Poverty, Crime and Sex at the OU

Since its launch in 1969, the Open University has built up an enviable reputation for pioneering multi-media teaching methods and courses to degree level for adult students returning to education, often after many years' gap. Historians on the course teams at the OU's headquarters in Milton Keynes have played a. prominent part, particularly in developing pioneering interdisciplinary courses of social and political history.

Less well-known though ire the programmes of academic research and projects that OU historians have been starting to develop, taking advantage of the university's particular experience in marrying course development with new technologies. But a recent research open day by the Department of History – part of a 'Silver Jubilee' programme celebrating the OU's twenty-five years – lifted the curtain in some of the projects now underway.