Africa wins international award for digital innovation

12 September 2018

A free four-week online course designed by Open University education academics and presented on FutureLearn, has won a ‘Digital Innovation of the Year’ award at the prestigious PIEoneer Awards 2018. The MOOC (Massive, Online, Open Course), Making Teacher Education Relevant for 21st Century Africa, was selected as the winner by the judges in the Digital […]

Studying part-time can increase lifetime earnings by up to £377,000

10 September 2018

Completing a part-time degree in your late 30s can bring an increase in lifetime earnings of up to £377,000 in cash terms, a new study shows. An analysis of the earning potential for part-time students in England qualifying at the age of 37 – the average age of an Open University graduate – underlines the […]

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell wins physics prize

6 September 2018

One of The Open University’s early female physics tutors has received the Breakthrough Prize for the discovery of radio pulsars. Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell intends to donate the £2.3m prize money to help women and under-represented ethnic minority students to become physics researchers. The money will be given to the Institute of Physics to fund […]

The hidden history of reading – new research project opens up Europe’s book habits

5 September 2018

From Gulliver’s Travels to Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice to 1984 – what people have been reading for the past three centuries is under the microscope, with a new €1 million research project involving The Open University. Revealing Europe’s reading history 21st century digital tools – including an online database and smartphone app – are […]

Feet of female - obese - on weighing scales

Could being born to an obese mother increase your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

31 August 2018

Figures suggest that 1 in 3 of those born* each year in the UK will develop Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in their lifetime. The root causes of AD are not fully understood, however, scientists at The Open University (OU) are researching the link between this degenerative disease and those born to obese mothers. Senior Lecturer in […]

An artist impression oF the surface of the Planet Mars four billion years ago

Scientists discover evidence of a water cycle on ancient Mars

29 August 2018

Scientists from The Open University (OU) have discovered a series of large fan-shaped sediment deposits on the surface of Mars. These suggest that Mars once had large seas on its surface and a water cycle similar to Earth. The research also shows when Mars’ climate went from being hospitable to the cold desert it is […]

Apples in a grid pattern with bright background

Curious Kids: how does gravity pull things down to Earth?

20 August 2018

This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children of all ages. The Conversation is asking young people to send in questions they’d like an expert to answer. All questions are welcome: find details on how to enter at the bottom. How does gravity pull things down to Earth? – Gabriel, age four, […]

Funding announced for almost 400 new doctoral places in arts and humanities

15 August 2018

The Open University, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge have been awarded funding by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to create a new training partnership for up to 400 doctoral students over five years. The Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership is a consortium of the three universities, underpinned by world-class research […]

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