People, Politics & Law

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How Obamacare is reaching young invincibles through digital technologies

Introductory level Duration 10 mins Updated 27 Feb 2015

By Dr Liz McFall

Reaching the under-35s by using digital technologies is crucial to the success of the insurance campaign from the Obama administration.

Inequalities in personal finance: The baby boom legacy - More free resources from The Open University

41kcalculator under CC-BY-SA licence New content

Updated 27 Feb 2015

Explore our range of free resources to help develop your skills in economics and continue your interest in social issues.

What do I need to know about the SIM hack?

yum9me under CC-BY-NC-ND licence New content

Duration 5 mins Updated 25 Feb 2015

By Mike Richards

Revelations that security forces have broken the protection of mobile phone technology are a real concern. Mike Richards explains why - and how the...

The government's new pension service has one fatal flaw

Catherine Pain New content

Duration 10 mins Updated 20 Feb 2015

By Jonquil Lowe

Can the government's new Pension Wise service really give people the pension freedoms?

Jeff Kubina under CC BY-SA 2.0 license New content

Introductory level Duration 10 mins Updated 19 Feb 2015

20th February is the World Day of Social Justice.

The Open University / Karen Parker New content

Intermediate level Duration 5 mins Updated 16 Feb 2015

By Dr Geoff Andrews

What provided the background for the 1979 Winter of Discontent and why did this background contribute to the James Callaghan's loss of power?

The Open University

Intermediate level Duration 20 mins Updated 13 Feb 2015

By Dr Geoff Andrews, Agnes Czajka, Dr Edward Wastnidge

What are the spaces of politics beyond the usual buildings of parliament? Three Open University academics tell us in this video.

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An OU Vision for the 21st Century?

Catherine Pain

Duration 10 mins Updated 13 Feb 2015

By Dr Deborah Drake, Prof Steve Tombs, Prof Allan Cochrane

As the OU prepares to welcome new VC, Peter Horrocks, later this year, it might be a good moment to ‘take stock’ and reflect on both where we have...

Inside the Commons: Behind-the-scenes with Tim Stirzaker

BBC

Introductory level Duration 10 mins Updated 09 Feb 2015

By Dr Richard Heffernan

What obstacles and rewards were involved in producing Inside the Commons? Richard Heffernan talks to the producer, Tim Stirzaker.

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Inside the Commons: Behind-the-scenes with Michael Cockerell

BBC

Introductory level Duration 10 mins Updated 09 Feb 2015

By Dr Richard Heffernan

Michael Cockerell, political documentary maker and presenter of Inside the Commons, provides an exclusive insight into how the series came about.

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Free OpenLearn courses.
Free extracts from OU course materials

Discovering disorder: young people and delinquency

Discovering disorder: young people and delinquency

Introductory level Duration 8 hours Updated 12 Feb 2015

By The Open University

This OpenLearn course, 'Discovering disorder: young people and delinquency', will introduce two approaches to understanding juvenile delinquency....

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Changing law: mental capacity legislation

Changing law: mental capacity legislation

Masters level Duration 10 hours Updated 07 Jan 2015

By The Open University

The aim of the unit is to consider how legal problems are identified and how the law develops to address those problems. It uses the evolution of...

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Privacy rights and the law

Used with permission

Introductory level Duration 20 hours Updated 26 Sep 2014

By The Open University

Privacy has long been recognised as an important human right – but how does society balance this right with the protection of others, such as the...

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Exploring the boundaries of international law

Masters level Duration 15 hours Updated 16 Sep 2014

By The Open University

This unit of study is designed to provide you with an introduction to key concepts which underpin your study of international law. It introduces...

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Contemporary Wales

Used with permission

Introductory level Duration 15 hours Updated 21 Aug 2014

By The Open University

This unit provides an accessible and lively social science account of contemporary Wales. It introduces key aspects of the economy, society,...

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Psychological research, obedience and ethics

Psychological research, obedience and ethics

Used with permission

Introductory level Duration 5 hours Updated 21 Aug 2014

By The Open University

In this unit you will learn about the importance of ethics in research that is undertaken by psychologists. You will read about the famous study on...

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An introduction to law in contemporary Scotland

Used with permission

Introductory level Duration 10 hours Updated 14 Aug 2014

By The Open University

Many aspects of the law in Scotland are different from those of England and Wales. Centuries of development and growth have been influenced by...

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Young people’s wellbeing

Used with permission

Advanced level Duration 16 hours Updated 18 Feb 2014

By The Open University

What do we mean by ‘wellbeing’ for young people? How is it shaped by social differences and inequalities, and how can we improve young people's...

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Political ordering

Used with permission

Introductory level Duration 10 hours Updated 04 Feb 2014

By The Open University

This unit asks questions about what states are and how they are involved in the processes of governing and ordering social life. Beginning from an...

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Innovation, markets and industrial change

Used with permission

Intermediate level Duration 15 hours Updated 04 Feb 2014

By The Open University

How does a firm emerge as ‘leader of the pack’? Why do most of the small firms so common in the early years of new industries disappear? This unit...

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Change your life with a qualification

Certificate of Higher Education in Social Sciences

The Open University/Karen Parker

Duration 1200 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

Are you interested in what shapes the lives we lead and the decisions we make? Have you wondered why people continue to smoke when they know the...

Visit prospectus

Bachelor of Laws with Honours (graduate entry)

The Open University / Karen Parker

Duration 2400 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

If you’re already a graduate, with a first degree or masters degree in any subject from a UK university or recognised overseas university, you can...

Visit prospectus

Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling

Dreamstime

Duration 2400 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

The value of counselling to improve well-being and quality of life is increasingly recognised in society. From everyday worries to serious mental...

Visit prospectus

Certificate of Higher Education in Natural Sciences

Irochka | Dreamstime.com

Duration 1200 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

Are you fascinated by life’s big questions? Are you thinking about studying for a degree? The Certificate of Higher Education in Natural Sciences...

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Certificate of Higher Education Open

Irochka | Dreamstime.com

Duration 1200 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

If you’re keen to try university study and want to keep your options open, this certificate course is ideal. It’s part of our unique Open...

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Foundation Degree in Counselling

Dreamstime

Duration 2400 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

The value of counselling to improve well-being and quality of life is increasingly recognised in society. From everyday worries to serious mental...

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Certificate of Higher Education in Environment

The Open University/Karen Parker

Duration 1200 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

How can we best think about and live sustainably within natural and built environments, given the pressures that threaten them? This certificate is...

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BA/BSc Open degree

Dreamstime

Duration 3000 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

Over 40 per cent of OU students who graduate do so with an Open degree. It’s a statistic we’re proud of – the BA/BSc Open is one of the most...

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Diploma of Higher Education in Natural Sciences

Dreamstime

Duration 2400 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

If you’re curious about the world we live in and enjoy delving into a wide range of scientific topics, the DipHE in Natural Sciences is for you....

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Foundation Degree in Financial Services

Dreamstime

Duration 2400 hours Updated 09 Feb 2015

By The Open University

With global financial markets and personal finances making the headlines daily, there’s never been a more exciting time to study finance and...

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Waiting in Line: The Business of Queuing

Inside the Commons - Episode 4

Wartime Farm Episode 1

Wartime Farm Episode 2

BBC Inside Science - Trends in forensics

BBC Inside Science - Trends in forensics

Inside the Commons - Episode 3

The Bottom Line - Gold

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Blackhat, dark night: Could hackers really cause a power outage?

OU on the BBC: Inside the Commons

Succeed with maths – Part 1 [TEST]

Succeed with maths – Part 1

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