Good luck to the mighty @sheffielducu.bsky.social! All our managers are watching these events unfold. It's payday next week and I know where I'll be sending my Christmas donation this year!

'An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Russell Group university “does not have appropriate arrangements in place” for managing workplace stress and was unable to demonstrate that it is managing the risks associated with excessive workloads.' 1/2

Thrilled to share that I’ve signed a book contract for my monograph to appear with Camden House in their Screen Cultures: German Film and the Visual series! Disclaimer - this is what AI thinks the cover will look like. I’ve got to finish it before I can find out how close it is to the reality!

UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme. British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d... via @theguardian.com @pippacrerar.bsky.social

#Languages and #cultures matter - to education, communities and regions. This quote from Professor Emma Cayley captures why Leeds City of Languages is such a powerful civic initiative. @lcsleeds.bsky.social @emmacayley.bsky.social

Support @sheffielducu.bsky.social! Oppose the lock-out threat! www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...

Tell University of Sheffield management to get back to the negotiating table and take meaningful action to resolve this dispute: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...

Edinburgh: 350 jobs at risk, alongside pay freezes and reduced hours. Strathclyde: 70 job cuts announced. These issues were raised during First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, as university staff face deep uncertainty heading into Christmas.

HESA put the academic staff numbers in 23-24 in Essex at 1560, and given voluntary severence schemes it's likely to be lower now, so this is at least 2/3rds of all academic staff in Essex receiving risk of redundancy letters.

For avoidance of confusion, that’s just about all academic staff, excluding Heads of Dept and- of course - Senior Management Team.

What a way to say “thank you for all the work you did getting this trying term to a good end”: risk of redundancy letters to go into the Christmas break. Wishing triplet ghost visits upon Essex management. And sending much solidarity to all @ucuessex.bsky.social

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

Dear journalists, we know the novelty has worn off, but you don’t want the next novelty of this #UKHE crisis leading to the collapse of towns. Ask politicians serious questions, AND KEEP ASKING. Their bland deflections are unacceptble.

When will this crisis get any attention whatsoever!? A THOUSAND ACADEMIC STAFF AT ONE INSTITUTION SERVED REDUNDANCY RISK NOTICES! And that's not counting what's surely being visited on professional services staff too. This is an economic catastrophe, to say nothing of the intellectual catastrophe!

Leeds members, please see our email today for hardship fund link to support striking colleagues at Sheffield. Sending solidarity to @sheffielducu.bsky.social

“Union-Busting Tactic” The University of Sheffield argues staff who do not replace missed teaching due to strike action are in breach of contract, and so should forfeit an *additional* two weeks of pay. #UKHE #AcademicSky

Essex students found out their campus was closing from a link in a WhatsApp chat. 800 students uprooted. 400 jobs cut. One university in crisis. Students and staff deserve better. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential

Our Winter graduation ceremonies begin today 🥳 It’s our virtual graduation today, with our in-person ceremonies starting on Friday. Huge congratulations to everyone graduating over the next week or so! We're so pleased to welcome you to the @leedsalumni.bsky.social community 💚 #LeedsGrad

Last week we held a mini W+IGS celebration at Leeds to say goodbye to our outgoing Chair, @profingrid.bsky.social — thank you for your committed, inspiring, feminist leadership during turbulent times. 💜

It's starting to sound like the @universityofessex.bsky.social VC is keen on getting that Scrooge-of- #UKHE crown this year? Shutting down all paths of possibility for those who have the least? (sidenote: her previous post was on the @qmul.bsky.social Senior Executive Team...)

Universities: investing millions so students ”develop literacy in the language of AI” Also universities: defunding the humanities so students are illiterate in ordinary languages

In yet more devastating news, the VC has confirmed her plans to cut 80% of academic staff from Essex Pathways, our foundation year department. This would effectively close down all our existing foundation year programmes through the back door. But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.

NEW: Strike ballot opens Monday at Northumbria Uni Management is forcing staff out of the industry standard Teachers' Pension Scheme through the threat of a pay freeze. Our members say no! @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social www.ucu.org.uk/article/1428...

