The Open University

Pandemic sees growth in study signup, but part-time support needed more than ever

6 May 2021

The Open University has seen a rise in its student numbers over the past year, as the pandemic means more people are choosing to study online with the OU. The University cites the impact of Covid-19 as the main driver of the increase; it has significantly increased the demand for upskilling and reskilling and has […]

Open University students receive top scholarship awards from prestigious Gray’s Inn

5 May 2021

Three Open University Law students have been awarded scholarships from the highly regarded Gray’s Inn – one of the four Inns of Court which has the exclusive right to call men and women to the Bar of England and Wales. The prestigious scholarships recognise merit, intellectual ability, advocacy and drive and determination to succeed at […]

Artificial reefs could restore sea urchin populations and coral reefs

30 April 2021

Locally sourced breeze blocks placed on the sea floor could increase depleted sea urchin populations and support the growth of healthy coral reefs, a new study suggests. Researchers, led by The Open University (OU) and Operation Wallacea (OpWall), have found that strategically placed artificial reefs in the sea could be used to stimulate population recovery […]

How to cope with study stress – advice to students from students

27 April 2021

Trying to balance a combination of study, work, family life and everything in between can feel overwhelming at times. From achieving small goals to staying focussed on why you began study in the first place, here are the five top tips from those who’ve been there – OU students… 1. Take regular breaks Sometimes it’s […]

A Year to Change the World: Q&A with OU Professor Neil Edwards

26 April 2021

The final episode of the three-part series, Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World, airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One. The documentary is co-produced by The Open University and BBC. In this episode Greta looks at how COVID-19 has posed a challenge for tackling the climate crisis. She meets with German Chancellor Angela […]

Scientists discover new biomarker behind aggressive form of prostate cancer

26 April 2021

An international group of geneticists have discovered a new molecule that drives the spread of the most aggressive form of prostate cancer. This breakthrough signals new hope for sufferers of the deadly disease. In the UK, more than 48,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year – it is the most common cancer found […]

“Generation Covid” need support to survive job market impact

22 April 2021

As figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics reveal that the under 35s are likely to be disproportionately affected by job cuts as a result of the pandemic, the OU’s senior lecturer in economics Alan Shipman examines the picture behind the figures. Reflecting on earlier crises that have hit youth employment he […]

BBC/OU co-pro Bad People podcast asks does ‘good cop, bad cop’ interviewing work?

22 April 2021

The latest episode of the BBC Sounds podcast Bad People, features an interview with OU academic Dr Zoe Walkington and asks, does the ‘good cop/bad cop’ style of police interviewing ever work? Presented by criminal psychology scientist Dr Julia Shaw and comedian co-host Sofie Hagan, Bad People deconstructs true crime, turning to psychological science to […]

Group of people continuous one line vector drawing

OU’s WELS faculty beats the national statistics with three new female Professors

21 April 2021

The Open University’s Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) has promoted three of its female academics to Professor. With HESA reporting that only 28% of UK Professors are women in 2019/20, WELS is beating the trend with well over half (67%) of its Professors being female. Rebecca Ferguson, Kristina Hultgren and Joan Simons […]

Mars: how Ingenuity helicopter made the first flight on another planet

20 April 2021

Written by Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences, The Open University Imagine that you are flying a model helicopter or a drone. You are there with the auto controls. You switch them on. The rotors start to turn, gradually increasing their spin. You watch, then push the control for lift. Your helicopter rises, hovers, […]

OU News