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The many guises of the emperor Augustus free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

The many guises of the emperor Augustus

This free course focuses on Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, who lived from 63 BCE to 14 CE. The rule of Augustus marked a significant political change in Rome, and Augustus’ position as emperor was initially fragile and controversial. Key to his success in holding onto power was his masterful use of visual propaganda to cement his position and ...

Free course
6 hrs
Happy New Year article icon

Miscellaneous

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! What is 2024 going to mean for you? Improved health? Learning a language? Writing a book? Get started here...

Article
5 mins
Sacred and secular: Silvio Ferrari video icon

Society, Politics & Law

Sacred and secular: Silvio Ferrari

This video looks at the problems connected to religious freedom and the imbalanced protection of religion within the secular state. 

Video
10 mins
Managing my investments free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Money & Business

Managing my investments

Gain the skills to manage your investments: analyse portfolio risk and plan your pension, with this free online course.

Free course
24 hrs
Finding a mentor article icon

Money & Business

Finding a mentor

A mentor can empower your personal development and help you to identify and achieve your career goals. This article looks at what qualities you should search for in a mentor.

Article
5 mins
Systems explained by Peter Checkland audio icon

Money & Business

Systems explained by Peter Checkland

Peter Checkland recalls how a shortage of management education led him to develop his theories.

Audio
15 mins
Introduction to Arabic free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Education & Development

Introduction to Arabic

In this free course you will learn the Arabic alphabet, vowels, and also a little bit about the history of the Arabic language.

Free course
4 hrs
The Open University and Children in Scotland learning portal article icon

Education & Development

The Open University and Children in Scotland learning portal

We are delighted to welcome you to this learning portal created in partnership between The Open University (OU) and Children in Scotland.

Article
5 mins
UCAS a’r broses Glirio - Cyngor i rieni a gwarcheidwaid video icon

Education & Development

UCAS a’r broses Glirio - Cyngor i rieni a gwarcheidwaid

Mae ymgyfarwyddo ag UCAS yn fan cychwyn gwych o ran cefnogi eich person ifanc yn ystod y broses o wneud ceisiadau.

Video
5 mins
Talking about the menopause: symptoms, support and the role of exercise free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Talking about the menopause: symptoms, support and the role of exercise

This free OpenLearn course is designed to help anyone whose life is affected by the menopause. No matter what gender you identify with, this transitional phase can affect people in all sorts of ways, so this course is open to all. The objectives are to empower everyone, by increasing knowledge of what the menopause is and the effects it can ...

Free course
12 hrs
Proud of nursing associates: who they are and why they are important article icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Proud of nursing associates: who they are and why they are important

What is the role of the nursing associate in England and what positive impact can they have on the health and social care teams they work in? Gemma Ryan-Blackwell explains.

Article
5 mins
Death around the world video icon

Health, Sports & Psychology

Death around the world

Although we all die, how we mark the end of a life varies between places and cultures. This article and associated animation explores different customs and traditions that people around the world perform in relation to death.

Video
5 mins
The many guises of the emperor Augustus free course icon level 1: introductory icon

History & The Arts

The many guises of the emperor Augustus

This free course focuses on Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, who lived from 63 BCE to 14 CE. The rule of Augustus marked a significant political change in Rome, and Augustus’ position as emperor was initially fragile and controversial. Key to his success in holding onto power was his masterful use of visual propaganda to cement his position and ...

Free course
6 hrs
Holi: The festival of colours, the festival of diversity article icon

History & The Arts

Holi: The festival of colours, the festival of diversity

Holi is celebrated as the Festival of colour, love and spring. Shonil Bhagwat explores this Hindu festival's links to diversity of nature, people and culture in this article.

Article
5 mins
Mi'kmaq: First Nations people video icon

History & The Arts

Mi'kmaq: First Nations people

These films give insight into Mi'kmaq life and examine the renewal of traditional customs by interviewing key members of the community who discuss the benefits and difficulties in attempting to hold on to their ancestry.

