The Open University

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On World Book Day find out how the OU’s Reading Schools Programme is helping more children to read for pleasure

7 March 2024

Today is World Book Day and as children around the world excitedly mark the occasion by dressing up as their favourite literary character, or join in with special events at their school, it is important to remember that behind the buzz and excitement of the day there is an important message – to encourage more […]

Drugs Map of Britain returns for a gritty new series

8 November 2023

A new series of the hard-hitting OU/BBC co-production Drugs Map of Britain delves into the world of drug users and dealers, laying bare the evolving makeup of Britain’s youth drug culture. Airing on the 8th of November at 10.30pm on BBC Three, the documentary series focuses on how certain drugs are widespread in cities across […]

Education project transforms lives for girls and young women in Zimbabwe

16 August 2023

The Open University is one of six partners in a successful initiative that has supported the learning of more than 13,400 out-of-school adolescent girls in Zimbabwe. For the past five years the project has helped the girls, who are disproportionately affected by gender inequality, to improve their learning outcomes and assist their transition into formal […]

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 […]

More support is needed for families affected by parental imprisonment, according to a new study from The Open University and YSS.

18 July 2023

Families with children across the UK are missing out on vital support to help them cope with the impact caused by having a parent in prison, according to research from The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre and YSS. The two-year study funded by Worcestershire County Council, surveyed 68 families across the UK, to better understand […]

OU researchers launch new guide to support palliative and end of life care

13 July 2023

Researchers at The Open University have produced a new ‘Grab and Go Guide’ to help improve palliative and end of life care. The easy-to-follow guide draws from research into The Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: a national framework for local action (2021-2026) and will enable those working in the sector to better […]

Success for OU students at RCN Nurse of the Year Awards

7 July 2023

Open to all UK nurses, midwives, health visitors, nursing students and nursing support workers, the awards highlight excellence within the nursing profession and celebrate the contribution that nursing staff make to the health and well-being of their patients. The RCN Northern Ireland (NI) held their 2023 Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony in Belfast, whilst […]

FIFA Safeguarding Diploma scores success

30 May 2023

The FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma, which was developed with experts including academics from The Open University, to strengthen and professionalise safeguarding standards in football, is proving to be a soaring success with almost 90 learners from 70 countries attending the first ever in-person residential workshops. In a milestone moment for the programme, the […]

New research aims to revolutionise care for older people

17 May 2023

New research on social care and older people resulted in a toolkit designed by The Open University aimed at transforming the well-being of older people and staff in the care sector. It is based on an emerging understanding of ‘relational care’ an approach which represents a shift to a more multidirectional flow of care where […]

OU academics feature on popular BBC podcast discussing matters unique to women’s sport

9 March 2023

Four academics from The Open University are working with BBC Sport’s ‘The Sports Desk’ series in four unique specials, which launched to mark International Women’s Day. This week, the first BBC Sports Desk podcast episodes became available on BBC Sounds. The groundbreaking series is called ‘Women’s Sport Matters’ and will focus on some of the […]

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