OU News

News from The Open University

seaside town

There is never going to be a bricks-and-mortar offering of higher education in every coastal town

Today, the House of Lords Select Committee on Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities published a report called: The future of seaside towns. The report looks at the issues, challenges and opportunities these communities face in several areas with education and skills a key part. Professor Ian Fribbance, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and […]

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Does nature sound good to you?  Huge new national experiment part of major collaboration with BBC

Does nature sound good to you? Huge new national experiment part of major collaboration with BBC

Could listening to nature improve your health? It’s widely acknowledged that spending time in natural environments boosts people’s mood, but little is known about what part sound plays. Now, a new national experiment using The Open University’s nQuire platform is conducting one of the biggest investigations into the therapeutic effects of sound.  The nQuire platform […]

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spice girls

Charity t-shirt scandals: Is a low wage better than no wage at all?

The news that workers in Bangladesh were being paid 35p an hour to produce the Spice Girls t-shirt, emblazoned with ‘Gender Justice’ on the back, caused consternation. Dr Lorena Lombardozzi, Lecturer in Economics, blogs for LSE about the problem with the lack of accountability in value-chains. Empty celebrity promises Dr Lombardozzi says there is a […]

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Mars

Methane on Mars: a new discovery or just a lot of hot air?

  The discovery of life on Mars would get pretty much everyone excited. But the scientists hunting for it would probably be happy no matter what the outcome of their search – whether life turned out to extinct, dormant or extant. They’d even consider finding no evidence of life whatsoever to be an important discovery. […]

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BBC and OU programme explores ‘The Brexit Storm’

BBC and OU programme explores ‘The Brexit Storm’

As Parliament continues to negotiate leaving the European Union, The Brexit Storm: Laura Kuenssberg’s Inside Story gives viewers a front-row seat to nine turbulent months of political history. Co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s Broadcast and Partnerships team, the one-off special airs on Monday 1 April at 9pm on BBC Two. With candid access to many of […]

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Teachers recognised for important work in encouraging reading for pleasure

Teachers recognised for important work in encouraging reading for pleasure

Last week, the winners of the 2019 Egmont Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards, in association with The Open University and the UK Literacy Association (UKLA) were announced at a conference hosted by the OU. Launched in 2017 following extensive research into reading for pleasure by the OU, Egmont and UKLA, the awards aim to demonstrate […]

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Honorary degrees celebrate contributions to culture, education, veterinary science and linguistics

Honorary degrees celebrate contributions to culture, education, veterinary science and linguistics

Today’s Open University degree ceremony at The Barbican, London, kicked off the spring graduation season in the OU’s 50th anniversary year. Alongside hundreds of Open University students receiving their awards, Sharon Corr, Baroness Jean Coussins and Professor Noel Fitzpatrick were conferred with honorary degrees. Sharon Corr – exceptional contribution to education and culture Singer, songwriter and […]

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Shabnam Nasimi

“I took my refugee status as an opportunity” – Shabnam’s inspiring story

“I took my refugee status as an opportunity, not a disadvantage,” says Shabnam Nasimi, 28, who was just eight years old when her parents, fearful of the wrath of the Taliban, abandoned their belongings and made the perilous journey across Europe. The family settled in the UK and her father Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi, went on […]

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ceremony

Making the most of your OU degree ceremony

The date is booked and the graduation ceremony is looming. The hard work is done and you’re getting ready to cross the stage to cheers and applause as you pick up your degree. But what to expect?! Fear not, because we asked our Instagram alumni community for their best tips on how to make the […]

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flooding India

Research reveals role of Indian Summer Monsoon on global climate stage

A study by an international research team led by The Open University (OU) has revealed new insights to help understand the historical importance of the Indian Summer Monsoon. The study shows how the Monsoon acted as a conduit for moving heat and moisture during a period of climate transition, thousands of years ago. • Study […]

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