Video
5 mins
A short introduction to the English language free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Languages

A short introduction to the English language

This free course, A short introduction to the English language, will look at the role language plays in our lives, with a particular focus on the English language. It will examine the history and the future of the language, from the Anglo-Saxons and Shakespeare to social media communication and stand-up comedy.

Free course
5 hrs
Year of the Dragon: Lunar New Year article icon

Languages

Year of the Dragon: Lunar New Year

Happy Year of the Dragon! Learn more about what this year means and how to say some traditional New Year greetings to celebrate.

Article
5 mins
Creativity and artificial intelligence video icon

Languages

Creativity and artificial intelligence

Is artificial intelligence capable of being creative? This animation and associated article looks at the meaning of 'creativity' and whether machines can carry out creative tasks.

Video
5 mins
Energy in buildings free course icon level 3: advanced icon

Nature & Environment

Energy in buildings

Themes covered in this free course, Energy in buildings, include reducing heating demand in buildings, heating systems and fuel emissions, and reducing electricity use by appliances. The course looks at the importance of energy in buildings in the UK, investigate heat loss and how to prevent it, ways of increasing building efficiency, ...

Free course
10 hrs
How do microplastics make their way into our food? article icon

Nature & Environment

How do microplastics make their way into our food?

We know that microplastics have found their way into our food chain. Understanding the sources of microplastics, their journey to our plates, and what we can do to reduce the risks is essential for tackling this pressing issue.

Article
10 mins
Golden Globe Ocean Race: The next 50 years? video icon

Nature & Environment

Golden Globe Ocean Race: The next 50 years?

Dr David Assinder takes a look ahead at the next 50 years and explores the changes to our oceans. 

Video
20 mins
Astronomy: images of the Universe free course icon level 2: intermediate icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Astronomy: images of the Universe

Modern astronomy utilises a range of techniques across the electromagnetic spectrum that allow astronomers to measure the brightness, size and shape of astronomical objects, as well as their structure in many cases. This free course enables you to explore multiwavelength images of the Universe and make your own measurements of stars, nebulae and...

Free course
6 hrs
Food, shelter and re-designing home as a living system article icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Food, shelter and re-designing home as a living system

Housing has become the most valuable asset on Earth while people are increasingly going without food and shelter. How can we design for people to have a home, while also regenerating the living systems on which we depend?

Article
5 mins
Design ecologies animation video icon

Science, Maths & Technology

Design ecologies animation

This animation explores why a whole systems approach to design is important. It uses the example of a smartphone to illustrate the need to shift from linear to regenerative resource flows.

Video
5 mins
Understanding PCSO powers free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Society, Politics & Law

Understanding PCSO powers

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) play a vital role in modern policing. They often serve as the primary point of contact for communities to report concerns and share information. In this free course, you’ll explore the powers that PCSOs in England and Wales use in their daily duties, their role in supporting response policing, and the ...

Free course
6 hrs
How a new First Minister of Wales is appointed article icon

Society, Politics & Law

How a new First Minister of Wales is appointed

An overview of what happens when it’s time to appoint a new First Minister of Wales, who leads the Welsh Government.

Article
5 mins
Sacred and secular: Silvio Ferrari video icon

Society, Politics & Law

Sacred and secular: Silvio Ferrari

This video looks at the problems connected to religious freedom and the imbalanced protection of religion within the secular state. 

Video
10 mins
Hybrid working: skills for digital transformation free course icon level 1: introductory icon

Digital & Computing

Hybrid working: skills for digital transformation

The future of the workplace is continuing to evolve, and digital transformation is accelerating, requiring new digital capabilities, behaviours and understanding. There has been a widening of the digital divide and data shows that in the UK the skills gap is growing with a shortage of people with digital skills. ​ Nearly all jobs have some ...

Free course
11 hrs
Tips for using a large language model article icon

Digital & Computing

Tips for using a large language model

How should you use Chat GPT and other language models for work, study and life? This article gives you eight top tips for using this sort of artificial intelligence.

Article
5 mins
Animal-Computer Interaction and dogs video icon

Digital & Computing

Animal-Computer Interaction and dogs

Dr Clara Mancini tells us how Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) is expanding the design of interactive systems beyond the human species.

Video
15 mins