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...

Now time for some deliberately thought provoking debates….do you right number of people go to university? With audience voting…

One of our next sessions - did we learn our lesson on conducting lots of HE reviews? Do we need another one? What’s it like to run one?

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

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

“The 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

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 review’s implications for UK language education: https://bit.ly/4okpkjf

Read our response to the Government's Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, published today: https://bit.ly/48z0QOe

As we await the post-16 White Paper, the Academy is calling for: ✅ An urgent review of HE funding ✅ Regulators to monitor provision with an ‘at-risk’ regional register + subject premium ✅ Government to help universities collaborate effectively with clearer guidance about competition law

📢 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 ‘cold spots’ for access to many SHAPE subjects - with even more at risk. 🧵 📍Read the full report: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/policy-and-r...

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.

Our report argues that a long-term economic strategy should involve investing in the institutional, human and physical capital that makes a place ‘investible’ for the private sector. See a summary of this programme's main insights and conclusions: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...

"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

There’s 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.

We’re 2 hours and 2 sessions in and already so much great discussion. If you’re not with us today keep an eye on @britishacademy.bsky.social for live updates. We’ve a great line up still to come!!

A very thoughtful piece on why dismantling the Ebacc might be the final blow for languages in schools. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/curricu...

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

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...

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

"We’re working with the British Academy to assess how a roadmap for AI skills policies in England could be developed – 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...

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...

I’m 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...

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...