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openuniversity.bsky.social
The Open University
@openuniversity.bsky.social
850 followers 6 following 42 posts
Official account for The Open University.

Open to people, places, methods and ideas. The Open University provides high-quality university education to all.

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openuniversity.bsky.social
Vote for the OU's Open Societal Challenges (OSC) collaborative research platform in the Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025! 🏆

OSC aims to tackle some of the most important challenges of our time through impact-driven research 🔬🌏

👉 https://ke.org.uk/news/ke-awards-2025-public-vote-is-now-open/
November 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
One of our Open Societal Challenges' academics Dr Siobhan Campbell has developed research into creative writing to support the wellbeing of staff in hospital wards to create a hospital Writer's Nook at the University Hospital of North Tees. research.open.ac.uk/news/creativ...
The Open University
Open University research into the benefits of creative writing to support the wellbeing of staff working in busy hospital wards has led to the creation of a hospital Writer’s Nook.
research.open.ac.uk
November 3, 2025 at 10:40 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Congratulations to OU academic Dr Angeliki Lymberopoulou, whose image has been selected as October's research image of the month.

Read the full article: https://ow.ly/xn5250XjQPe
November 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
From managing disagreements to encouraging genuine engagement, OU academic Professor @lisalazard.bsky.social, shares how their recent research can provide guidance on how to have productive online meetings.

Read more here: theconversation.com/kent-county-...
Kent County Council is Reform’s ‘shop window’ – its leaked Zoom call implies chaos and poor leadership
Research shows the swearing, shouting and enforced muting suggests deeper problems at the Reform-led council.
theconversation.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Learning about different open research practices helps researchers understand what could work well in their context.

From AI to copyright - OU academics share ideas to help you to make your research processes and outputs more open:
https://research.open.ac.uk/open-research/helping

#OAWeek
October 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
What motivates young people to read? 📚

This weekend’s Affective Power of Reading for Pleasure conference brought together educators & literacy champions to explore just that.

Inspiring talks from Rob Biddulph, A. M. Dassu (Az) and the OU's Prof Teresa Cremin.

Thank you to everyone who joined us.
October 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Open access is a start, but do we need to do more to maintain equity?

OU academic Dr Geetha Reddy discusses whether open access is enough, and what the next steps could be:
https://research.open.ac.uk/news/open-access-start-do-we-need-do-more-restore-justice-and-maintain-equity

#OAWeek
October 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Open access is a start, but do we need to do more to restore justice and maintain equity?

OU academic Dr Geetha Reddy discusses whether open access is enough, and what the next steps could be:
research.open.ac.uk/news/open-ac...

#OAWeek
October 20, 2025 at 9:19 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
OU academics have joined forces with industry to develop a model that could make it possible to provide personalised treatments for cancer.

Researchers will simulate how cells organise in mini tumours and determine how well they have responded to treatments.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/eu9Ga_Pe
“It’s often difficult to know which cancer treatment to use to get the biggest benefit to the patient. To figure this out, different chemotherapies can be tried out on balls of cells, known as spheroids, grown from a tumour. At The Open University, we’ve developed tools for understanding tissue growth, and we want to establish how these tools can help us to improve the accuracy of identifying the best treatments.”
October 17, 2025 at 11:56 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
The Princess of Wales has recently spoke about her concerns surrounding the overuse of smartphones in family life.

OU Lecturer in Education, Dr Poppy Gibson explains how we might avoid this 👇

Discover Poppy's research: https://www.themomentmagazine.com/lifestyle/are-smartphones-rewiring-childhood/
October 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Periods are political… and here’s the proof 🩸

Dr Sophie Doherty @sophiedoherty.bsky.social and human rights campaigner Jo Atkins-Potts are leading ‘Periods are Political: The Politics of Menstruation in Activism, Art, and Law’, from 13:00 – 17:00. Open to all, register here: bit.ly/4nAKUQd
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lnkd.in
October 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by The Open University
ougradsch.bsky.social
We're excited to welcome our Oct #OUGradSch25 PhD cohort to campus today! We can’t wait to hear about their research journeys.
On Fri, we’ll also welcome Professional Doctorate students.
Also welcome to the first PhD by Distance Learning cohort!
@oulibrary.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social
A green lawn with people sitting out on a sunny day. A stately home in the background. A green lawn with people sitting out on a sunny day. A cafeteria in the background. A crowd of around 70 people standing in the foyer of a library, looking up and smiling. A crowd of around 70 people standing in the foyer of a library, looking up and smiling. A gold tree made of Open University Shields is on the wall.
September 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Huge congratulations to OU academic Dr Katerina Alexiou, whose image has been selected as September's Research image of the month.

