News

An Open University research team led by Dr Jitka Vseteckova, Knowledge Exchange & Enterprise Lead for the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care (HWSC), are working with The Parks Trust, an independent charity caring for over 6,000 acres of parkland and green space in Milton Keynes, to evaluate a new walking programme initiative for people living with dementia and their informal carers and families.

New Health Education England (HEE) funding will provide financial support for employers to unlock more learning opportunities by granting additional support to cover the costs associated with apprenticeship training. A welcome advancement which brings immense benefits to not only NHS trusts, healthcare providers, and their workers, but also their patients. 

Young people’s lives have been drastically disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic; Youth Mental Health Day (7th September 2020) aims to get young people, and those who support them, talking about how to improve mental health.

Dr Claire Chatterton has been awarded Fellowship of the RCN (Royal College of Nursing) at this year’s RCN Awards.

Dr Philip Seargeant has been awarded Bronze in the Education and Training category at the 2020 EVCOM Clarion Awards for his short documentary film, ‘The Language of Protest’, produced in collaboration with Hamlett Films. The film, which was shot pre-lockdown and focuses predominantly on protests around the climate crisis, is an insightful look at political communication in the era of the protest.

Following the recent Reading Together Day initiative, the OU’s Reading for Pleasure programme, led by Professor Teresa Cremin, has partnered with The Reading Agency to launch a Teachers’ Reading Challenge this summer. Due to launch on 14 August, the initiative aims to create a community for teachers to share their thoughts and recommendations on children’s literature.

Natalia Kucirkova, a former OU post-graduate, has joined the OU’s School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sports as Professor of Reading. With a background in children’s reading, including social justice in children’s literacy and research on children's use of e-books and apps, Professor Kucirkova is also an expert on personalisation and use of children's personal data.

Professor Kwame Akyeampong has been appointed Professor of International Education and Development in the OU’s School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sports.

The Open University has joined forces with Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to create a new apprenticeship route for experienced and aspiring healthcare workers. Part of the Trust’s Future You career development programme, the apprenticeship will support the growth of the Trust while providing a new pathway to individuals wishing to launch their career as a Nursing Associate or Registered Nurse.

The OU is part of an innovative new Health Education England (HEE) project to deliver a unique pre-registration blended learning nursing curriculum in London and the South West from February 2021.