Impact

How we are using our research to make a positive difference to people’s lives all across the globe

Our research has a world-class reputation for pioneering forms of participatory and inclusive research (including co-constructed, arts-based and child-led work) in collaboration with children and young people, people with physical and mental health disabilities, people with learning differences and older people.

We engage with communities of practice, policy-makers and the wider academy to generate critical, impactful and solution-oriented research.

Our innovative research centre - the Centre for the Study of Global Development offers us the opportunity to bring together many of our research areas and consider them through a global lens - creating a unified space for multi and interdisciplinary research.

Our faculty also hosts The Open University Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area – a university-wide initiative that brings together all of the OU’s research in health and wellbeing across various disciplines and areas including healthcare management, ageing studies, reproductive and sexual rights, assistive technologies, patient data management, mental health and biological health sciences.

Our research is funded by UK Research Councils, the European Union, the Department for International Development, the National Institute for Health Research and a wide range of trusts, charities and commercial organisations.

We are also actively engaged with the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) system, in which our research has been assessed to be ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’. Find out more about our submissions and performance.