OU branch UCU

19/10/2026

New newsletter from the "Education, it's ours" UCU campaign

15/10/2026

Black History Month is a dedicated time to recognise and celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK. It shines a light on the individuals and communities whose stories have shaped our society, while encouraging us to learn more about Black British history and the continuing work needed to tackle racism and inequality.

Discover the pioneers celebrated during Black History Month 2026, highlighting achievements in literature, music, sport, business, academia, and more. Inspiring change and innovation.

29/09/2026

As part of the launch of a major new UCU campaign to save post-16 education, UCU has launched a new website which it hopes branches and members will find useful and informative. UCU is also confident the resources across the site will help UCU build the solidarity, campaigning and action it will need to tackle the crisis in our sector.
You can view the website here: https://educationitsours.org.uk/

Education. It's ours — UCU's campaign to defend jobs, courses and campuses across further and higher education. Choose your pathway and take action.

28/09/2026

Last week UCU launched 'Education: It's Ours', a major new campaign to tackle the crisis in post-16 education and raise working standards across the sectors. You can read and share the campaign's September 2026 newsletter here.
https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/15913/Education.-Its-ours---newsletter-2-Sep-26/pdf/Education_its_ours_-_newsletter_2_-_September_2026.pdf

17/08/2026

The Open University’s creation under the Harold Wilson Government is referenced by Euan Blair, the co-founder and chief executive of the apprenticeships company Multivers in this episode of the popular debate series. Blair was discussing how people can do a degree or study, at different times of their life and the creation of the OU is an example of giving people the chance to study in HE who did not go to university at 18. Presenter Anne McElvoy mediates debate between Blair and Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews with an expertise in medieval literature.

Listen again via this link:

Is university still delivering social and career progress for young people?

13/08/2026

UCU congratulates students receiving results today

02/06/2026

UCU is asking you to complete a workload survey and share it with your colleagues (members and non-members). The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete, and respondents can enter a prize draw for 5 x £50 vouchers.

Please click here to start the UCU workload survey:
https://yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/Workload-survey-2026

Workload Survey 2026.

27/05/2026

John Lewis Partnership and The Open University to support more care-experienced young people into higher education

Applications are now open for people aged 30 and under with experience of being in care to study an undergraduate qualification at the OU for free.

15/05/2026

https://www.tuc.org.uk/remembering-1926-general-strike-100-years/general-strike-1926-why-it-happened-and-why-it-still-matters

Marking the centenary is an opportunity to reflect on the struggles of the past, recognise the courage of those who stood up for fair treatment, and continue the work of building a better future for working people.

22/04/2026

Earth Day: climate learning resources
Celebrated this year on Wednesday 22 April, Earth Day has been held since 1970 and is supported by labour movements. In the UK, UCU hosts a collection of free or open-access climate and ecological learning materials. These are normally updated for Climate Learning Week and the United Nations COP timetable, but are available throughout the year. For more on Earth Day and the 2026 Year of Trade Union Climate Action, you can visit the Campaign Against Climate Change website, to which UCU is affiliated.
https://www.cacctu.org.uk/earth_day

Let's reclaim Earth Day from greenwash! In 1970 the first Earth Day took place with an estimated 20 million Americans participating in rallies, marches, and teach-ins responding to toxic pollution of their air, waters and land by corporations pursuing profit in the absence of environmental regulatio...