New Co-INSPIRE centre launched

A new centre dedicated to co-creation, co-production, co-design and inclusive approaches to research and teaching has officially launched at The Open University (OU).

Co-INSPIRE was formally launched on 14 July 2026 with a full-day programme of panel discussions, presentations and workshops bringing together academics, practitioners, partners and community organisations from across and beyond the University.

The centre has been established to connect and strengthen the wide range of collaborative research and teaching practices already taking place across the OU. These approaches include community-based research, lived experience methodologies, participatory action research, social pedagogies, arts-based methods, citizen science and community-led design.

Originally developed within the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS), Co-INSPIRE has evolved over the past two years into a pan-university initiative spanning all four faculties. The centre also works closely with external partners, communities and colleagues from academic-related areas across the institution.

Building the future co-productive university

The launch event, themed Dialogues, Methods and Movements for the Future University, explored how universities can develop more meaningful partnerships in research and teaching. Discussions focused on practical approaches to co-production, as well as the longer-term changes needed to create more inclusive and collaborative institutions.

Morning sessions featured contributors from The Open University alongside speakers from the Co-Production Futures Inquiry, the University of Manchester, the University of Hull and the British Science Association's Ideas Fund programme. Participants took part in panel discussions and interactive sessions exploring co origin stories, the co-productive university, and reimagining research. The afternoon programme included workshops on lived experience approaches, arts-based methods and citizen-led design, led by OU academics and their partners.

A centre for connection and collaboration

A key focus of the launch was identifying the future role of Co-INSPIRE within the University. Participants highlighted the importance of creating stronger connections across disciplines, allowing ideas, methods and expertise to be shared more widely.

The centre aims to create opportunities for collaboration across traditional academic boundaries while encouraging critical discussion of the ethical, political, theoretical and practical dimensions of co-production.

Co-INSPIRE will also work to support the development of university structures and processes that enable collaborative approaches to flourish. Alongside this, the centre plans to advocate for changes in research funding and policy priorities that better support knowledge co-production, social justice and efforts to tackle inequality.

By bringing together researchers, communities and partners, Co-INSPIRE aims to help realise the vision of The Open University as a truly co-productive university.

To get updates of Co-INSPIRE activities as well as other resources and events, then Sign up to the Co-INSPIRE mailing list. You can also follow Co-INSPIRE on LinkedIn or drop the Co-INSPIRE team a line.