The Open University

New report: raw deal for caregivers in Gateshead needs reform

8 September 2023

A new report published by The Open University has highlighted how the weekly Carers Allowance of £76.75 is worth just 77p per hour to a carer looking after a loved one in Gateshead for up to 100 hours a week. It reveals a list of recommendations for decision makers to ensure unpaid carers are not […]

OU academic says being wrapped again in the fabric of the Horizon Project is great news but it won’t be all warm and cosy… yet

8 September 2023

Professor in Politics and International Studies Simon Usherwood welcomes the deal but says it’s definitely not the same one we had before British researchers might find it hard to play the same leading role they’re used to since their positions in developing new projects have been filled by others Experts here do not enjoy the […]

The Open University partners with Glastonbury Town Deal to offer free skills and training

7 September 2023

The Open University (OU) has partnered with Glastonbury town to offer a wide range of free skills and training. Funded by the Glastonbury Town Deal, this unique opportunity gives residents of Glastonbury who want to upskill, retrain, or learn new skills, the chance to study for free with the UK’s largest distance learning provider. In […]

OU research reveals shocking level of online violence experienced by women and girls across the UK

7 September 2023

Over one in 10 women in England have experienced online violence, while three in 10 women (30%) have witnessed online violence Seven in 10 (68%) believe that current legislation is ineffective at tackling online violence against women and girls in England One in eight (13%) of women in England who experienced online violence say this […]

The Open University announces new national health campaign empowering the UK to Age Well

29 August 2023

Similar to the tried and tested Dry January and Stoptober models, The Open University’s Take Five to Age Well campaign is encouraging people over 50 to sign up to a month of healthy habits designed by experts from the University. With an ever-increasing demand on adult social care services and the NHS across the UK, […]

New analysis suggests Trump’s January 6th speech did “enable violence” at Capitol Hill

24 August 2023

New academic research led by The Open University and the University of St Andrews suggests Donald Trump’s January 6th speech served as a ‘warrant’ for the violence that occurred afterwards when crowds stormed the Capitol building. Psychologists in the research team, including academics from Canterbury Christ Church University and The University of Queensland in Australia, […]

Image shows backs of two police officers in high-vis jackets

Further funding for research into improving how Police investigate sexual violence

24 August 2023

A team of researchers from the OU’s Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL) has secured another year’s funding (£600k) to continue their work, alongside Police to improve the way rape and sexual offences are investigated. Findings of Operation Soteria Bluestone, a report launched in 2021 in response to the Government’s End-to-End Rape Review, highlighted […]

AstrobiologyOU at Bluedot festival: Life in extreme weather

22 August 2023

Author: Victoria Pearson AstrobiologyOU – an Open University research group looking into life beyond earth and the challenges of astrobiology missions – were showcased this summer at the Bluedot festival, held at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jodrell Bank Observatory. The annual festival combines live music, comedy and culture with science and space delivered […]

Photo of three children with their backs to the camera. They are weaving with colourful fabric scraps

New art exhibit celebrates the beauty and value of floodplain meadows

18 August 2023

A new art exhibit is being shown at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to celebrate and raise awareness of Britain’s floodplain meadows. The exhibit will be open until the end of October and is part of an Open University (OU) project working to conserve, restore and protect Britain’s floodplain meadows. The Floodplain Meadows […]

Could ‘Bidenomics’ be the white knight to save UK Plc?

17 August 2023

Our economy is broken in many places and it’s not behaving the way it should but it’s not beyond repair – we need more investment, in traditional industries as well as new tech, and a British ‘Bidenomics’ could be the answer. That’s the verdict of Alan Shipman, Senior Lecturer in economics at The Open University, […]

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