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

#edchatie “The study of literature and history, art and music, language and culture, helps us to develop empathy and compassion, the very things that make us a human in the first place. Get rid of those and you are losing a lot more than you realise.” 👏🏻 Well said!

'Language is health...'

Studying the language and literature that has helped to define our nation at home and around the world for centuries is a "rip-off" apparently

In der Nacht auf Montag rettete unsere Sea-Watch 5 79 Menschen, die Europas Abschottungspolitik im Stich lässt. Der zugewiesene Hafen ist La Spezia, weshalb sie erst am Freitag in Sicherheit sein werden. Niemand sollte nach einer Rettung noch Tage auf Schutz warten müssen.

The UK is an international outlier. Please share the first post! #KeepCovidBoosters www.clinicallyvulnerable.org/post/a-preve...

Restricting eligibility as a wave is growing... One of the reasons used for dropping coverage in younger age groups, especially kids, was a lack of demand...for a medicine they told everyone wasn't necessary...🤦‍♂️ Not an issue nowadays, it seems...

Eligibility for an NHS Covid booster has been HUGELY restricted this Autumn. Studies show that both acute & long-term impacts of Covid are substantially WORSE than flu on almost every measure. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... So why are the government offering so much LESS protection for Covid?

I really enjoyed 'Thirty two words for field' - sad to see that Manchán Magan has died: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

'The affected staff, in the schools of foreign languages, history, religion and music, have been warned the university cannot rule out compulsory redundancy.'

The AfD qualified for three mayoral run-offs in cities in North Rhine-Westphalia today, and lost all by big margins. The lesson is not that we have overdone the AfD's rise, but that we do perhaps sometimes underestimate the counter-mobilisation effects - including in east Germany, incidentally.

Your age shouldn’t put you off learning a new language – what the research says theconversation.com/your-age-sho...