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Welcome to WELS research

Research in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies is concerned with enabling people and communities to thrive within an increasingly complex, insecure and unequal world. We recognise that having a voice and experiencing agency is vital for personal wellbeing and democratic renewal and we work both in the UK and in broader global development contexts to ensure that excluded, vulnerable and complexly disadvantaged people are enabled to shape the research that impacts their lives.

Find out more about our REF results.

 

Research areas

All of our research interests are united by a strong commitment to interdisciplinarity - drawing strength from the breadth of our academics' experience and specialisms. We are also strongly driven by the OU's social justice ethos and our research aims to enable communities and individuals to thrive in an increasingly demanding and unequal world.


 
 

Impact

How our research is making a real difference to people's lives.

 

Research highlights

Read more about some of our award-winning and pioneering research projects.

 

Research degrees

Join our vibrant community of PHD and Professional Doctorate students.


 
PRAXIS Center for Scholarship and Innovation  

Scholarship

Our scholarship and innovation centre PRAXIS brings together all our academic expertise to undertake sustained and intentional inquiry into learning, teaching and assessment practices in higher education.

Knowledge exchange  

Partner with us

Whether you are looking to train and develop your staff, or need access to an academic consultant to develop new solutions, we offer a wide variety of ways for organisations to harness our expertise.


Research news

A photo of Dr Simon Penn with the words: Research Excellence Awards Winner Dr Simon Penn, Outstanding Post Graduate Researcher

Dr Simon Penn wins Outstanding Post Graduate Researcher at The Open University Research Excellence Awards

Dr Simon Penn is the winner of the Outstanding Post Graduate Researcher Award at The Open University Research Excellence Awards for work that is changing the way the OU communicates feedback to students.

11th September 2024
A graphic of Dr Jennifer Agbaire with the words, Research Excellence Awards Winner, Dr Jennifer Agbaire Outstanding Early Career Researcher

Dr Jennifer Agbaire wins Outstanding Early Career Researcher at The Open University Research Excellence Awards

Dr Jennifer Agbaire has been awarded joint winner of the Outstanding Early Careers Research award at the 2024 Open University Research Excellence Awards for her exceptional research both in the UK and internationally.

11th September 2024
Hand holding a trophy

Researchers to collect prizes at The Open University Research Excellence Awards

The winning researchers of this year's Open University's Research Excellence Awards have been announced and will collect their prizes at an awards event in Milton Keynes.

11th September 2024
Woman holding a homemade cardboard sign saying my body, my choice. It's partially covering her face.

Researchers find more support needed for self-managed abortions

Researchers from the OU's Faculty of WELS are investigating how self-managed abortions relate to social connectedness and issues of reproductive control and autonomy. A new paper examines the experiences of self-managed abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to support available from professionals, family and friends. 

28th March 2024