Barbara Bombi
@bbombi.bsky.social
Medieval Historian, interested in diplomacy and the Medieval papacy. Loves dogs and baking. Opinions are my own
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
The Royal Historical Society is a membership organisation of 7000+ historians, UK and RoW. We welcome historians to join us at any time: our next closing date is 15 December.
We offer membership categories for all kinds of historians and at all stages of research: bit.ly/46V8WOQ #Skystorians 1/2
We offer membership categories for all kinds of historians and at all stages of research: bit.ly/46V8WOQ #Skystorians 1/2
November 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The Royal Historical Society is a membership organisation of 7000+ historians, UK and RoW. We welcome historians to join us at any time: our next closing date is 15 December.
We offer membership categories for all kinds of historians and at all stages of research: bit.ly/46V8WOQ #Skystorians 1/2
We offer membership categories for all kinds of historians and at all stages of research: bit.ly/46V8WOQ #Skystorians 1/2
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
The Society's 'Annual Newsletter' is now available bit.ly/4pzfom7
With news and reflections on 2025 and a look ahead to activities, events and initiatives for the coming year as we begin work on our new Strategy for 2026-2028 bit.ly/3KpX0x8.
#Skystorians
With news and reflections on 2025 and a look ahead to activities, events and initiatives for the coming year as we begin work on our new Strategy for 2026-2028 bit.ly/3KpX0x8.
#Skystorians
November 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The Society's 'Annual Newsletter' is now available bit.ly/4pzfom7
With news and reflections on 2025 and a look ahead to activities, events and initiatives for the coming year as we begin work on our new Strategy for 2026-2028 bit.ly/3KpX0x8.
#Skystorians
With news and reflections on 2025 and a look ahead to activities, events and initiatives for the coming year as we begin work on our new Strategy for 2026-2028 bit.ly/3KpX0x8.
#Skystorians
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
Fab poster representing our #livedcitizenship strand of #LSBU Building Future Communities Research Centre & created by my strand co-lead Dr Martha Shaw. #womensgrassrootsactivism
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Fab poster representing our #livedcitizenship strand of #LSBU Building Future Communities Research Centre & created by my strand co-lead Dr Martha Shaw. #womensgrassrootsactivism
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
‘linking much-needed support for students to international recruitment – an unstable and overworked income stream - is risky and unsustainable. This measure could further weaken universities’
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
The British Academy's response to the Autumn Budget
The British Academy has responded to the Autumn Budget (26 November 2025)
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 PM
‘linking much-needed support for students to international recruitment – an unstable and overworked income stream - is risky and unsustainable. This measure could further weaken universities’
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
Read our Budget response here www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
We are calling on the UK Government to not introduce a levy on higher education provider income from international students, reduce visa costs to attract global talent, and to review higher education funding to create a sustainable model
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/58...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/58...
July 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
We are calling on the UK Government to not introduce a levy on higher education provider income from international students, reduce visa costs to attract global talent, and to review higher education funding to create a sustainable model
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/58...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/58...
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
"Today’s Budget was an opportunity for the government to offer further detail and clarity on the state and finances of the higher education sector, building on the recent White Paper."
Read our response to the Autumn Budget in full: https://bit.ly/4rs7bCc
Read our response to the Autumn Budget in full: https://bit.ly/4rs7bCc
The British Academy's response to the Autumn Budget
The British Academy has responded to the Autumn Budget (26 November 2025)
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
"Today’s Budget was an opportunity for the government to offer further detail and clarity on the state and finances of the higher education sector, building on the recent White Paper."
Read our response to the Autumn Budget in full: https://bit.ly/4rs7bCc
Read our response to the Autumn Budget in full: https://bit.ly/4rs7bCc
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT BEFOER 5PM TODAY!
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
a man in a suit is sitting in the driver 's seat of a car and making a funny face .
ALT: a man in a suit is sitting in the driver 's seat of a car and making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT BEFOER 5PM TODAY!