Looking for an MA in Classics and Ancient History? Look no further! We are very excited about the launch of our new MA in Classics and Ancient History, now open for applications for a September 2026 start. For more information and to apply, please visit: courses.leeds.ac.uk/k149/classic...

'Our research clearly illustrates that large areas of the country are becoming “cold spots” for social sciences, humanities and arts (SHAPE) subjects, meaning that students face starkly shrinking opportunities'. 1/2

Four hundred jobs. A campus closed. Staff deserve better.

Solidarity with Derby @ucu.org.uk members on strike against compulsory redundancies this week. #LboroUCU branch is with you as you stand up to your catastrophic management! #DerbyUCU #WeAreTheUniversity

We love to see it !

Great to see that @sheffielduni.bsky.social's response to the EHRC nonsense has been to increase universal toilet provision across campus. Really shows there are inclusive ways to response to the anti-trans climate. Bravo.

Being a Brownie and then a Guide were important experiences for me. It's heartbreaking to know that girls are being excluded from this community

It's official: 400 redundancies and a campus closure. At-risk staff will get a letter next week. Absolutely no serious consideration of any of the union's counterproposals. Please share widely.

'The media has not yet picked up on the fact that Northumbria University has also now quietly closed applications to its Music degree. This is a new course, which admitted its first students only five years ago. Staff with excellent research profiles were appointed'. 1/3

Another day, another reminder that our university is undermining its gloabal standing. This time from none other than the Spanish ambassador to the UK. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Toni Sender, 29.11.1888 #hessensgeschichte #tonisender #USPD Mehr Infos: www.toni-sender-akademie.de/toni-sender/ www.arbeiterbewegung-digital.de/pdf/19191129... www.fes.de/feshistory/t... @rlshistory.bsky.social @dielinkehessen.linke.social.ap.brid.gy @rotehilfefrankfurt.bsky.social

BBC News - Embassy concerned by under-threat language courses in Nottingham - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

German academia: great place to work? You should think twice before giving it a try: Permanent positions are very rare, most scholars have to drop out after some precarious years. @dianakwon.bsky.social has written a great piece about this for @nature.com and also talked to yours truly. #IchBinHanna

A very frustrating situation but also a trip down memory lane. It's @leedsucu.bsky.social!

I'm very excited for the launch of the new School of Languages, Cultures and Societies Centre for Global Queer Cultures and Politics, next Thursday 4 December 2025. At a darkening time for queer lives, launching this centre feels like kindling a small light. ahc.leeds.ac.uk/events/event...

RHS Fellows based in universities come not just from History depts but from across HE bit.ly/48iH0oG In the past 12 months, we've welcomed historians based in (among others) Accounting, Education, English, Film Studies, Law, Media Studies, Modern Languages, Political Theory & Theology #Skystorians

Our Postgraduate Virtual Open Day is this weekend🎉 We will be covering student life, employability, funding opportunities and more 🤩 Find out more about postgraduate study at Leeds by signing up now 👇 https://bit.ly/4psdQu8

🚨 Day 2 of 4: Staff strike at Imperial. UCU & Unite are on the picket lines Tues–Fri, followed by two weeks of UCU teaching-targeted action until the end of term. What began as a pay dispute has become a serious governance crisis. 🧵(1/)

'One of the programmes...closed entirely was on public policy, and the two women leading it left. Staff claim “there are no longer any women in research leadership positions”, which the institute did not respond to directly, though it stressed its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.'

Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'

Council is hiding behind locked doors with security guards blocking corridors but they can't escape from the anger of over 200 staff and students condemning management's incompetence and protesting course closures and redundancies. Who is the university? We are!! @uonucu.bsky.social

here's your headline: They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).

Strikes start today at Imperial. 2% below-inflation offer, misrepresented benchmarking, and levelling down parental leave, while billions are spent elsewhere. Stand with staff and show your support. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1426...

Delighted to have contributed to the new issue of Filmblatt with an Ossi Oswalda filmography that I curated with Mary Hennessy & Philipp Stiasny! The issue also features a brilliant essay by @hennefem.bsky.social on an unmade Oswalda film! Long live Ossi Oswalda!