Finally, in this edition of OpenMinds e-News, we invite you to register your interest in joining a procession at an OU graduation ceremony in 2024.

Thank you for being such a valued member of the OU family.

The introduction image shows a frosty Open University campus in Milton Keynes, taken in December 2023 and originally shared on the OU's Instagram account

Citizen scientists needed to discover elusive black holes

Could you help our scientists at The Open University uncover the mysterious world of invisible black holes? Become a Black Hole Hunter and you’ll be taking part in scientific research that has the potential to reveal more about one of space’s most intriguing aspects. All you will need is a smartphone, tablet or other computer, some guidance on how to spot the tell-tale clues, and a bit of time...

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Magenta spots in this image from NASA NuSTAR show two black holes in the Circinus galaxy, located 13 million light-years from Earth in the Circinus constellation.

Andrew Malkinson talks of ‘lifesaver’ study for OU degree while wrongly jailed

Former Open University student Andrew Malkinson said studying for an Open degree while wrongly jailed for 17 years was a ‘lifesaver’. During his guest-editor slot on the Radio 4 flagship news programme, where he recently interviewed his OU tutor Dr David Giddings, he said the maths and physics modules of his course were what kept him going.

Image credit: BBC Radio 4 Today Programme

Open University awarded funding from Research England

Researchers at the OU have been awarded £7,730,000 from Research England to create a new centre for protecting women against violence online. The centre, to be based in Milton Keynes, will develop research to inform law, policy, technology development and practice to prevent and reduce harms suffered by women and girls online.

The History of English

Where did the phrase 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' come from? And when did scientists finally get round to naming body parts? Voiced by comic/presenter Clive Anderson, this series sees 1,600 years of history squeezed into 10 one-minute bites. It uncovers the sources of words and phrases from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to America and the internet. Be sure to follow us on Instagram if you can to see our daily videos (or follow the link to OpenLearn below to watch all of the videos).

OU research finds the Moon’s crust is richer in water than previously thought

Dr Tara Hayden has published research identifying, for the first time, the mineral apatite in a sample of early lunar crust, allowing for new insights into the water composition of the Moon. The research, published this month in Nature Astronomy, offers exciting new evidence that the Moon’s early crust contained more water than was originally thought, opening new doors into the study of lunar history.

Education Minister visits The Open University

Last month, Universities Minister Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP met with OU students, apprentices, and alumni, as well as the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Blackman on campus. The Minister was joined by the MP for Milton Keynes North, Ben Everitt. At a roundtable discussion, the Minister heard inspiring stories from students, apprentices and alumni of the OU about the benefits of studying via distance learning and how the OU’s flexible approach had enabled them to access high quality higher education.

Top ten most popular free courses to indulge in on OpenLearn

Since its launch in 2006, The Open University’s free learning resource website OpenLearn has received more than 112 million visits with many people going on to complete several of the hundreds of free courses available. In 2023, we saw Getting started on classical Latin make the top ten most popular list, along with Forensic Psychology. Find out which courses came out on top.

Inaugural Lecture with Professor Advaith Siddharthan

In his inaugural lecture, 'How society ought to engage with nature, science and technology', Advaith Siddharthan, Professor of Computer Science and Society, will explore how our engagement with the natural world impacts our scientific understandings and worldviews, the consequences of modern culture's disassociation with nature, and how digital technologies could paradoxically help reconnect people with nature when embedded within a methodology of citizen science.

Tuesday 13 February 2024, 13:00 - 14:00 (GMT)

Online or in-person at Berrill Theatre, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA

Would you like to join the procession at an OU graduation ceremony in 2024?

Each year, we have a limited number of places available to alumni who would like to join the procession at an OU graduation ceremony. The procession opens and closes the ceremony, and, along with alumni representatives, includes senior staff and officers of the University, Honorary Graduates and other dignitaries. Those in the procession will be seated on the stage and have a close-up view of all the proceedings. Travel expenses will be covered up to a value of £90.

If you would like to be contacted about procession opportunities available throughout 2024, please follow the link to a short form below.

You only need a few hours a week to study a short course or microcredential with The Open University. Choose from a range of subjects that can help you build new skills, discover a new hobby, or give your career a boost through continued professional development. 

Business management: project management

This course will develop in-demand project management skills to support you in planning, scoping, and managing a project, from business case to delivery. Whether you’re already involved in projects or looking to move into a project management role, this microcredential will help you uncover different project management tools, techniques, and frameworks and show you how to apply them to a range of organisations.

Begins 25 March 2024

Explore the wide range of microcredentials we have available.

Careers and Employability Services at The Open University

If you're a new member of the OU's Alumni Association, did you know the OU Careers and Employability Services are here to help you explore your options, plan and work towards your career or personal goals and support you with searching and applying for opportunities? Support is available for up to three years after you graduate.

If you completed your studies with us over three years ago, we still have lots of information that can be accessed without an OU student login. You can get help with your CV and preparing for job interviews, find out the range of careers your degree can lead you to or even increase your career confidence.

Have you visited your alumni website recently? If not, why not have a look today? Here you will find information on events, downloadable versions of all of our fantastic magazines and ways to keep in touch.

Here's a reminder of your PI number if you would like to register: 

If you don’t follow us on social media, please do! Just click on the icons below and join our online conversations.

What inspired you to become a student? Did you have any extraordinary moments while studying? Has completing your qualification changed your life or helped you discover a new self-confidence?

We want to hear from all OU alumni of different ages and experiences, identities and backgrounds, diverse ethnicities and cultures, abilities and disabilities, mental and physical health conditions and intersectionalities.

Please get in touch and share your story with the rest of the OU community.

The OU has the largest alumni community in the UK. Thanks for being part of it!

Our OU Students Association Shop has a range of OU merchandise for you to enjoy and proudly own as one of our alumni, from clothing, accessories, home and leisure, to stationery and jewellery.