News

This new partnership between The Open University and the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU) opened the doors to learning to a quarter of a million trade union members in Northern Ireland.  

Singer, songwriter and Alzheimer’s campaigner Tim Wheeler was honoured by The Open University (OU) with the award of Doctor of the University at a ceremony in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on Friday 21 October. Mr Wheeler had his award conferred alongside 277 graduating students – from all walks of life, of all ages and backgrounds and from a spectrum of careers – as well as fellow honorary graduate Ms Catherine Bell CBE.

The Open University, in conjunction with the Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies (CADA) NI hosted a seminar in Belfast exploring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Tuesday 30th May, a group of women from Falls Women’s Centre/ Ionad Ban na bhFál celebrated their success in completing the module ‘An Introduction to Health and Social Care’ at The Open University in Belfast.

On Thursday 12th May, Open University student David Ferran won ‘Student Nurse of the Year Award’ at a special ceremony celebrating 20 years of the Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards at Hillsborough Castle. 

It has been a busy 6 weeks of tireless campaigning for the 276 candidates contesting 108 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. After the momentum of the election on 5th May, many challenges and opportunities will lie ahead for the higher education sector. 

The Open University has warmly welcomed changes made by the Department for Employment and Learning that will allow more part-time undergraduate students to benefit from financial assistance to complete their studies, describing it as vital intervention to help meet the skills needs of Northern Ireland.

Today, The Open University hosted a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Employment and Learning Committee at the OU office in Belfast. 

On Monday the 7th December, a range of MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly), Ministers and civil servants attended The Open University's Winter Reception at Parliament Buildings to celebrate the power of part-time higher education in Northern Ireland.

The history of Ireland is explored in a new Open University/BBC TV series which looks at its scenery, prominent landmarks, politics, heritage and culture.