The Open University

New year, new me? OpenLearn courses to try out in 2024

31 December 2023

A new year is a great time to try something different. We’ve pulled together some of the best collections and courses from OpenLearn for keeping your mind and body fresh in 2024. Don’t give up, take up! Although you may have made a resolution to give something up this year, why not try taking something […]

Top ten most popular free courses to indulge in on OpenLearn

26 December 2023

Since its launch in 2006 The Open University’s free learning resource website OpenLearn has received more than 112 million visits with many people going on to complete several of the hundreds of free courses available. Each year we collate which are the most popular – some are just a few hours long while others – […]

A successful year for OpenLearn

7 November 2023

It has been a successful year for The Open University’s free learning platform, OpenLearn, which has seen a significant rise in the number of people enrolling onto its courses. 890,000 people enrolled on an open learn course in the year 2022/23 compared to 794,000 the previous year (21/22). The platform, which offers more than 900 […]

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 launches two free courses to improve the care of older people with learning disabilities

19 July 2023

The Open University has launched two free courses aimed at supporting professionals and families who care for older people with learning disabilities. Supporting older people with learning disabilities and their families and Caring for an older family member with learning disabilities have been developed using inclusive research overseen by Louise Wallace, Professor of Psychology and […]

Male student sitting in classroom looking away and smiling.

Dr Patrina Law: A quick guide to designing and delivering effective bite-sized learning

11 July 2023

Bite-sized learning can allow for a more targeted and specific learning experience, presenting information in small, focused portions whereby learners can better absorb and process concepts without feeling overwhelmed. Here, Dr Patrina Law, head of OpenLearn at the OU, explores the best way to find out the best ways to deliver bite-size learning: Identify key […]

OpenLearn awards its 250,000th digital badge

9 May 2023

OpenLearn, the Open University’s free learning platform awarded its 250,000th free ‘digital badge’ to learners this week, a recognition of professional development and commitment to studies. The badges, launched in 2015, are one of a kind – the first Open Educational Resource (OERs) with digital recognition. There are now 80 free badged courses on OpenLearn, […]

How to better understand space, time, infinity… and beyond

21 December 2022

A new free OpenLearn course is to take people on a journey of discovery to explore a range of scientific fields and gain a deeper understanding of topics such as space, time and infinity. It’s based on the book “What We Cannot Know” by celebrated mathematics Professor Marcus du Sautoy, who has helped design the […]

Top 10 OpenLearn courses of 2022

20 December 2022

It’s been quite a year for The Open University’s free learning site, OpenLearn, as it reached the ripe old age of 16 and celebrated over 100 million visitors to the site. With the cost-of-living crisis hitting, the superb ‘Academy of Money’ course in partnership with Money Saving Expert has helped over 50,000 people to get […]

OpenLearn marks UK Parliament Week with new ‘social change’ course

14 November 2022

If you want to know how to make political and social change then The Open University’s OpenLearn platform has the answer. In celebration of the annual UK Parliament Week, from 14-20 November, which the OU partners with, OpenLearn is highlighting a new course designed for the young and old titled: Introduction to making political and […]

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