WELS news

Now in its third year, researchers at the Faculty of WELS walked away as winners and runner ups at The Open University’s annual Research Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievement of the university’s research environment and WELS were no exception.

In an OU Research Excellence Awards first, one winner will be decided externally. The People’s Choice Award asks the public to choose the person or project they feel has made the most significant difference when addressing societal challenges. WELS Senior Lecturer Dr Jitka Vseteckova runs one of four nominated projects, and tells us how it feels.

In this article Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Associate Lecturer at The Open University for Master of Education, Professional Doctorate and BEd Education Studies programmes, explores some of the key staffing issues challenging schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and how the OU can help address this.

When An Nguyen began her PhD with the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics at The Open University, she envisioned global field work to complete her research on English Medium Instruction. But then the Covid-19 pandemic happened and she found herself grounded. She tells us about the creative ways she’s navigated the issue, and the very personal experience behind her subject choice. 

Dr Emilia Misheva has joined UNESCO's Inclusive Policy Lab as an expert member, leading the newly created ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing of Autistic Children in Education’ team. The team aims to investigate how education settings can actively promote the wellbeing of autistic children.

A year on from funding being cut to the ACCESS programme, Professor Lesley Hoggart celebrates the achievements and outcomes of the project, and outlines the plans for the future.

Tutor Stuart Wroe reveals what it was like to win a 2021 WELS Tutor Award, as well as the places his impressive career has taken him – and the hobby that’s seen him followed by a BBC documentary crew.

The Open University Business School and the Centre are bringing together keynote speakers from South Sudan to explore education for peacebuilding and development in high conflict contexts.  Speakers include Ambassador Agnes Oswaha, Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan, Hon. Pia Philip, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Peacebuilding, and Archbishop Samuel Peni of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan in Western Equatoria State.

The WELS School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport (ECYS) has been recognised with an Athena Swan Departmental Bronze Award for its work to promote gender equality.

Research by WELS academics has resulted in 14 nominations at this year’s Open University Research Excellence Awards, including a project heralded as ‘groundbreaking’ by Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE.