It’s ironic that the makers of Snickers bars didn’t think the old name was suitable for the long run. #weakendpun

Do you work in #HEAccess and want to know how to present more effectively in your outreach? I'm delighted to be running a one-day training session with NEON and kindly hosted by Kings College London. Sign up here. www.educationopportunities.co.uk/events/neon-...

An American offered to upholster my sofa. When it came back he’d added pockets for guns. #weakendpun

In my days as a circus clown, I spurned the custard to the face and created the simultaneous two-plate slap to the sides of the head. They called me the ‘Pioneer’ clown. #weakendpun

Its beeen widely reported that the #skills brief is moving out of DfE. My understanding is that this is NOT the case. Only a limited area of work-related training is moving across. HE & FE will also stay where they are. (My source is a senior civil servant.) feweek.co.uk/skills-brief...

What do you get if you cross a baker with a gardener? Self-raising flowers. #weakendpun

I had an old mattress to get rid of, so I phoned the local council’s refuse collection hotline. Sure enough, within minutes they’d refused to collect it. #weakendpun

The significant drop in GCSE students taking triple science (and switching to double instead) is worrying. It may be too early to declare it a 'trend', but we don't want wait till it's too late to ring alarms, so I fully support Sir Ian Bauckham's comments. schoolsweek.co.uk/bauckham-con... 1/9

I was about to show a burglar how to climb down a ladder properly when I realised it was condescending. #weakendpun

NEON has kindly asked me to deliver a one-day training session in presenting skills, specially designed for people working in #HEaccess and #outreach. It's being generously hosted by @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social on 26th Nov. Sign up here: www.educationopportunities.co.uk/events/neon-...

I was delighted to be invited to contribute a blog on #employability to NMITE's X Change Feed. I've tried to explain what employability actually is and why it is so important. (Spoiler: it's not just for getting a job.) nmite.ac.uk/the-NMITE-fe...

A pleasure, as always, to speak to Nic Mitchell for @uniworldnews.bsky.social on behalf of @epc.ac.uk about this year's encouraging increase in acceptances to Engineering courses and the constraints that persist in meeting future labour shortages. www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?sto...

Oh yes, the progress of human understanding should definitely be subjected to a speed limit in order to avoid the unintended consequences of the abuse of metrics. This suggestion is like saying demolishing expensive houses is the way to limit house prices. 🤦‍♂️

The brilliant @bevgibbs.bsky.social has written a piece for @epc.ac.uk on inclusive assessment – it's a must-read, not only for engineering academics, but for anyone interested in how HE can deliver fair assessment for *all* students. epc.ac.uk/article/how-... 1/4

I used to think that orthopaedic footwear was unnecessary, but I stand corrected. #weakendpun

I love a Wall’s Vendetta. Because ice cream is a dish best served cold. #weakendpun

Shouldn't we start taking Reform's plans for HE seriously? Interesting piece by Fred Jacques, a Yr12 student who's been doing work experience with @hepi-news.bsky.social and, judging by this, has a keen understanding of policy. (My tuppence-worth in the comments.) www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/08/08/w...

The event listing for #HEPolicy #wonks for this year's #PartyConferences is starting to fill up and is getting plenty of visitors more or less all the time. bit.ly/HEPartyConfs25 So do promote your events or just take a look to find where all the nerd action will be happening.

I once had a job at a factory making computer keyboards, but I got fired for putting in an extra shift. #weakendpun

Does anyone know the rules of students being dual registered with GP practices? I thought there was a rule change to allow it, but I may be wrong. @jimdickinson.bsky.social?

Someone recently reminded me about this interview I did many years ago about my novel, The Human Script, which I've never really promoted here on BlueSky, so I thought I'd give it a plug. You can still buy the book here, by the way: amzn.eu/d/dataOsL awesomegang.com/johnny-rich/

The great Tom Lehrer, mathematician, musician, humanitarian and comedy genius has died, aged 97. Thank you, Prof.

“And after the waters had receded, Noah spake unto the animals and told them to go forth and multiply. Yet two snakes did remain. For they were adders.” #weakendpun

This fair summary of the current grimness does make me reflect (yet again) on the huge harm done by league tables, despite their complete absence of academic rigour. apple.news/AMQGEZ4apTO-...

