Breaking Down the News: Winter

Meet for 3 monthly classes (20/01/2027, 17/02/2027 and 17/03/2027).

Join us for a deep discussion of current events, facilitated by the Centre for Open Learning’s Social Sciences teaching team. In each of the 3 monthly sessions, we will discuss one key topic and challenge from recent global and local events, such as elections or war, or emerging issue, such as AI or climate change.

Classes will consist of two hours of guided discussion, with an emphasis on sharing and discussing issues and events using  some basic social science concepts and ideas.

Teachers will share relevant articles and resources in advance of each session through the online learning platform, alongside suggestions for exploring the topics further.

Any recommended reading will be advised by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a computer or other device with internet connection. 

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Discuss  academic texts related to current events and issues.
• Understand and evaluate academic  ideas in relation to current events.
• Discuss underlying assumptions, evidence, and biases in the topics and sources covered in class. 

This course is open to everyone who is interested in diving deeper into current events and key issues. You do not need to have previous experience of studying social sciences.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support. 

No previous experience required.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course start date, unless the course is full or cancelled.