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Challenge Us! 2024 Competition Guidelines

Current or recent OU students

Please summarise the real-world problem you are trying to tackle.

100 words or less

In 100 words or less, please summarise the real-world problem you wish to focus on for your entry. At the Open Societal Challenges, we are interested in problems across the spectrum, from local issues to global questions. Please try to refrain from excessively broad problems (e.g. ‘world hunger’) and equally try to stay away from overly specific issues (e.g. lack of public service provision in the Northstowe development in Cambridgeshire).

What should OU research teams aim to do to tackle the problem?

150 words or less

Researchers aim to tackle real-life problems in a number of ways. Examples include:

  • Understanding the scale and scope of a problem (e.g. ‘How do social factors affect the risk of malaria in subsaharan African countries? ’)
  • Developing new methods or technologies to address the problem (e.g. ‘What new methods can we develop for children to self-report pain levels?’)
  • Evaluating a specific intervention or technique used to address the problem (e.g. ‘Does an online pledge support healthy ageing in older people?’)

We do not expect entries to come up with a specific research plan, but we are interested in your ideas for how researchers can help with the real-life issues that matter to you.

Who should OU researchers work with when tackling this problem?

(Identify any stakeholders or affected groups, other relevant organisations or communities). 100 words or less

Please identify any stakeholders or affected groups, relevant organisations, companies, communities and members of the public. At the Open University, we are committed to open and accessible research and to bringing people along with us on the journey.

Registered UK Charity

Please summarise the real-world problem you are trying to tackle.

100 words or less

In 100 words or less, please summarise the real-world problem you wish to focus on for your entry. At the Open Societal Challenges, we are interested in problems across the spectrum, from local issues to global questions. Please try to refrain from excessively broad problems (e.g. ‘world hunger’) and equally try to stay away from overly specific issues (e.g. lack of public service provision in the Northstowe development in Cambridgeshire).

What should OU research teams aim to do to tackle the problem?

150 words or less

Researchers aim to tackle real-life problems in a number of ways. Examples include:


We do not expect entries to come up with a specific research plan, but we are interested in your ideas for how researchers can help with the real-life issues that matter to you.

Who should OU researchers work with when tackling this problem?

(Identify any stakeholders or affected groups, other relevant organisations or communities). 100 words or less

Please identify any stakeholders or affected groups, relevant organisations, companies, communities and members of the public. At the Open University, we are committed to open and accessible research and to bringing people along with us on the journey.

How does the proposed research Challenge relate to the work of your Charity?

100 words or less

Please briefly outline how your entry relates to the work or mission of your Charity. This is also where you can outline any pieces of work your Charity is currently undertaking that might be relevant to your entry. We aim to co-design the winning research project with the winning Charity, and we are very much interested in any insight and plans you may have already made.

Milton Keynes Businesses

Please summarise the real-world problem you are trying to tackle.

100 words or less

In 100 words or less, please summarise the real-world problem you wish to focus on for your entry. At the Open Societal Challenges, we are interested in problems across the spectrum, from local issues to global questions. Please try to refrain from excessively broad problems (e.g. ‘world hunger’) and equally try to stay away from overly specific issues (e.g. lack of public service provision in the Northstowe development in Cambridgeshire).

What should OU research teams aim to do to tackle the problem?

150 words or less

Researchers aim to tackle real-life problems in a number of ways. Examples include:


We do not expect entries to come up with a specific research plan, but we are interested in your ideas for how researchers can help with the real-life issues that matter to you.

Who should OU researchers work with when tackling this problem?

(Identify any stakeholders or affected groups, other relevant organisations or communities). 100 words or less

Please identify any stakeholders or affected groups, relevant organisations, companies, communities and members of the public. At the Open University, we are committed to open and accessible research and to bringing people along with us on the journey.

How does the proposed research Challenge relate to your business?

(Please include reference to any technology and data solutions you are considering) 100 words or less

Please briefly outline how your entry relates to your business. This is also where you can outline any pieces of work you are currently undertaking that might be relevant to your entry, with a specific focus on any data you might have collected or be in the process of collecting.