: Half of UK universities face a deficit next year. Up to 50 could close. That is a sector in crisis. Simply blaming a tuition fee freeze and nudging fees up with inflation is not a plan. Where is the long-term strategy for higher education? #Universities #HigherEducation

Wonderful post by @gailmarshall.bsky.social on books, reading, connection, and lifetimes of reading. @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social #EnglishCreates

The Price Lab’s Critical Approaches to AI Working Group has released a white paper in which we advocate for AI-free instruction in reading, writing, & research. These are fundamental skills in the humanities (& in general), & with decisive action we can keep teaching them well in the age of AI!

So happy to have our new issue up! So much brilliant stuff in there. Well done to our amazing editors. Check it out below 👇

Important post on the importance of reading by @jenniferacooke.bsky.social #EnglishCreates @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @lboroenglish.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social

#EnglishCreates: Futures Today, Prof Jennifer Cooke (Loughborough University) discusses the profound value of reading in the age of social media: 'Just as smart phones and social media sites train us in one way, proper reading trains us in another...' universityenglish.ac.uk/really-readi...

‘These days I snatch words whenever I can, grateful for the books that changed my life’. Wonderful post by @englishassociation.bsky.social CEO Dr Becky Fisher. @ies-sas.bsky.social @jennyrichards.bsky.social @gailmarshall.bsky.social #EnglishCreated

Stefan Collini in 2013: "Future historians ... will at least record that, alongside its many other achievements, the coalition government took the decisive steps in helping to turn some first-rate universities into third-rate companies." #HigherEd #UKHE www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v3...

'Corner first indicated that the funding formula was under review at the end of the three-month pause to the REF in December. She told RPN it was a “long process” that was “quite complex and there’s a lot of thought going into it”.' 1/3

The next instalment of #EnglishCreates is all about reading, beginning with @bobeaglestone.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social @rbtownsend.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social

#EnglishCreates: Futures Thank you to Prof Ralph Pite and his team of collaborators for providing us with such wonderful content across the month. The posts make for an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and readers, and can be found here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

#EnglishCreates: Futures Our month on 'Environments' concludes with a post from our curator, Prof Ralph Pite (Uni of Bristol), offering recommendations for readings and resources for lecturers, teachers, and general readers alike: universityenglish.ac.uk/what-next-wh... #EnglishStudies

I think the greatest gift college professors in the humanities can give to students right now is a seminar room where, for 80 minutes twice a week, nothing that happens to them is a sales pitch for an AI product.

And another petition, sadly 😪 You might be aware that the Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at Heriot-Watt University is under threat. More information and to sign the petition: heriotwatt.web.ucu.org.uk/2026/02/05/s...

Another great instalment of #EnglishCreates from @univeng.bsky.social in the National Year of Reading. @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @anthonycockrell.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social @royalhistsoc.org @engmediacentre.bsky.social

Feb events ! 💫 Sign up! Join us! Free. Online. 16.45-17.30 #Secondary English #curriculum across 4 UK nations ( 12th) What will #Curriculum & #Assessment Review mean for you? (24th) Spotlight on English ! #Teachmeet for #primary (26th) #ThinkingForwards : (27th) englishassociation.ac.uk/events/

We are looking for review essays! You can see some of our selected titles at the post below. Get in contact with our review editors @heyitsdenisew.bsky.social and @olihaslam.bsky.social to request some or for further info

"AI still cannot adequately cover the unique domain of "critical thinking" that belongs to the humanities...the issue lies ... with whether humanists possess the courage and capability to shoulder the responsibilities of the era and confront its challenges." bit.ly/3Zvb3p8

We continue with Dr Michael Malay's (University of Bristol) superb blog, asking what it might mean when 'even the simple act of kite-flying' is 'haunted' by the question of the Anthropocene': universityenglish.ac.uk/kite-flying-... #EnglishStudies #Ecocriticism #Antropocene

#EnglishCreates: Futures continues with this post by Francesca Mackenney and Jamie Castell (Cardiff University): 'How do representations of sound in literature shape our awareness of the natural world?' Read the full post here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat... #EnglishStudies #Ecocriticism

#EnglishCreates: Futures Today, Dr Jeremy Davies (University of Leeds) shows how English can help us to think about climate change: 'Literature of the first fossil-fuelled society can help us to imagine alternative futures...' universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat... #EnglishStudies #Ecocriticism

#EnglishCreates: Futures! Today's brilliant post is by Sarah Dukes, an English teacher at The Chase School in Worcestershire: "English is a gift... key skills can be taught using the climate crisis and nature as the subject matter..." universityenglish.ac.uk/teaching-it-... #EnglishStudies