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
'“Some universities are being encouraged to go towards teaching only and select areas where they’re strong in research and…not be as research active in other areas,” he continued.' Apparently, all students should sometimes be taught by 'research-active' staff 'at the cutting edge'. 3/3
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
'“Some universities are being encouraged to go towards teaching only and select areas where they’re strong in research and…not be as research active in other areas,” he continued.' Apparently, all students should sometimes be taught by 'research-active' staff 'at the cutting edge'. 3/3
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
'Speaking to Times Higher Education shortly after Kendall’s speech at the Science Museum this week, Vallance said this interpretation [research concentrated in large universities; other HEIs focusing on teaching] was a “very bizarre reading of the White Paper”.' 2/3
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
'Speaking to Times Higher Education shortly after Kendall’s speech at the Science Museum this week, Vallance said this interpretation [research concentrated in large universities; other HEIs focusing on teaching] was a “very bizarre reading of the White Paper”.' 2/3
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
'Science minister Patrick Vallance has rejected concerns that focusing on “doing fewer things better” in research will lead to funding being concentrated in larger research-intensive universities from the Russell Group.' 1/3
Post-16 plan ‘not recipe for Russell Group domination’ – Vallance
Science minister dismisses as ‘bizarre’ fears that government push for ‘teaching-only’ specialists will further concentrate research activity in small number of institutions
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
'Science minister Patrick Vallance has rejected concerns that focusing on “doing fewer things better” in research will lead to funding being concentrated in larger research-intensive universities from the Russell Group.' 1/3
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
'Another challenge relates to the unintended consequences of growing competition between providers. The competition in student recruitment is fundamental to the financial challenges now facing our universities and it will only intensify from 2030.'
Five challenges faced by the Welsh tertiary sector
Ahead of an evidence paper and call for submissions, Minister for Further and Higher Education Vikki Howells sets out her understanding of the key challenges faced by higher education in Wales
wonkhe.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 AM
'Another challenge relates to the unintended consequences of growing competition between providers. The competition in student recruitment is fundamental to the financial challenges now facing our universities and it will only intensify from 2030.'
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
And still nobody cares
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
And still nobody cares
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
House of Commons Education Committee on Universities and the threat of insolvency starts its last session at 10:00.
BBC Parliament - Select Committees
Coverage of select committee proceedings at the Palace of Westminster.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
House of Commons Education Committee on Universities and the threat of insolvency starts its last session at 10:00.
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
There is still time to apply for the position of Fellow Librarian at All Souls College Oxford (deadline is 5 December).
Read more: www.asc.ox.ac.uk/fellow-libra...
Please spread the word--this is a special opportunity!
Read more: www.asc.ox.ac.uk/fellow-libra...
Please spread the word--this is a special opportunity!
Fellow Librarian | All Souls College
www.asc.ox.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
There is still time to apply for the position of Fellow Librarian at All Souls College Oxford (deadline is 5 December).
Read more: www.asc.ox.ac.uk/fellow-libra...
Please spread the word--this is a special opportunity!
Read more: www.asc.ox.ac.uk/fellow-libra...
Please spread the word--this is a special opportunity!
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
'It is notable that in the last Research Excellence Framework exercise the Department of American Studies at Nottingham was ranked third in the Area Studies unit of assessment and was one of the top-performing units across the whole of the University of Nottingham.' 1/2
RED ALERT: the University of Nottingham is threatening to close its Department of American Studies, putting all staff at risk of redundancy, and ending any American specialist knowledge in the Faculty of Arts.
Sign the petition here to save jobs:
www.change.org/p/save-ameri...
Sign the petition here to save jobs:
www.change.org/p/save-ameri...
Sign the Petition
SAVE AMERICAN STUDIES TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
www.change.org
November 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
'It is notable that in the last Research Excellence Framework exercise the Department of American Studies at Nottingham was ranked third in the Area Studies unit of assessment and was one of the top-performing units across the whole of the University of Nottingham.' 1/2
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
This is a pattern that pervades the post REF2021 era. See also for example Kent, or at UoA level History, where the top 4 performing UoAs have all faced significant redundancies after their high results.
What does the White Paper (and DSIT/UKRI) mean by advocating 'specialism' in this context? 2/2
What does the White Paper (and DSIT/UKRI) mean by advocating 'specialism' in this context? 2/2
November 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This is a pattern that pervades the post REF2021 era. See also for example Kent, or at UoA level History, where the top 4 performing UoAs have all faced significant redundancies after their high results.
What does the White Paper (and DSIT/UKRI) mean by advocating 'specialism' in this context? 2/2
What does the White Paper (and DSIT/UKRI) mean by advocating 'specialism' in this context? 2/2
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
And the news is... We're recruiting! Applications are now open for our 2026 @leverhulme.ac.uk Doctoral Scholarships. So, if you want to study at PhD level pre-modern handwritten cultures and the organisation of knowledge and power within them, do investigate our refreshed website.
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
And the news is... We're recruiting! Applications are now open for our 2026 @leverhulme.ac.uk Doctoral Scholarships. So, if you want to study at PhD level pre-modern handwritten cultures and the organisation of knowledge and power within them, do investigate our refreshed website.
