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Science, Maths & Technology
Building motivation and resilience in research
Facing setbacks and demotivation in research? Progress is rarely linear, and challenges like failed experiments or rejected proposals are a natural part of the journey. This course is designed to help you stay motivated, handle setbacks constructively, and turn obstacles into opportunities. This course equips researchers across all fields and...
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Education & Development
Building belonging and mattering to achieve equity for Black STEM students
Equity for Black STEM students goes beyond access – it requires belonging and mattering. This article explores how The Open University’s Black STEM Hub is building community, visibility and connection to support student success in distance learning.
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History & The Arts
Troy Story: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
Interested in Greek myths? We've condensed the epic narrative of Homer's poems the Iliad and the Odyssey into short animations voiced by the dulcet tones of Don Warrington.
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History & The Arts
Opening up history: art in the Reformation
In this Opening up history conversation we speak to Dr Roisin Watson about her research on how Protestants used images and objects to express their faith in the Reformation.
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History & The Arts
Opening up history: teaching transatlantic slavery in British schools
In this Opening up history conversation we speak to Dr Katie Donington, senior lecturer in Black, African and Caribbean History at The Open University, about her most recent project focusing on the teaching of slavery in British schools.
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History & The Arts
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is a major Islamic holiday, marking the end of Ramadan. Find out more about the ‘lesser Eid’ in this article.
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Education & Development
When words escape control: Tourette syndrome and slurs
After the BBC broadcast a racial slur shouted by a guest with Tourette syndrome, the incident sparked outrage and an apology. But it also reveals a deeper linguistic question: when words cause harm, how much does intent matter?
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Digital & Computing
Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
Protect your digital life with this free course introducing the essentials of cyber security. Learn how to spot online threats, keep your information safe and understand key topics like malware, network security and identity theft — helping you stay secure at home, at work, and beyond.
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Education & Development
An introduction to artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents great opportunity, but also significant disruption for modern societies and cultures. This free online short course investigates the historical, ethical and social issues surrounding this technology. It is aimed at people interested in understanding where this technology has come from, the kinds of ...
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History & The Arts
Who gets to be a human? Religion in colonial histories and Indigenous resistance
The global challenge of growing inequalities is intricately linked to the distinction made between those historically regarded as human and those who have not been. The division between ‘civilised’ and ‘non-civilised/primitive’ played a vital role in justifying the colonisation and enslavement of those who were deemed ‘lesser human’, ‘other ...
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Education & Development
How to become an ethical researcher
Why think about effective informed consent and assent and what do we mean?
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Education & Development
Closing the awarding gap: practical actions to support Black and minority ethnic students
Drawing on recent research and Open University scholarship (2020–2024), Rajvinder Samra explores how educators can help to close the awarding gap for Black and minority ethnic students.