Sarah Cowan
@sarahcowan1.bsky.social
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Head of Policy (HE & Research) at The British Academy, views of course my own.
reposted by
Sarah Cowan
Arts and Humanities Alliance
7 days ago
The Arts and Humanities Alliance is proud to sponsor the 2026
@britishacademy.bsky.social
SHAPE conference. Our session is Myth busting for the public with
@ritagardner.bsky.social
@jennyrichards.bsky.social
&
@sebgordon1.bsky.social
Chair
@emmacayley.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.com/e/shape-conf...
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SHAPE Conference 2026
The British Academy's annual SHAPE conference will be held in London on 4 March 2026.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shape-conference-2026-tickets-1976611479143?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
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Now time for some deliberately thought provoking debatesā¦.do you right number of people go to university? With audience votingā¦
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6 days ago
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One of our next sessions - did we learn our lesson on conducting lots of HE reviews? Do we need another one? Whatās it like to run one?
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6 days ago
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Standing room only at the opening of
#SHAPEConference26
, with a keynote by then minister, Lord Vallance. Such a great day ahead at the
@britishacademy.bsky.social
6 days ago
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
Margot Finn
3 months ago
British Academy's pioneering 'cold spots' work now replicated by HESA. 'University "cold spots" are developing in some parts of the country, new data analysis suggests, with courses in some subjects no longer available to students in certain regions.' 1/2
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University students facing course 'cold spots' as enrolments fall
New data analysis suggests courses like artificial intelligence are surging in popularity as languages fall.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnv26103d1go
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
3 months ago
āThe restarting of REF2029 brings welcome clarity and allows universities to resume preparations with purpose."
@eicathomefinn.bsky.social
reflects on the government's announcement today on the restarting of REF2029 - see our full response here:
https://bit.ly/4pre8Sl
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The British Academy responds to the resuming of REF2029
The British Academy has responded to the Department for Education's announcement regarding the resumption of REF2029
https://bit.ly/4pre8Sl
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
4 months ago
The Curriculum and Assessment review final report was published today by the government. Professor Charles Forsdick, Lead Fellow for Languages at The British Academy, reflects on the reviewās implications for UK language education:
https://bit.ly/4okpkjf
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5 months ago
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
5 months ago
Read our response to the Government's Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, published today:
https://bit.ly/48z0QOe
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The UKās national academy for the humanities and social sciences, The British Academy responds to the Governmentās Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/the-uks-national-academy-for-the-humanities-and-social-sciences-the-british-academy-responds-to-the-governments-post-16-education-and-skills-white-paper/
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
6 months ago
As we await the post-16 White Paper, the Academy is calling for: ā An urgent review of HE funding ā Regulators to monitor provision with an āat-riskā regional register + subject premium ā Government to help universities collaborate effectively with clearer guidance about competition law
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
6 months ago
š¢ Today the Academy launches a major new report urging action to tackle a growing crisis in our universities. Cuts to courses mean more regions than ever are ācold spotsā for access to many SHAPE subjects - with even more at risk. š§µ šRead the full report:
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r...
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Cold spots: Mapping inequality in SHAPE provision in UK higher education
This British Academy report reveals that many parts of the UK are becoming subject cold spots ā areas with no provision in a subject within a commutable distance. These are often in rural, coastal or ...
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-research/british-academy-shape-observatory/cold-spots-mapping-inequality-in-shape-provision
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SHAPE graduates form 77% of our teaching workforce, 64% of our public services, and 41% of health and social care. Graduate salaries tell us about the shape and health of economy - NOT the 'worthiness' of a degree.
