Difficult to disagree with this: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Inequality kills. People in the wealthiest UK areas have 20 more years of good health than those in the poorest. Healthy life expectancy for Richmond upon Thames man 69.3 yrs, woman 70.3 yrs. Man in Blackpool 50.9 years; woman in Hartlepool 51.2 years. Deaths rising among 25- to 49-year-olds.

'The number of English language and literature academics fell by 8 per cent to 4,680 – among the largest decrease of all disciplines. And the number employed in modern languages dropped 7 per cent to 4,890. This is 17 per cent below peak levels in 2015-16.' 1/3

The dismal tide accelerates, sweeping from Coventry through Sheffield Hallam to London South Bank. 1/2

These were mayoral 🇫🇷 elections, so any national extrapolation is of course hazardous. But if you go by voting in towns with > 100,000 population, one cautious conclusion from last night’s voting is this : the broad non-populist centre can hold

Merci !

'The impact of this policy will be particularly severe for women. In Afghanistan, girls have been excluded from secondary education and women from higher education for over four years.' 1/2

Finnish President Alexander Stubb says Brexit was a “colossal mistake” “It’s like amputating your leg without medical reason for doing it”

There are other reasons for the UK government not to award or continue Palantir contracts but this statement of intent by its CEO must surely be decisive?

'Students from affluent backgrounds are rarely required to justify their curiosity so narrowly – they are trusted to enjoy learning and to assume that things will work out – while state-educated students are often asked to translate interest into employability before they are allowed to pursue it'

Finland's President Alexander Stubb with a confident explanation why countries can't narrowly be judged on GDP alone. Welfare system nations aren't just the happiest but also economically successful. [Spain is currently the EU's economic powerhouse.] In the end, what are countries for? People.

Our new piece out today in Times Higher Education about the threats to Geography in the UK - particularly fieldwork - please do share. It links to a recent snapshot survey on the challenges being faced in UK HE, which highlights the inequities of the challenges, but also fears of what is yet to come

'The ground-breaking study from the University of Stirling will examine the educational, economic, social and cultural factors that impact on language learning, analysing the different approaches and outcomes in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.'

'New data from the Ministry of Justice show that studying with The Open University (OU) delivers “significant reductions” in reoffending amongst prison learners.' 'It also found that those studying committed 37 per cent fewer offences within a year of release.' 1/2

As the famous saying goes….”The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Likewise, the best time to start weaning ourselves off dependence on the US……..

'The furore centres on recruitment for a handful of places in subjects such as music, classics and modern languages, which are prey to the most gaping of educational disparities. Many state schools simply cannot offer them in depth, if at all' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I understand the pressures on the BBC, but Radio 4's coverage of the Minneapolis shooting is an example of "bad balance". It's all "the Trump regime says she was a terrorist, but Democrats say it was murder". The BBC has the footage. It doesn't have to treat truth and falsehood as equally valid.

I wish the Brexit dinosaurs would stop this "Erasmus is for posh kids" crap. Half the young population goes to university, these days, in UK and most of EU. And most of the half that doesn't is also eligible for Erasmus+, which covers schools, further education, adult learners and in-work training.

Reflecting on a wonderful few days in Belgrade with @janeotoole.bsky.social at #actionresearch communities workshop. Inspiring language teachers and great hospitality from our hosts at Foundation Tempus. Thanks to the European Centre for Modern Languages of the @coe.int www.ecml.at/en/News/ArtM...

Repeat after me: The point of Erasmus isn't just to go to a European university for a period. It is also having European students come to institutions in the UK, where they bring their ideas, perspective, viewpoints and skills.

EXCL: An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

One of this year's great thrills was getting to film a documentary on Gallaghers and the Gallagher surname (with a dollop of my own family history too) for TG4. Our episode of Sloinne is being broadcast again on Wednesday 17 December at 7.30pm (or streaming here): www.tg4.ie/en/player/on...

✨Thrilled and honoured that BERA have recognised our research team's contribution to primary languages education! Here's to the project team including the inspirational teachers we've worked with! www.bera.ac.uk/news/bera-an...

Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252: Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email. Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk

Joining Erasmus+ is essential for restoring young people's freedom, allowing them to study, work, and explore different cultures across Europe. This is a positive step.

Difficult to disagree with this: 'the economic and political price of Brexit is all too clear. However, its chief proponents do not seem to be paying the political price' www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...

Great to meet language teachers from Belgrade at our online European Centre for Modern Languages @coe.int action research workshop earlier today with @janeotoole.bsky.social

It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites. About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4

'Brexit has only cemented a dangerously misguided sense that international engagement is not essential to the UK’s future'

Please support colleagues in Modern Languages at Nottingham c.org/xGDzkLX8Vs

On Ireland specifically but same applies in the UK www.thejournal.ie/readme/opini...

Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?

Excellent article here. Our students are our greatest advocates. Counter proposals will be put forward, and we are supporting colleagues in Music, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at Nottingham with their campaigns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Such a key point about cutting back on language provision - it’s not good for science and it’s not good for growth www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I am hearing that @uniofnottingham.bsky.social is suspending (i.e shutting down) *all modern language courses* in 2026-27. One of the largest departments in the UK. A shocking short sighted move that damages regional and national prospects @britishacademy.bsky.social @hetanshah.bsky.social

Another grim read on language learning: 'The belief that the rest of the world can and should speak English is rarely spoken aloud: it sits uncomfortably with the tolerance and diversity that most of us want to show'

Well this is awful news: tinyurl.com/yr65mjkx 'All modern language and music courses are being suspended for new students at the University of Nottingham.' Nottingham friends: please be assured that we will join you in protesting against this decision in the strongest possible terms. Solidarity.

With several open access articles, including on inequalities in access to language education & primary languages

Fancy a taste of #Portuguese language? Join our free online Portuguese taster session. Booking required: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/disco... Session organised by the Camões Centre for Portuguese Language at the University of Leeds and delivered by Carmem Mackle (Lecturer in Portuguese).

So I've been reading the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. There's some good things in there. But when it comes to universities there's very little to cheer. The situation is very tough and will get worse. The last chance to preserve what we've got has passed. Let me explain why. (1/?)

Shame that Number 10 still hasn’t.

NEW Either public safety is an absolute priority at sporting events or it is not. Reflections on the Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv match By me emptycity.substack.com/p/either-pub...

To be clear: deportations to increase cultural homogeneity is the text book definition of ethnic cleansing. Demands that come even close to this are so far outside any democratic norm and the rule of law. What has happened to a country when this is not condemned in the strongest possible terms?

In the whole half century period since the dictator Idi Amin's expelled migrants in 1972, can anybody identify any *democratic* government at all that has stripped past grants of permanent residence from a large number of legal migrants & removed/expelled them?

Interesting & important read on publishing in English when it's not your 1st language: 'Language barriers have long influenced who is heard in science. AI tools now offer a way to close the gap, but without care, they risk reinforcing the very biases they aim to solve'

The idea that our friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues should be summarily flung out of the country by some future Tory government because they don't fit some right wing extremist's definition of "cultural coherence" should set alarm bells ringing everywhere.

In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67...

Vets should be made to publish prices, watchdog says. Energy, water, internet, phone, train, banks, grocery companies publish prices, doesn't prevent profiteering. Too many vets owned by corporations & private equity. How about stopping takeovers, fines and cancelled licences for profiteering