News

The Open University is offering a Knowledge Transfer Voucher scheme to SMEs, charities and third sector organisations across Northern Ireland.

Knowledge Transfer Vouchers provide funding of between £5K - £10K for organisations to partner with The Open University to solve challenges faced, identify opportunities for further collaboration and develop lasting partnerships with the University.

​

Those with GCSEs or below as their highest prior attainment completing a part-time degree at The Open University in Northern Ireland are estimated to earn an average of £219,000 more in real terms over the rest of their career.

This is according to The economic and social impact of The Open University in 2018-19 report from London Economics, which found that the institution’s open entry policy, allowing students below the usual entry level requirements of traditional universities, offered potentially significant financial benefit over the course of a career.

The Open University’s Director in Ireland, John D’Arcy, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours for his services to Education and the Arts.

John has been The Open University’s National Director for Ireland since 2010, running its Belfast and Dublin offices. He is also a member of the University’s Council and Senate. In recent years, he has also worked as interim Director for The Open University in both Scotland and Wales.

The Open University is pleased to announce the provision of 250 places on a range of online courses for those across Northern Ireland who have been furloughed or made redundant as a result of COVID-19.  Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, the places will provide participants the opportunity to secure a qualification which will enable them to be considered for roles in cybersecurity, business management, technology and environment and more.

The Open University are offering places across several postgraduate level courses including:

Organisations from Northern Ireland are estimated to have spent over £30 million¹ on temporary staffing to bridge skills gaps over the last year, despite 18 per cent making redundancies to cut costs in the wake of COVID-19.

In a further attempt to create quick fixes to the fallout from the pandemic, over half of employers from Northern Ireland (56%) report that their organisation’s survival is dependent on their ability to manage costs, according to The Open University Business Barometer.

Want to study in a way which is different to many of your classmates.  A way which suits you and fits in with your life?

Studying with The Open University is a university option you may not have considered before. It’s different because you will study your degree online.

If you want it more than you fear it then you can do it!

This was Michelle’s mantra throughout her studies with the OU. Michelle is one of our incredible students and her story is inspiring.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Ireland) recently held their first ever Creative Writing Competition and were delighted to announce the winners at a virtual prize giving ceremony held on 30 June, 2020.

The event was chaired by coordinator Dr Jennifer Shepherd (Department of English and Creative Writing), who thanked students for their enthusiastic support of the event, including participation in the writing master-classes offered in the run-up to the contest deadline.

UK organisations anticipate that it will take 18 months to fully recover from the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent social distancing measures, with small businesses leading the way back to “normal”.

A survey of business leaders and managers by The Open University has found that SMEs expect to recover to their pre-COVID status in 15 months, with larger organisations trailing behind by a further 6 months¹.

11-year-old Tiernán Eviston from County Meath has been using his time in lockdown very wisely. Tiernán hasn’t stopped learning and has already completed 11 online courses from The Open University’s free learning site OpenLearn ranging from ‘An introduction to sustainable energy’ to ‘Square roots and powers’.