Stuart Shields
@docstushi.bsky.social
Accidental International Political Economist, Deputy Associate Dean PGR Faculty of Humanities University of Manchester. Director of Methods North West
Research: mostly regional development banks
Real life: Welsh Springer Spaniels & obscure 80s italo disco
Research: mostly regional development banks
Real life: Welsh Springer Spaniels & obscure 80s italo disco
Reposted by Stuart Shields
My local team at it again
January 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM
My local team at it again
I think he means the UK economy is no longer a passport to social mobility ... www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university degree no longer ‘passport to social mobility’, says King’s vice-chancellor
Prof Shitij Kapur says there are too many graduates and degree is now just a ‘visa’ to enter professional world
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:38 AM
I think he means the UK economy is no longer a passport to social mobility ... www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Ministers set to lay out details for ‘Northern Powerhouse’ rail scheme in new year www.ft.com/content/d62f...
a man with glasses and a mustache is covering his mouth
ALT: a man with glasses and a mustache is covering his mouth
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Ministers set to lay out details for ‘Northern Powerhouse’ rail scheme in new year www.ft.com/content/d62f...
Given the state of the world, here’s a picture of the dog to cheer you all up
December 21, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Given the state of the world, here’s a picture of the dog to cheer you all up
Reposted by Stuart Shields
'Until now, research funding has been the story of nudges toward the things government wants through bodies it influences but does not control, and through setting the legal and reporting guardrails for...QR. This is now going to significantly change.'
The great UKRI budget shake-up
The next four years of research funding will be organised in a very different way. Michael Salmon and James Coe explore how The next four years of research funding will be organised in a very differen...
wonkhe.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
'Until now, research funding has been the story of nudges toward the things government wants through bodies it influences but does not control, and through setting the legal and reporting guardrails for...QR. This is now going to significantly change.'
StRaTeGiC pLaNnInG
Every university in the UK is currently trying to hang on long enough that a bunch of other universities go bankrupt before they do. Then, maybe the government will do something (fat chance) & there will be the chance at recruiting a few more students to ratchet up that staff:student ratio.
December 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
StRaTeGiC pLaNnInG
Another day, another set of institutional refreshments …
December 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Another day, another set of institutional refreshments …
Manchester are advertising a number of political economy (broadly conceived) fully funded 3 year Hallsworth & Simon post-docs www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/research/fun... closing date - Jan 16 2026
Simon and Hallsworth Fellowships | Faculty of Humanities | The University of Manchester
Find out the Simon and Hallsworth Fellowships at Manchester, our Faculty of Humanities funding scheme for early career researchers with a doctoral degree.
www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Manchester are advertising a number of political economy (broadly conceived) fully funded 3 year Hallsworth & Simon post-docs www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/research/fun... closing date - Jan 16 2026
If you’re interested in a little schadenfreude this evening check out the btl comments at the FT: Higher property taxes for landlords and wealthy homeowners. Otherwise known as the bonfire of the rentiers. on.ft.com/3XEcfWt
Higher property taxes for landlords and wealthy homeowners
Rachel Reeves increases levy and introduces ‘mansion tax’ on expensive homes
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
If you’re interested in a little schadenfreude this evening check out the btl comments at the FT: Higher property taxes for landlords and wealthy homeowners. Otherwise known as the bonfire of the rentiers. on.ft.com/3XEcfWt
and none of these indicators look to have bottomed out yet
"These estimates suggest that by 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Link: www.nber.org/papers/w34459
Link: www.nber.org/papers/w34459
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 AM
and none of these indicators look to have bottomed out yet
Susan Lapworth, the chief executive of the OfS, sought to allay fears, reassuring MPs that it did not mean the regulator was expecting any of the institutions to exit “in a disorderly way”.
well that's OK then www.theguardian.com/education/20...
well that's OK then www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Fifty higher education providers at risk of exiting market in England, MPs told
Regulator says 24 are at more immediate risk and may have to stop degree courses within next 12 months
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Susan Lapworth, the chief executive of the OfS, sought to allay fears, reassuring MPs that it did not mean the regulator was expecting any of the institutions to exit “in a disorderly way”.
well that's OK then www.theguardian.com/education/20...
well that's OK then www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Stuart Shields
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 10:06 AM
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
Reposted by Stuart Shields
the thing that scares me about Labour HE policy is that because I work in the sector I can see how absolutely insane it is, which makes me wonder just how terrible their policies are in all the other sectors I’m in less of a position to engage with critically out of lack of knowledge.
