Interesting article

A good challenge these days is to look at how universities portray their humanities degrees to potential undergraduates. At the same time as core modules are being hollowed out and made identical to everywhere else, departments are barred from championing specific expertise and unique offerings.

The Cardiff University-led modern foreign languages mentoring programme is achieving excellent results in boosting language uptake. Could it be adopted more widely? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Excited to announce the pre-program to the upcoming Trans German Studies Workshop. You can join us both in person and online for a day of collective learning, workshopping, and connecting on May 20, 2026. Find out more about the program and how to register here: cenes.ubc.ca/events/event...

🚨 1 in 4 staff at Goldsmiths to be axed. All while senior management get eye-watering pay rises and £16m is spent on consultants and lawyers. This is the reality of Higher Education in the UK. Our members have voted for industrial action, support them. www.ucu.org.uk/article/1447...

At QMUL: - 99 language modules cut - 50 language modules marked as 'to be confirmed' - single honours language degrees in questions - 'possible futures' includes the closure of languages at QMUL altogether The harm done to language studies is immense, and ramifications are not going to be pretty.

Some people are apparently angry with the Prime Minister and others in the government for not publicly condemning Trump's threat of genocide yesterday. Given both the stakes and how Trump reacts to criticism, do they really think that would have been helpful?

'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

if you work in a UK uni, drop everything and read this (not news to many of us, but sobering to have the dots joined up; the stories are outrageous and heartbreaking)

Love this message about schools, libraries and books, which we need far more than trillions of dollars being spent on AI? #HigherEd #AcademicSky #edchat

Isn’t it weird how “AI literacy” being pushed on students isn’t about learning how it works, the cost of how it works, learning to spot disinformation, media and tech literacy. But instead is just “employers will like it if you get it to write your emails :)”

The Certification Officer has issued his decision in Blake & McGaughey v UCU. My initial response is here: vickyblakeucu.uk/2026/03/31/t... I urge members to read the full ruling rather than relying on the summary emailed to all members by HQ today. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69cbcb...

This is the situation we find ourselves in

Strong statement from UCU on principles for implementing AI in teaching, research and administration. This is much more reflective and comprehensive than the pervasive catch-all of 'responsible AI'. www.ucu.org.uk/media/15656/...

The cuts. They cuts are never-ending. And they're cutting away what it means to be a university.

RUSSIA GETS: -Higher oil prices -Reduced US economic pressure -Bogged down US military -Air defense assets not sent to Ukraine US GETS: -Indefinite war in pursuit of undefined outcome -Weaker economy -Frayed international partnerships -Combat deaths

This situation is damaging our organising capacity & the united front we need to win, handing ammunition to employers by not practicing what we preach. We deserve a democratic union in which critical voices are heard & we need the dispute with @uniteucu.bsky.social to be resolved. #HandsOffMarie

Jointly with the Chair of W+IGS and the President of the GLA, the President of the AGS, @pdavies.bsky.social, has sent a letter to the Principal of Heriot-Watt University opposing proposed staff cuts to the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies and threats to close German and Chinese.

Fun as it is to see Peston stating outright what the situation is, here’s what’s going to happen: government and press will brazen this out with drivel until it drops out of the headlines, then everyone will get right back on their previous bullshit. This is what they always do, without fail.

A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

THIS THIS THIS. ALL OF THIS THIS is why faculty resist technological strategies for teaching. There is no engaging with Edtech without this context

Some really (and qualifiedly) good news from Cardiff UCU @cardiffucu.bsky.social : No redundancies next year, no downgrading of professional services staff. And all without the need for disruptive industrial action, which nobody at all wants. nation.cymru/news/cardiff...

Meanwhile Robin Ince genuinely has been cancelled for daring to voice his opinions and for defending trans people. Where's the outrage from the "cancel culture" lot? What are the Free Speech Union doing to help him?

The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party. Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar

If you randomly have this kids 2016 Barcelona kit in the back of your cupboard and can save Christmas in my house please get in touch 🤞

🔴Nigel Farage’s Russian Influence Advent Calendar Byline Times has compiled a festive offering of the prize moments when the Reform leader has gifted the political agenda to Vladimir Putin and Russia bylinetimes.com/2025/12/10/n...

‘Blanket’ ban of trans people from gender-appropriate facilities likely unlawful. Sandie Peggie harassed Dr Upton, not the other way round. Employer guilty of minor procedural faults.

Lots to unpack in the Peggie v Fife judgment, and much of it has already been covered on here, but it's useful imo to highlight a single sentence from para 1024: "a protected belief does not give carte blanche to say whatever the person holding those beliefs wishes".

This! WI and GG..

'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

I don’t think there is any read across - at all - from the OBR’s ability post a document to its website at the right time and the OBR’s ability to produce fiscal and economic forecasts.

If you’ve been thinking about applying for the EHRC Commissioner roles, please, please do! Falkner and Reindorf will soon be out and there is a real desire for representatives of our 🏳️‍⚧️ community on the Board. Be quick though — the deadline is midday on Monday 1st December

"Bluntly, even in 2022 we only supported Ukrainians because they fought like heroes from Norse myth and got results. We didn’t support them because it was the morally right thing to do." @drjademcglynn.bsky.social smalldeedsbigwar.substack.com/p/circus

‘the progressive closure of foreign language degree programmes is especially worrying because of the desperate need for language skills in government’

Some notable things in what's being called the "Trump peace plan" but which could not have been more clearly written in Moscow if it came with a 2 for 1 deal on tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet. 🧵

Save Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk

3. The Vice Chancellor has committed to dialogue with UCU about course closures. The dialogue begins next week and must show progress by December. Unless there is meaningful dialogue, UCU will consult with members about further strike action.

Shabana Mahmood asks MPs to stop mentioning Tommy Robinson's name (in relation to his support for her policies) as "he doesn't even think I am English. I find that offensive."

Labour MP Brian Leishman: "The Government has surrendered to... the vile rhetoric of Reform. Does the Home Secretary not see that removing the legal obligation to support asylum seekers who will be otherwise destitute, is as far away from Labour Party principles and values as we can get?"

Or what Labour voters have to say about these matters. So if you're not doing it for Reform voters, and you're not doing it for Labour voters ... who the fuck are you doing it for?

Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...

At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!? Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.

A very insightful article on the recent threats to UK modern languages: www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late... Support the petitions to stop the closures at Leicester and Nottingham, to sign click here: www.change.org/p/save-moder... www.change.org/p/stop-the-r... #languages #mfl

Petition started by students in Modern Languages at the University of Leicester. The department has been told it will close despite its stellar NSS record and brilliant teaching and research - the same devastating short-term thinking as elsewhere. Please sign and share www.change.org/p/save-moder...

SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten. "I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA

In response to some of the comments: If you agree with *all* the reporting of a news organisation that is both independent *and* non-partisan, then it's very unlikely to be independent and non-partisan. This is true regardless of your politics. Agreeing with all its reporting is the wrong test

I agree that the BBC should apologise to Trump for being misleading. Right after Trump apologises for the 30,573 false or misleading claims he made during his first presidency, or for each of his current daily average of 21 new lies per. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_o...

The first day is now over but…more tomorrow!! What’s on your list for Tuesday? 🤔 #languages #leedscityoflanguages @lcsleeds.bsky.social

Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments: One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.