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
Do you have students working on medieval or renaissance books? We have online winter school courses that might help them. More information about the January 2026 courses here 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
IES: LIPS & LRBS Winter School | 2026
ies.sas.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
The Royal Historical Society has published its strategy for the next few years today. Access it here. #Skystorians
Strategy 2026-2028 - RHS
On 18 November 2025, the Royal Historical Society launches its new Strategy 2026-2028. How the Society supports history and historians is closely shaped by the environment in which we work. Our new st...
royalhistsoc.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The Royal Historical Society has published its strategy for the next few years today. Access it here. #Skystorians
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
"We’ve made it about individuals, because the academic research system is very focused on the individual level, and that’s something we really need to break,” she said.
Yes, break the focus on individuals. After all, the system is doing its best to break individuals altogether at this time. 1/3
Yes, break the focus on individuals. After all, the system is doing its best to break individuals altogether at this time. 1/3
REF must ditch focus on individuals, says Ottoline Leyser.
Former UKRI head also echoes previous calls for universities to do less research.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Former UKRI head also echoes previous calls for universities to do less research.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
REF must ditch focus on individuals, says Ottoline Leyser - Research Professional News
Former UKRI head also echoes previous calls for universities to do less research
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
"We’ve made it about individuals, because the academic research system is very focused on the individual level, and that’s something we really need to break,” she said.
Yes, break the focus on individuals. After all, the system is doing its best to break individuals altogether at this time. 1/3
Yes, break the focus on individuals. After all, the system is doing its best to break individuals altogether at this time. 1/3
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
Many thanks to all at the University of Suffolk and @suffolkarchives.bsky.social who hosted yesterday's visit by the Society to meet with historians, archivists and curators from Ipswich and the region bit.ly/3Jsoi5v
Our discussions focused on 'collaborative working with heritage partners' 1/2
Our discussions focused on 'collaborative working with heritage partners' 1/2
Society visit to historians at the University of Suffolk and to Suffolk Archives, 22 October - RHS
On 22 October, members of the Society’s Council visited historians at the University of Suffolk: to learn more about the department, and historical studies across the institution; to discuss shared pr...
bit.ly
October 23, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Many thanks to all at the University of Suffolk and @suffolkarchives.bsky.social who hosted yesterday's visit by the Society to meet with historians, archivists and curators from Ipswich and the region bit.ly/3Jsoi5v
Our discussions focused on 'collaborative working with heritage partners' 1/2
Our discussions focused on 'collaborative working with heritage partners' 1/2
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
So, mRNA jabs are dangerous. To cancers.
Covid-19 vaccines, credited with saving millions of lives during the pandemic, set off a powerful alarm that rallies the human immune system against cancer and nearly doubles the median survival length of patients, according to a new retrospective study.
Study finds mRNA coronavirus vaccines prolonged life of cancer patients
A study found that covid-19 vaccines appeared to awaken the immune system in lung and skin cancer patients, helping them live longer than those not vaccinated.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
So, mRNA jabs are dangerous. To cancers.
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
Back by popular demand, Introduction to Latin Palaeography will run online in February 2026 #MedievalSky 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Introduction to Latin Palaeography
ies.sas.ac.uk
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Back by popular demand, Introduction to Latin Palaeography will run online in February 2026 #MedievalSky 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
Turn on the caps? 100% yes, for the benefit of everyone at every level of UK higher education’s system
October 23, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Turn on the caps? 100% yes, for the benefit of everyone at every level of UK higher education’s system
Reposted by Barbara Bombi
Today's visit closes with an RHS guest lecture by Professor Tim Grady (University of Chester) to which all are very welcome bit.ly/4pWzBDu.
Tim's lecture begins at 5.30pm at The Hold, Suffolk Archives, Ipswich, and is preceded by a reception from 5pm #Skystorians
Tim's lecture begins at 5.30pm at The Hold, Suffolk Archives, Ipswich, and is preceded by a reception from 5pm #Skystorians
October 22, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Today's visit closes with an RHS guest lecture by Professor Tim Grady (University of Chester) to which all are very welcome bit.ly/4pWzBDu.
Tim's lecture begins at 5.30pm at The Hold, Suffolk Archives, Ipswich, and is preceded by a reception from 5pm #Skystorians
Tim's lecture begins at 5.30pm at The Hold, Suffolk Archives, Ipswich, and is preceded by a reception from 5pm #Skystorians