The Open University

The Open University pays tribute to its former Chancellor Baroness Betty Boothroyd

27 February 2023

Baroness Betty Boothroyd 1929-2023 The Open University has today paid tribute to its former Chancellor Baroness Betty Boothroyd, who has died at the age of 93. Baroness Boothroyd was the OU’s fourth Chancellor, from 1994-2006, and the first woman to hold the role. From 1992 to 2000 she served as Speaker of the House of […]

Russo-Ukraine conflict one year on

24 February 2023

Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody is a lecturer in politics and international studies at the OU and specialises in communication, misinformation and security, particularly in Russia. Here she looks back on a year of war in Ukraine – lessons learned and reasons for an increasingly isolated Russia. Russia’s stated aim in invading Ukraine in 2022 was to […]

OU bolsters Ukraine support package

23 February 2023

The Open University (OU) has expanded its support for those fleeing to the UK as a result of the war in Ukraine. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science in Ukraine, we recently delivered a free webinar on online learning to 820 participants from Ukrainian higher education institutions. As the world marks one […]

OU joins city in welcoming King Charles III to Milton Keynes

21 February 2023

The Open University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Blackman, joined civic leaders and well-wishers in welcoming King Charles III to Milton Keynes to formally mark its recently conferred city status. His Majesty recognised Milton Keynes as the “home to innovation through The Open University” celebrating its inhabitants at this moment in its history. Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor […]

Behind the scenes of the Parole Board

20 February 2023

Academics from the Faculty of Business and Law worked behind the scenes in a fascinating OU/BBC documentary about the process involved in hearing prisoners’ parole applications. In England and Wales annually, about 16,000 of the potentially most dangerous criminals are considered for parole before the end of their sentence and around 4,000 of them are […]

International researchers join forces to capture image of a giant planet

20 February 2023

Two international group of researchers, one including Dr Mariangela Bonavita of the OU, have used the SPHERE planet-finder at the Very Large Telescope in Chile to capture images of a giant (Jovian) planet. The images are featured today as “Picture of the Week” by the European Southern Observatory. The planet, that has a mass of about five […]

OU academics’ guidance in poignant BBC programme on autistic adults

15 February 2023

A new two-part BBC series Inside Our Autistic Minds has started giving a revealing look at what goes on in the mind of autistic adults with the help of naturalist Chris Packham who was diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2005. With the contributions of two OU academics, Kieron Sheehy, Professor of education, and Fiona Henry senior […]

Dungeons & Dragons licence changes threaten the fan community the game relies upon – legal expert explains

13 February 2023

Dr Kim Barker is a senior lecturer in law at The Open University specialising in internet law – particularly online games. Here she talks about the popular Dungeons & Dragons game and how its new licence is making major digital waves. Dungeons & Dragons has a longstanding appeal as a role-playing game – or as […]

The path of Plath: Sylvia’s work more enduring 60 years on from her death

10 February 2023

It’s 60 years since the celebrated poet Sylvia Plath died, yet her work has become more enduring with the passage of time. Here Dr Jane Yeh, a lecturer in creative writing at The Open University, and an accomplished poet herself, tells us why. Sylvia Plath is the poet people most are likely to have come […]

How the war in Ukraine is being fought

9 February 2023

Military historian and Cold War expert Dr David Grummitt is a Staff Tutor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the OU. Here he shares his insight into how the war in Ukraine is being fought and its comparisons to the Cold War – the ‘conflict’ that never took place on the battlefield. […]

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