Whitepapers and reports

The Open University is committed to driving forward-thinking discussions through the regular publication of whitepapers and research reports. Our thought leadership spans a diverse range of themes—from digital transformation and sustainability to leadership, inclusion, and the future of work.

These publications are created in collaboration with leading partner organisations, employers, and subject-matter experts, ensuring that our insights are grounded in both academic rigour and real-world relevance.

By exploring the latest developments in the skills landscape, our reports help businesses, policymakers, and learning professionals anticipate change, address workforce challenges, and make informed decisions to support long-term growth and resilience.

Annual report shows surge in free online learning

The latest OpenLearn annual report has been published. It shows that interest in the free learning site has soared to unprecedented levels, with global visitors surpassing the 80 million mark since its launch in 2006. OpenLearn, which is an integral part of The Open University (OU), offers bite-sized learning across a broad range of topics. Many OpenLearn visitors make the transition from informal to formal learning, inspired and emboldened by their experiences on the platform.

6th November 2020

Laura Overton and whitepaper front cover

New whitepaper - Driving business value through flexible learning

The Open University, in collaboration with TrainingZone, has launched a report to help employers reap the benefits of flexible learning.

29th April 2020

Access to Apprenticeships

Access to Apprenticeships is a new report by The Open University (OU) which explores access to, and the availability of, apprenticeships for people with declared disabilities. It is based on the results of a major survey of over 700 large and small employers across England.

25th September 2019

Open University partnership with IBM featured in new report

A partnership between The Open University and IBM features in the new State of the Relationship report by The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), launched today.

18th June 2019