The Open University

Report finds an urgent need for independent regulation of social media

18 February 2019

On Monday 18 February 2019, the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee published its long awaited final report on Disinformation and ‘fake news’. The report covered an enquiry that spanned 18 months, oral evidence from 73 witnesses including The Open University, over 4350 questions and a final ‘International Grand Committee’ meeting in November 2018. Its […]

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week

8 February 2019

Mental health problems affect 1 in 10 children and young people, with more than half (56%) saying that they worry ‘all the time’ about at least one thing to do with their school life, home life or themselves. As we mark Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (4-10 February), Dr Jackie Musgrave, Programme Leader for Early Childhood and Primary […]

Time to Talk Day – importance of friendship

6 February 2019

On the 7 February 2019, it’s Time to Talk Day – a day to encourage conversations about mental health and raise funds and awareness for charities, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Mental health affects one in four of us each year in the UK, with anxiety and depression being the most common problems. Even with so […]

How do junk food adverts affect your children? – new OpenLearn course gives us the facts

4 February 2019

The Open University has launched a free OpenLearn course, which explores children’s food, marketing, eating and health in the context of their rights. Children and young people: food and food marketing, asks what the factors are that influence the foods that children eat – is it children’s or parents’ choices? Family or cultural influences? Or the wider food […]

Wellbeing tips for 2019

15 January 2019

‘New year, new you’ has long been a motto for January, as we endeavour to cleanse ourselves after the indulgences of the festive season. Dr Mathijs Lucassen, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Dr Jitka Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer in Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at The Open University, talk us through their five top tips for […]

Award-winning series Hospital returns to our screens

10 January 2019

Co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s Broadcast and Partnerships team, Hospital returns to our screens for a fourth series on Thursday 10 January at 9pm on BBC Two. The award-winning series explores the day-to-day life of six hospital Trusts across Liverpool, as they care for over two million people, stretching from North Wales to […]

Fight back against fat with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

9 January 2019

Britain’s Fat Fight with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is back for a final episode on Thursday 10 January on BBC One at 8pm. Co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s Broadcast and Partnerships team, the series explores the misleading marketing claims on ‘healthy’ snacks, challenging the biggest food companies and restaurant chains to be more honest about […]

Diverse group of office workers standing smiling

Essential skills to succeed in a multicultural workplace

8 January 2019

Being culturally aware is a necessity in today’s workplace, as we interact on a global scale with diverse backgrounds. Anna Calvi and Mirjam Hauck, Lecturers in Modern Languages at The Open University, discuss the essential skills required to ensure success at work. What is culture? ‘Culture’ is a complex, fuzzy concept that has been defined in many […]

Future of nursing – OU nursing students graduate

2 January 2019

For the past four years, The Open University has had a strong relationship with Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Kings Lynn. With the support of Health Education England (HEE), three hardworking Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) were given the opportunity to study for a Degree in Nursing with The OU. Now fully qualified nurses, they talk about their […]

Careers in translation – 5 signs that you’re a pro

11 December 2018

Translation is a fascinating career that covers a wide-range of industries, from legal contracts to marketing campaigns, and even prize-winning literature. However, there are challenges to be faced, with a handful of high-profile translators even making the headlines. Dr Severine Hubscher-Davidson, Senior Lecturer in French and Translation at The Open University discusses some of the difficulties […]

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