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9 months ago
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
9 months ago
Our report argues that a long-term economic strategy should involve investing in the institutional, human and physical capital that makes a place āinvestibleā for the private sector. See a summary of this programme's main insights and conclusions:
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
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The British Academyās Economic Strategy Programme
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications/the-british-academys-economic-strategy-programme/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=policy-research&utm_content=cta
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reposted by
Sarah Cowan
The British Academy
9 months ago
"In a geopolitically uncertain world and after more than a decade of low productivity growth, the UK needs to rethink its economic strategy." Today, we're publishing a collection of expert policy insights ahead of the multi-year Spending Review conclusion:
buff.ly/DAlcNo5
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https://buff.ly/DAlcNo5
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Thereās nothing quite like returning to your alma mater for work to make you feel a) old and b) jealous. But as always a good grounding reminder of what we in HE policy are working for, especially at the moment.
10 months ago
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Weāre 2 hours and 2 sessions in and already so much great discussion. If youāre not with us today keep an eye on
@britishacademy.bsky.social
for live updates. Weāve a great line up still to come!!
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11 months ago
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A very thoughtful piece on why dismantling the Ebacc might be the final blow for languages in schools.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/curricu...
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Curriculum Review: The case for broadening - not abolishing - EBacc
Would removing EBacc increase access to arts and other SHAPE subjects? Itās not clear that it would.
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/curriculum-review-ebacc-shape/
12 months ago
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It's launch day for our new maps, tracking SHAPE provision in HE across the UK. Use them to find cold spots, see how individual institutions are changing their courses, and look at the picture by region of the UK.
bit.ly/435cvl5
about 1 year ago
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Great piece by AHA Chairs in the Guardian today, using insights from our coldspots maps. Follows a similar piece from languages academics in THE last week. Both useful summaries of the threat we're facing across the UK HE system.
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/card...
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The deep cultural cost of British university job cuts | Letters
Letters: Arts and humanities are being hit hardest by cuts in higher education, write Prof Thea Pitman and Prof Emma Cayley, and Dr Ronan McLaverty-Head and another letter writer comment on cuts at Ca...
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/feb/05/the-deep-cultural-cost-of-british-university-job-cuts?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
about 1 year ago
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Announcements of closures and redundancies have trickled out over the last few years. With the announcements this week it feels as though those trickles have amounted to a flood that mainstream press is starting to pay attention to. As pressure mounts, can we now hope for change?
bit.ly/40DqEDd
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Calls for ministers to act as university job losses accelerate - Research Professional News
Funding bodies and learned societies weigh in as over 1,000 redundancies announced within a fortnight
https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-universities-2025-1-calls-for-ministers-to-act-as-university-job-losses-accelerate/
about 1 year ago
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"Weāre working with the British Academy to assess how a roadmap for AI skills policies in England could be developed ā looking at historical parallels such as the digital and industrial revolutions as well existing and emerging challenges. " Skills Minister Jacqui Smith
feweek.co.uk/ai-skills-bu...
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AI Skills: Building a workforce for the future
The government's plan to futureproof the workforce in the age of AI
https://feweek.co.uk/ai-skills-building-a-workforce-for-the-future/
about 1 year ago
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And then another - Deputy of Higher Education Policy leading on all things HE, from student access and outcomes, to university finance and regulation, to pathways to undergraduate study. £50k salary, 34 days leave and an unbelievable pension!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/about/jobs/d...
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about 1 year ago
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Iām recruiting 2 Deputy Head of Policy roles to join my team at
@britishacademy.bsky.social
. First up - Deputy of Research Policy, helping guide all things R&D, innovation, research funding and culture. £50k salary, 34 days leave & an unbelievable pension!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/about/jobs/d...
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Deputy Head of Policy (Research)
The closing date for applications is 12 noon Monday 27 January 2025.
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/about/jobs/deputy-head-policy-research/
about 1 year ago
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add a skeleton here at some point
over 1 year ago
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Finally made the great migration to Bluesky to show off our latest release.... Mapping SHAPE provision is an interactive tool depicting where in the UK students can access SHAPE undergraduate courses in their local area & how this has changed over time.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r..
.
over 1 year ago
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