Professor Keith Schofield, Head of The Open University Business School, discusses the OU’s £4.9m funding to lead the delivery of a social science research hub
Social science research – including study conducted in the OU’s Business School – is critical in addressing societal challenges. From the environment to the economy, to evolving global politics, social science has the power to guide policymaking and effect real change. That’s why researchers in this field need cutting-edge skills and learning.
Some £4.9million funding from the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will enable us to develop a Research Capability Hub over the next five years. This will bring together experts across a breadth of sectors to build a community that is focused on identifying and responding to researchers’ training and learning requirements throughout their careers.
It represents a major investment in the UK’s social science research infrastructure and being chosen to lead on this initiative is a real testament to the OU’s strengths in delivering innovative, dynamic and tailored education.
Colleagues across the Faculty of Business and Law, PolicyWISE (the OU’s public policy initiative) and the Institute of Educational Technology (IET) will work collaboratively to build and develop the new Hub, in partnership with other universities and established networks.
As we engage with the social science research community, we will build a picture of their evolving training needs and work to co-create quality and personalised learning through our innovative, leading open educational platform, OpenLearn Create. This approach means that more people can benefit from our learnings, and we can generate an even wider impact.
Building skills for all careers
Building a culture of lifelong learning is in our DNA, and we believe in the power of education to transform lives. One of our recent Business School graduates, Jack Harrington, is a great example of pursuing study to change his career pathway.
He described his early career as “eclectic” and, at 44, yearned for a role where he could lean into a diverse set of professional interests. His past positions saw him in business restructuring and university research management. Trusting in the power of learning Jack juggled work, study and family life to achieve his MBA (Technology Management) with The Open University.
He’s now CEO of the British Academy of Management (BAM), the national organisation supporting business and management studies. Jack says his MBA gave him both practical skills and intellectual confidence.
“As a CEO, I’m responsible for strategy and stakeholder engagement, and I also support academics working in management theory. The MBA gave me the language and tools to deliver both sides of the role,” Jack explains.
His advice to others considering a change of career is to think about study: “Find something you really care about and make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. The OU offers a rare mix – rigour, flexibility, and purpose. If that resonates with you, go for it.”
If you’re looking to reskill or upskill, the Open University MBA lets you work while you study and you’ll be able to apply your learning right from the start. Register by Thursday 16 October to start in November