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
the thing that scares me about Labour HE policy is that because I work in the sector I can see how absolutely insane it is, which makes me wonder just how terrible their policies are in all the other sectors I’m in less of a position to engage with critically out of lack of knowledge.
If anyone wants to know how I've been spending my Monday this describes it pretty well. Too right there's an issue, that O2 are totally bloody useless
November 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
If anyone wants to know how I've been spending my Monday this describes it pretty well. Too right there's an issue, that O2 are totally bloody useless
Reposted by Stuart Shields
LSE is hiring an Assistant Professor (Education track) in International Political Economy:
Primary responsibility is education; we are looking for a track record in teaching, student mentoring, and pastoral care.
Annual salary: £68,087+
Deadline: 30 November 2025.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Primary responsibility is education; we are looking for a track record in teaching, student mentoring, and pastoral care.
Annual salary: £68,087+
Deadline: 30 November 2025.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Assistant Professor (Education) in International Political Economy
Assistant Professor (Education) in International Political Economy,
,
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span>LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university</span></...
jobs.lse.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 11:07 AM
LSE is hiring an Assistant Professor (Education track) in International Political Economy:
Primary responsibility is education; we are looking for a track record in teaching, student mentoring, and pastoral care.
Annual salary: £68,087+
Deadline: 30 November 2025.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Primary responsibility is education; we are looking for a track record in teaching, student mentoring, and pastoral care.
Annual salary: £68,087+
Deadline: 30 November 2025.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Find a Way
open.spotify.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Wait till they discover ticketmaster et al 🙄 www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
British music stars urge Starmer to tackle ‘pernicious’ ticket tout websites
Radiohead, Dua Lipa and Coldplay among dozens of artists calling for cap on resale prices to stop exploitation of fans
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Wait till they discover ticketmaster et al 🙄 www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...
Grim news from the University of Nottingham c.org/XBRJP4j4ZF
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
c.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Grim news from the University of Nottingham c.org/XBRJP4j4ZF
Joe Sheldon kicking off Methods North West workshop on Exploring Method(ologies) in Global Political Economy discussing walking interviews at the University of Liverpool
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Joe Sheldon kicking off Methods North West workshop on Exploring Method(ologies) in Global Political Economy discussing walking interviews at the University of Liverpool
3 years on and I'm finally getting used to outlook email moving the mark as unread, flag, pin & delete buttons to the right of the inbox and what does Microsoft do? Moves them back to the left 🤯
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 AM
3 years on and I'm finally getting used to outlook email moving the mark as unread, flag, pin & delete buttons to the right of the inbox and what does Microsoft do? Moves them back to the left 🤯
🚨New PGR social media/digital culture methods network if you're in the north west 🚨
October 31, 2025 at 8:24 PM
🚨New PGR social media/digital culture methods network if you're in the north west 🚨
I'm a bit late to John Keatley's less commercial/celebrity based work but this collection somehow seems even more relevant and moving in 2025 hafny.org/blog/2017/2/...
John Keatley's Surprisingly Empathetic Portraits of Real Life Toy Soldiers — Humble Arts Foundation
While John Keatley is most widely known for his commercial photography and advertising campaigns, shooting everyone from Anthony Hopkins to Macklemore with punchy, studio lit, conceptually-driven po...
hafny.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I'm a bit late to John Keatley's less commercial/celebrity based work but this collection somehow seems even more relevant and moving in 2025 hafny.org/blog/2017/2/...