I tried competing in the Tour de France in a top hat and tails, but I was in the wrong gear. #weakendpun

This is fantastic news. For too long, young people - whose investment in the future is greatest - have been disenfranchised using the same feeble arguments that once were used to deny the vote to women, non-landowners and those suffering mental ill-health. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c9...

Just the thought of meringue, cream and fruit makes my mouth water every single time. It must be a Pavlovian reaction #weakendpun.

In case you’re wondering, today is not called Pride Day because a collection of Lionesses are kicking off their Euros campaign this evening #weakendpun

And this is the same guy who thinks *Harvard* is antisemitic? 🤦

The #PartyConference Season is approaching, so @josh-freeman.bsky.social & I have created our annual crowd-sourced listings page for all the fringe events that #HigherEd #policy #wonks won't want to miss. Please add events to the listings, share the link, and repost: bit.ly/HEPartyConfs25

I did the catering for a wedding and the starter was a clear soup. The bride and groom were eager to consommate the marriage immediately. #weakendpun

Delighted to be invited again to join the Wonkhe Show this week, discussing the #IndustrialStrategy, #franchising scandals & #SocialMobility, with @markleach.bsky.social, Jim Coe & Prof Katie Normington. (Thanks too to @michaelsalmon0.bsky.social) @wonkhe.bsky.social wonkhe.com/blogs/podcas...

Just arrived in beautiful Bath for #FACE25 Conference where I’ll be on a panel this afternoon. Gutted I can’t stay beyond this evening as the speaker line-up looks tremendous.

Yesterday was #INWED25 and I was honoured to be invited by Women's Engineering Society to participate in their series of talks about the challenges in engineering academia with Susan Robson and Judith Okoyeagu. Watch it here: youtu.be/yGCfWod1rjM?...

It's International Women in Engineering Day, and we've got an important blog up on @hepi-news.bsky.social - photo just for @johnnyrich.com

New Post: Raising the Bar: A Graduate Design Engineer’s Path in Engineering www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/06/23/r...

To explain why the photo’s ‘for me’, I once suggested to @josh-freeman.bsky.social that engineering shouldn’t always be depicted with stock pics of people in hard hats. It’s a narrow and inaccurate image. So I applaud his choice, especially as this excellent piece is about design engineering. #INWED

Fraud trials should be called ‘contests’. #weakendpun

I worked in a factory making work surfaces for kitchens. I found it counter-productive. #weakendpun

We're seeking contributors to develop resources for our Complex Systems Toolkit: a free to access resource to help educators integrate complex systems concepts into any engineering module or course. Read more: epc.ac.uk/toolkit/cont... #ComplexSystems #Education #Engineering #HigherEducation

Our opening keynote at #EANCongress25 kicks off to a packed room. Prof Malcolm Press, Manchester Met VC and Universities UK incoming President, spells out the challenges and opportunities for HE and engineering academics.

“I entered politics for the same reason I entered engineering: to make the world better for everyone” @chionwurah.bsky.social is delivering the annual lecture at #EANCongress25

The hour is nigh. #EANCongress25 starts today!

A polite man with a bronzed complexion once gave me a piggyback, but that’s not important right now. I apologise for going off on a tan gent. #weakendpun

I’m grateful as always to be invited to give my tuppence worth. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

What can universities expect from the spending review? I asked @viviennestern.bsky.social, @hepi-news.bsky.social's Rose Stephenson, @russellgroup.bsky.social's Sarah Stevens, @rachel-hewitt.bsky.social, Diana Beech and @johnnyrich.com. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

If you apply more pressure when drilling, it helps a bit. #weakendpun

Universities UK reckons policy changes will cost sector £1.4bn this year Is govt shooting itself in the foot? "There’s already a 14.5% surge in applications to engineering—a sector with massive skills shortages—but universities can’t expand to admit more engineering students" says @johnnyrich.com

Skills shortage fears as policy shifts cost universities £1.4bn www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

ICYMI Interesting write-up of a debate on #apprenticeships at the Lifelong Education Institute Conference last month, featuring Baroness Alison Wolf, Tom Richmond, Ben Rowland (AELP) and Prof Tom Bewick (Staffs Uni). www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/th...