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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 graphic showing a photo that looks down on a girl sitting on grass holding a camera. The words to the right of the graphic read: OU Research Image of the Month Dr Philip Seargeant

Dr Philip Seargeant is February’s OU Research Image of the Month

Dr Philip Seargeant of the Faculty of WELS is February's winner of OU Research Image of the Month. His winning image captures his research in a uniquely creative way.

27th February 2025
A profile photo of Jenny Douglas against a white background

Dr Jenny Douglas wins award to improve health of black women in the UK

Dr Jenny Douglas has been awarded a prestigious grant aimed at improving Black women's health and wellbeing in the UK

26th February 2025
A graphic showing a photo looking down on a girl sitting on grass holding a camera. The words to the right of the graphic read, OU Research Image of the Year Winner Dr Margaret Ebubedike

Dr Margaret Ebubedike wins OU Research Image of the Year

Dr Margaret Ebubedike is the overall winner of the newly launched OU Research Image Competition. Academics from across the OU submitted images which follow the theme, "impacting the world." An image has been selected by the judging panel for every month of the year.

4th February 2025
A blonde girl wearing a red hoodie and reading her mobile phone at a train station

OU academics collaborate with YSS on impact of online media exposure on children of prisoners

The Open University's Open Societal Challenges has provided funding to a team of academics including some based at the Faculty of WELS to collaborate on a challenge with the charity YSS.

3rd February 2025