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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 young girl hugging her grandma

New toolkit to encourage wellbeing across generations

A new toolkit has been launched to promote positive wellbeing across generations. Based on both previous research into ageing and the online campaign to take the Take Five to Age Well Pledge, the Live Well Together toolkit provides various activities for all ages to complete together

22nd November 2024
Image of the CRC logo positioned above a photo of children in school uniform

20 years of the Children's Research Centre

This year marks 20 years of the Children’s Research Centre (CRC), a pioneering centre that positions children as leaders of research. To celebrate 20 years of this innovative work, researchers came together at a conference in October.

5th November 2024
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