The Open University

The Open University launches free financial literacy course for secondary schools in partnership with the Harrison Foundation

13 February 2026

The Open University (OU), in partnership with the Harrison Foundation, has launched a new free financial literacy resource for 15 to 17-year-old secondary school students, designed to support teachers delivering statutory financial education within PSHE. Hosted on the OU’s OpenLearn Create platform, the course, Managing My Money For Young Adults, provides a structured five-hour programme […]

OU celebrates Dyslexia Awareness Week

8 October 2025

To mark Dyslexia Awareness Week 2025, the OU has launched a collection of online resources to help people better understand the learning difference. Dyslexia is a neurodivergent condition affecting over 10% of the population. It is often linked to reading and writing challenges, but also gives rise to strengths like creativity and problem-solving. Drawing on […]

Supporting adult learners’ mental health

26 August 2025

With adult learners gearing up for university or college OpenLearn has designed a new free course to give tutors and lecturers the tools to help recognise and support those individuals’ mental health and wellbeing. The eight-week course, endorsed by respected mental health charity the Charlie Waller Trust, is designed to develop understanding in how poor […]

The CONNECT Initiative: empowering the next generation for global digital co-operation through sci-tech diplomacy

15 July 2025

The CONNECT initiative, led by The Open University and discussed during UNESCO’s Science Diplomacy Dialogue and Global Education events, is being recognised as a flagship example of capacity-building in scientific and technological diplomacy. CONNECT is a project aiming to support secondary schools to adopt open schooling, integrating science-action in the core-curriculum and using participatory-science with […]

Free course aims to raise the profile of women composers in classical music

18 June 2025

A new free course from The Open University’s OpenLearn site has been launched aimed at helping performers in the classical music industry to diversify their repertoire to include more works by women composers. The short course called “Women transforming classical music” spans just six hours, and is aimed at ensembles, individuals and organisations within the […]

Empowering dyslexic learners for a brighter future all round

6 June 2025

Unleashing the power of dyslexic pupils is behind new evidence-based training hosted by OpenLearn Create in partnership with global charity Made By Dyslexia. A free one-hour training package is aimed at teaching staff and parents, and covers topics from advice and hints to top tips for supporting dyslexic learning to help pupils shine. OpenLearn Create […]

Smiling man with laptop at table in office

The OU and workplace training charity collaborate on 5% Club Academy launch

16 April 2025

The Open University (OU) and partner The 5% Club, are working together on a new career development initiative, tailored specifically for HR professionals and those focussed on emerging talent. The 5% Club is a free-to-join skills charity and employer movement whose purpose is to “inspire positive employer action for increased, inclusive and accessible workplace learning […]

OU celebrates neurodiversity week

18 March 2025

To mark neurodiversity week, 17th -23rd March, The Open University has created a hub of resources on its free online learning platform, OpenLearn, designed to educate and inspire neurodivergent learners, allies, educators, and employers. The OU has a long history of teaching neurodivergent learners, such as those with ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, autism, dyspraxia, Tourette’s syndrome, […]

The Open University produces an award-winning film that challenges perceptions of youth violence

5 February 2025

The Open University has developed an award-winning film and a thought-provoking interactive quiz that challenges perceptions about knife crime and youth violence. Available on OpenLearn, which is the OU’s free learning platform, ‘Exploring Youth Violence: What would you do?’ aims to provide a better understanding of the complex lives and situations of young people who […]

Expand the mind this New Year with free learning from OpenLearn

6 January 2025

Those looking for a New Year’s resolution to expand the mind and create a fresh challenge can dive into OpenLearn – The Open University’s free educational platform – which has the answer. Whatever the interest, OpenLearn is likely to have a short free course on the subject and they’re not all the traditional academic subjects […]

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