The Open University

Report uncovers several areas that urgently need addressing in the investigations of rape and other sexual offences

16 December 2022

Findings from Operation Soteria Bluestone, a report launched in 2021 as a response to the government End-to-End Rape Review, have revealed several areas that urgently need addressing in the investigations of rape and other sexual offences (RAOSO). The report has been published as part of the Home Office’s pledge to increase the number of rape […]

First cohort of Isle of Wight nurses graduate with the OU

13 December 2022

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has just celebrated its first cohort of registered nurse degree apprentices, who have completed their nursing qualifications in partnership with The Open University (OU). Like many other NHS organisations across the country, the Trust has found it challenging to recruit enough nursing professionals to fill vacancies. This new programme, […]

Male student sitting in classroom looking away and smiling.

First wave of colleges to receive OU support to boost skills in their local communities

9 December 2022

The first wave of colleges in England that will receive support from The Open University (OU) to develop their higher technical educational offering has been announced today. Backed by £10milion of UK Government funding, the OU will be working with colleges across England to support colleges put on a wider range of advanced technical courses, […]

Virtual reality setting showing three scans of the human body

OU secures £5.8m to build extended reality studio

8 December 2022

The Open University (OU) has secured funding of £5.8m from the Office for Students to develop extended reality studios to expand its teaching and learning with augmented and virtual reality. Open XR Studios will feature state-of-the-art equipment to capture, reproduce and render 4D imagery. It will deliver immersive and reality-embedded learning to students in their […]

It’s official – the OU is ranked in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers

7 December 2022

The Open University is celebrating after learning it has been ranked in the Inclusive Top 50 UK employers. The Inclusive Companies organisation, which puts together the rankings, describes itself as the premier cross-industry network “harnessing best practices and innovation to drive inclusion for all”. Last year’s top 50 included Bupa, E-On, TalkTalk and a whole […]

Sunak’s first major foreign policy speech “worryingly divorced from reality”, says OU academic

1 December 2022

An OU academic has criticised the Prime Minister’s foreign policy speech at London’s Guildhall delivered recently. Professor Jamie Gaskarth, Professor of foreign policy and international relations, says there was no mention of the economic crisis the UK is facing; no recognition that the aid budget has been gutted and that proposed increases in defence will […]

Our US$10 trillion global energy bill dwarfs what’s needed to limit global heating

30 November 2022

Stephen Peake is a Professor of Climate Change and Energy. Here he talks about the world’s addiction to energy, our wasteful use of it and how we can do something about it. The world’s energy bill for 2022 is set to be the highest ever, topping US$10 trillion (£8.3 trillion). This is the total price […]

OU Disabled Veterans' Scholarship recipient Steven shares how studying has turned his life around

‘My scholarship was life-changing and life-saving’

29 November 2022

A military veteran who was badly injured during a rescue mission shares how education has helped him turn his life around. Steven Wilson, 46, from Dumfries, served as a Private in the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment (1 Para) and put his life on the line rescuing hostages in a top-secret mission. It was during the […]

A statement from The Open University

22 November 2022

The Open University plays a unique role in higher education. Our model of supported open learning has created opportunities for millions of people to learn new knowledge and skills, overcome disadvantage and achieve success in their personal and career goals, often while working and bringing up a family. We provide among the most affordable higher […]

NASA’s JWST reveals an exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before

22 November 2022

Nasa’s JWST just scored another first: a molecular and chemical profile of a distant world’s skies secured by research from experts including Dr Joanna Barstow and Agnibha Banerjee from The Open University. While JWST and other space telescopes previously have revealed isolated ingredients of the planet WASP-39b’s atmosphere, the new readings provide a full menu […]

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