The extended abstracts published in the Proceedings of the Academic Sessions 2014 are the work of researchers from both within and outside the Open University. This year, 130 extended abstracts were received, of which 90 research papers were accepted for presentation, after a peer review process. As in previous years, the papers presented in this year’s Academic Sessions include Open and Distance Learning (ODL) studies as well as research and development in a wide variety of contemporary topics relating to Natural Sciences, Engineering, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.