#EnglishCreates: Futures continues with a brilliant piece by Rachel Green (University of Bristol): 'When I tell people that my research is about farming and rewilding, the most common response I get is: "So… how is that an English PhD?"' universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat... #EnglishStudies

#EnglishCreates @englishassociation.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social

New #EnglishCreates post. @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social

#EnglishCreates: Futures delves into the Blue Humanities with a post by Dr Laurence Publicover (University of Bristol): 'The language we use to talk about the ocean floor reveals our (often misplaced) assumptions about it...' universityenglish.ac.uk/literary-stu... #EnglishStudies #Ecocriticism

#EnglishCreates: Futures continues this week with a focus on the 'Blue Humanities': 'Oceans have always seemed mysterious, vast and invulnerable... Until recently, that is...' universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat... #EnglishStudies #HigherEducation #Ecocriticism #bluehumanities

Deadline 1 March 2026.

#EnglishCreates:Futures continues w/ Prof Ralph Pite's brilliantly insightful reflections on how English Studies seeks to address contemporary climate crisis: 'THE GRAPHS DON'T WORK' Full post: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat... #EnglishCreates #EnglishStudies #HigherEducation #Ecocriticism

More on the critical and feminist meaning of the term in our book Feminized Work and the Labor of Literature! @edinburghup.bsky.social edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-feminiz...

the ‘feminisation’ of work doesn’t mean that work is being ruined by emotional women/ male unemployment doesn’t matter! By @charlottejohanne.bsky.social @idaaaskovdolmer.bsky.social and I: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

New series of #EnglishCreates beginning now. @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @readingagency.bsky.social @britishacademy.bsky.social @lrb.co.uk @profsarahdillon.bsky.social @bobeaglestone.bsky.social @jennyrichards.bsky.social

Why not start your new year with an extra spring in your step by joining us at The EA ! 😊Much to gain from membership in 2026 ! Find out ! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ englishassociation.ac.uk

The Centre for Uses of Literature at the University of Southern Denmark is inviting applications for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 (MSCA-PF). www.sdu.dk/en/forskning... @bacls.bsky.social @c21literature.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social

MPs have launched an inquiry into why fewer children are reading for pleasure – and what schools are doing to get pupils into books

'The Scottish Greens have lodged an amendment to the Scottish Government's Tertiary Education and Training Bill – set to be debated this week – which they believe will help to "boost the wages of ordinary workers".' 1/2

✨ Booking is now open for the 2026 London Rare Books School! ✨ EARLY BIRD OFFER 21 November - 23 January: Use code LRBS10 to receive 10% off the booking fee at the checkout @sas-news.bsky.social ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...

To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.” www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...

How have books shaped the way we think? In January Anna Somfai will teach an online short course on books about science and philosophy in the Middle Ages. Book now 👇 #MedievalSky @ies-sas.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social @sas-news.bsky.social palaeography.uk/study/short-...

'The initiative raises profound questions about the future of science education in the age of AI, including whether there should be a greater role for the humanities and social sciences.' An important read. With a sharing link for 3 non-subscribers. on.ft.com/4rd7II4

'Fewer than half are even fully aware that universities conduct research.' Real indictment of universities' strategies and comms this. An own goal that could and should be rectified. Engaging broad publics with research is not rocket science. And if it were, universities have rocket scientists. 3/3

Please support and share this petition to help save American Studies teaching at The University of Nottingham. Staff are facing redundancy. The expertise that would be lost would be monumental. Please sign. c.org/26qjPmffNy

In conjunction with @bacls.bsky.social, we are looking for some proposals for panels at BAAS and MSA! Read more here:

Very happy to have received a physical copy of @heyitsdenisew.bsky.social fantastic new book. @edinburghup.bsky.social @bacls.bsky.social

We've refreshed out author guidelines for submissions to our journal, including new guidance for anyone looking to submit an interview. We'd love to hear from you! c21.openlibhums.org/site/authorg...

‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...

A spooky listen, full of higher ed ghosts ‘n’ ghouls.. but also rich with fresh ideas & possibility for the humanities. Thanks to @mattseybold.bsky.social for having me on & @cnewf.bsky.social for his vision!

Deadline reminder for @univeng.bsky.social funding scheme: 5pm on 10th November 2025.

Apply now for the SAS Public Humanities Fellowship! Applications are invited from those working at the forefront of shaping the future of Public Humanities, deepening its reach, and expanding its impact. Apply by 21 November: www.sas.ac.uk/research-eng...

When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same. Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow. academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...