A short summary of an article published by HEPI on university governor remuneration.

A short summary of an article published by HEPI on university governor remuneration.

Big news. Really interesting appointments.

Brief review of a clever but unsatisfying time travel romance.

Very short review of an enjoyable set of stories about how aging rock stars just can't give it up.

A new piece from @smitajamdar.bsky.social and me for @hepi-news.bsky.social offering some comments on the thorny issue of governor remuneration. www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/03/28/w...

Great to be at @fiveleavesbooks.bsky.social tonight for the launch of Tara Webster-Deakin's new book on Collaborative Approaches to Widening Participation. Thank you Tara for the invitation!

In a new report @smitajamdar.bsky.social and I have written about a number of current #highered governance issues. The report covers a lot of governance ground and offers some helpful (we hope) suggestions about what governing bodies should and should not focus on. www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts...

A rare outing on the Today programme for a great plural. In relation to the legal decision about Meta in New Mexico the correspondent referred to all the Attorneys General who will be thinking about the outcome. Very pleasing.

Corridors?! The folly of youth

Latest blog. New research has demonstrated the impact of the weather on student views when on campus tours. This critical insight is not a wholly new discovery though. But how much does it matter whether it is sunny or raining on the campus tour? wonderfulhighered.com/2026/03/24/h...

New blog - New research has demonstrated the impact of the weather on student views when on campus tours. This critical insight is not a wholly new discovery though. But how much does it matter whether it is sunny or raining on the campus tour? And what can student recruiters do about it?

Very brief review of a very entertaining novel

Shift Work Very short review of an entertaining description of the making of a Fall album. proleartthreat.wordpress.com/2026/03/22/s...

New blog on some recent honorary degree action. Honorary degree conferral doesn't always go well but on the whole the celebrities and distinguished individuals recognized are good value for their awards. Are there other awards to big names I've missed? wonderfulhighered.com/2026/03/19/h...

New blog. Universities love awarding honorary degrees. It doesn't always go well but on the whole the celebrities and distinguished individuals recognized are good value for their awards. But in some cases the process has really gone to the dogs. Or worse.

New Shakespeare Martineau blog today from Midhika Joseph and me on the outcome of the OfS consultation on its new condition relating to franchising. Those involved in such activity have some work to do and we suggest some initial steps which need to be taken www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts...

Brief review of an outstanding coming-of-age memoir set in Albania.

This is my new favourite committee

A Very Attractive University Ranking Time for a new university league table. This one is a ranking of UK visitor attractions - some of them are, perhaps surprisingly, located in universities. But, only three institutions feature in this ranking wonderfulhighered.com/2026/03/12/a...

A few comments on the outcome of the OfS consultation on subcontractual arrangements and the introduction of an exciting new condition of registration. www.linkedin.com/pulse/more-r...

I'd not heard of this one. Very impressive - not sure about the mannequins though!

It's time for a new university league table. This one is a ranking of UK visitor attractions - some of them are, perhaps surprisingly, located in universities. But, only three institutions feature in this ranking.

Very short review of a taut snow-filled thriller

Brief note on a very good fictionalized account of the life of an exposed spy.

Who’s the Boss?   Latest blog with some comments on the mysterious role of the UK university Chancellor and the attributes you need if you want to wear the gown. Plus a really exciting quiz - how well do you know your Chancellors and their institutions? wonderfulhighered.com/2026/03/04/w...

This is a fascinating piece about one of the largely overlooked positive transformational impacts of Chinese students in the UK (and worth noting that Hungry Panda was set up by a University of Nottingham alum) Thank you @karinfischer.bsky.social for sharing open.substack.com/pub/vittles/...

Who’s the Boss? The Role of the University Chancellor  Blog with some comments on the mysterious role of the uni Chancellor and the attributes you need if you want to wear the gown. Plus a quiz - how well do you know your Chancellors and their unis? wonderfulhighered.com/2026/03/04/w...

Thank you Mike - have now done so!

New blog with some comments on the mysterious role of the UK university Chancellor and the attributes you need if you want to wear the gown. Plus an exciting quiz - how well do you know your Chancellors and their institutions?

Our latest Shakespeare Martineau education newsletter is out now, featuring updates and discussion points from across the sector ow.ly/C3EI50Ymtvu

Very brief review of an entertaining set of short stories

New blog. Humane has produced a new report on the changing role of the head of administration. Based on a wide-ranging survey there is a great deal in here about the varied roles and responsibilities and significant demands placed on tho head of administration.

I had, unfortunately, missed these excellent suggestions - no wonder the universities concerned changed their names....

With all of the financial challenges facing the sector, many institutions will be looking at new TNE prospects, including international campuses. This new blog highlights some developments in UK universities' international campus aspirations and some big challenges www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts...

Short review of a Muriel Spark classic it turns out (again) I had failed to read before.

Oh no! What an omission!

Great additions to the set! (Also just realised I omitted the University of the Highlands and Future Islands)

Invincible Musical Higher Ed - unis named after bands and vice versa A reminder of the surprisingly long list of universities which share their names with bands and musicians. wonderfulhighered.com/2025/01/30/i...

Outstanding blog today from @alexusherhesa.bsky.social - really wish I had stuck with 90210 instead of giving up when I did. Time to revisit I fear... higheredstrategy.com/higher-educa...

New blog - some thoughts on Eating People is Wrong, the first novel by the late author and academic, Malcolm Bradbury. Along with Lucky Jim it set the standard for future British campus novels. And it has some entertaining observations about HE which still feel relevant.

Latest blog - on taking a slightly longer view... HE institutions need to look to the long term rather than addressing only the most immediate issues. A reminder of the importance of cathedral thinking in higher education. wonderfulhighered.com/2026/02/13/c...

Very brief review of an entertaining sort of campus caper from Alexander McCall Smith

Thank you @alexusherhesa.bsky.social for flagging this higher ed innovation. Some of us saw it coming of course... www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/l...

Higher education institutions need to look to the long term rather than addressing only the most immediate issues. A reminder of the importance of cathedral thinking in higher education.

I still have my copy of this seminal work

New blog. The effective operation of a Credit Accumulations and Transfer scheme is a key enabler for full implementation of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. There has been some focus on the need for a functioning CAT system to support LLE but it still feels like we are a long way from this.

According to @insidehighered.com Houston University is asking Faculty to pledge not to “indoctrinate” students. Apparently they won't be punished if they decline to sign the three page memo www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...

Not sure about the tone of this new HE movie. It's perhaps not the most positive representation of staff working in Strategy & Planning either

Very brief review of another extremely well-written, sharp and elegant novel, with a twist, from Andrew Miller