Co-INSPIRE Resources

Co-INSPIRE Launch Event

These resources capture the Co-INSPIRE launch event (14 July 2026), Dialogues, Methods and Movements for the Future University. They include three visual overviews of the morning sessions. The full recording of the morning session can be found below, as well as the three workshop recordings from the afternoon session.

Session: Origin Stories

The session on ‘Origin Stories’ brought together OU academics and community collaborators to share how and why they became involved in co-production and collaborative practice. Presentations by Rick Holliman (OU STEM), Bini Araia (lived experience community-based work, Investing in People & Culture), Roxanne (OU FASS), and Nudrat Hopper (Citizens UK) highlighted the richness, diversity, and impact of co-produced approaches across and beyond the OU.

Session: The Co-Productive University of the Future

The session on ‘The Co-Productive University of the Future’ explored how universities can address today’s complex challenges through co-production, co-design, co-creation, and participation. Presentations by Liz Richardson (Co-Pro Futures), Peter Keogh (OU), and Ellen Scott (OU) examined how existing university values, structures, and processes may hinder collaboration, and considered the changes needed to create a truly co-productive university.

Session: Re-Imagining Research

The session on ‘Re-imagining Research’ explored how research can be transformed through alternative funding approaches. Presentations featured Chris Manion (British Science Association) on the Ideas Fund, Gill Hughes (University of Hull) on Reimagining Research Outputs, and ‘Create Your Own Journey’, highlighting innovative, participatory research pathways.

Launch recording

This video recording captures the morning sessions of the launch event, including Origin Stories presentations, the Formal Launch Speech from Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation Mark Brandon, a panel on The Co-Productive University of the Future, and an interactive session on Re-Imagining Research.

Workshop: Lived Experience Approaches

Helen Casey (OU), Claire Harris (OU), Raj Mehta (Public Collaborator) and Hameed Khan (lived experience partnership group) traced the evolution of co-production in social work and nursing education, from the historical absence of service users to today's principle of "laying the table together" working with lived experience partners as equals across recruitment, teaching, assessment and research. 

Workshop: Participatory Theatre for Researching Social Change

This arts-based session included a presentation from Umut Erel (OU) on her theatre and walking work with migrant mothers and girls, and a second presentation from Sarah Crafter (OU) and Roxanne Korda (OU) on their ALPHABETICA project, which built confidence among disadvantaged young people through slow, attentive pedagogy. The accompanying discussion made a case for enchantment and fun as legitimate research outcomes, and for theatre as a "rehearsal for change." (Umut Erel’s video is not displayed in the recording, but can be found here).

Workshop: WEDesign: What’s vital now?

Led by Theodore Zamenopoulos (OU), Sophia de Souza (The Glass-House Community Led Design) and Katerina Alexiou (OU), this workshop identified practical ideas for supporting communities to generate ideas and design responses to the issues that affect them such as connected housing, open learning spaces and shared community "third spaces.". Find out more about the WeDesign approach

The ‘Co’ Video Series

We are launching a new video series exploring the diverse ways people are working with 'Co' at the OU.

Co-creating Teaching and Learning

In this video, Claire Saunders, Associate Dean for Students and Teaching at The Open University, explores how co-creation transforms teaching and learning through student partnerships, innovation, and collaboration at scale.