Read the full article: ow.ly/MkbX50X49fi
September 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
PhD researcher Elaine Hooton is shining a spotlight on geodiversity and calling for a shift in how we talk about the non-living foundations of our planet. Elaine shared this inspiring photo of geodiversity in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Read more 👉 research.open.ac.uk/news/giving-...
Image shoes a rocky and mossy path that runs through a mountain valley towards snowy mountain peaks and a blue sky with white clouds.
September 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
OU PolicyWISE Director, Dewi Knight, co-authored a new landmark report on the Council of the Nations and Regions, highlighting the opportunity for “collaborative territorial governance.”

Read more on the PolicyWISE website 👉 www.policywise.org.uk/about/inter-...
A More Collaborative Way of Governing? Why the UK’s Council of the Nations and Regions Matters | policyWISE
One of the first acts of the Starmer government, after its election in July 2024, was to establish a potentially landmark innovation in the UK’s model of territorial government: the Council of the Nat...
www.policywise.org.uk
September 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
When patients understand their condition, treatments, and options, the outcomes improve and the risks decrease.

New research shines a light on the importance of clear communication and shared decision-making in cardiology services.

Learn more 👉 research.open.ac.uk/news/patient...
September 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
We are delighted that the OU has been awarded £4.9M by the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council to lead the delivery of an exciting new approach to research skills development in the social sciences.

Read more: research.open.ac.uk/news/ou-awar...
September 11, 2025 at 9:29 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
We are proud to have been shortlisted in three categories in
Times Higher Awards 2025 and the OU is a collaborator on a fourth
research.open.ac.uk/news/three-o...
The Open University
The Open University has been shortlisted for a research-led international collaboration of the year project, innovative teaching and widening participation in this year’s Times Higher Awards.
research.open.ac.uk
September 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, OU academic Prof Simon Usherwood reveals what this now means for PM Keir Starmer.

#UKPolitics #Government #Politics
September 5, 2025 at 3:08 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
We’re proud to share that 7 OU academics have been appointed to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 sub-panels! This diverse and expert group will help assess the quality of research across UK higher education.

Discover who they are and what this means:
research.open.ac.uk/news/seven-o...
September 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Starting a new school is a big step for both children and parents.

Lecturer in Primary Education, Dr. Poppy Gibson, explores how a collaborative approach between home and school can ease this important transition.

Read more here: ow.ly/4wNA50WQ6Rh
Working together with your child’s new school can make their first weeks easier
Children experience a whole range of changes in their lives as they start school.
ow.ly
September 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
openuniversity.bsky.social
Last night one of our academics, Dr Amber Fensham-Smith, appeared on BBC's The One Show to give to explain why more families are choosing to homeschool their children, and the potential benefits of doing so.

💡Learn more: wels.open.ac.uk/research/childrens-research-centre @ajfenshamsmith.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
One of our academics, Dr Amber Fensham-Smith will be appearing on tonight's episode of The One Show, discussing home schooling with presenter Angelica Bell 📚

You can watch Amber from 7pm and find out more about her research here: wels.open.ac.uk/research/chi...

@ajfenshamsmith.bsky.social
Dr Amber Fensham-Smith
August 28, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by The Open University
advancehe.bsky.social
Congratulations Prof Diane Butler of @openuniversity.bsky.social on her #NTFS2025 award! Diane has significantly shaped STEM education at The Open University, her initiatives contributed to a more equitable and supportive academic environment for both students and staff.
Diant Butler
August 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
openuniversity.bsky.social
The Mars art installation is still on campus today until 4pm, but please be aware that you’ll need to take the V10 entrance as there is a road closure in place on Groveway (H9).

#IFMKFEST
July 20, 2025 at 9:14 AM