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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
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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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
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.
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Languages
Year of the Horse: Chinese Lunar New Year
Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse! As the Lunar New Year approaches once again, millions of people across the world prepare to welcome a new zodiac cycle with festive celebrations, family gatherings, and expressions of hope for the year ahead.
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Education & Development
Black and Minority Ethnic Network Podcasts - series 2
Katherine Jegede returns to host the second series of a podcast to discuss the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic staff and students at the OU. It showcases academic research and projects, plus covers the work happening within the institution in relation to race and ethnicity.
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Money & Business
Working in teams
This course will help you consider your experience of working in teams and the different roles you play in them. It will increase your confidence in marketing this key skill to employers as well improve your ability to perform well in teams you are currently part of.
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Society, Politics & Law
Researching at the Margins: How Collective Autoethnography centred Black mothers’ knowledge
How can collective autoethnography create space for marginalised voices in research? Mel Green reflects on how everyday conversations between Black mothers became a rigorous, community-rooted method that reveals insights traditional research often misses.
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Education & Development
Mothering at the Margins: Amplifying and validating the voices of Black mothers of autistic children
Black mothers of autistic children face challenges that go far beyond parenting. This research reveals how racism, gender inequality and ableism combine to create a ‘triad of oppression’ and why urgent change is needed.
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History & The Arts
Hip Hop and the Institution: Darren Abracadazra
Spoken word artist Darren Abracadazra performed at The Open University’s Hip Hop and the Institution conference. Here, he talks about his influences, poetry and ‘X Factor’...
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History & The Arts
The historical and ongoing persecution of Europe’s gypsies
It’s estimated that 25% of the Roma pre-war European population perished as a result of Nazi persecution. This article explores the anti-Roma prejudice that still goes on today, and what can be done to tackle it.