Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
@drdeininger.bsky.social
Interim Director of Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University | Writes on Lit, Environment & Apocalypse; YA; short fiction; Wales; class | 1st gen HE | 🌈 she/her | sweary
https://www.walesartsreview.org/redux-working-class-voices-michelle-deininger/
https://www.walesartsreview.org/redux-working-class-voices-michelle-deininger/
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!
October 14, 2025 at 8:53 AM
At @ihr.bsky.social we can now offer PhD by Publication in History! For those with a substantial body of existing published research (within past 10 years), but without a PhD, should be of particular interest to #heritage professionals and independent scholars!
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
Free online attendance at The Fantasy Summer School 2025, organised by the University of Oxford, and Bloomsbury Publishing, that brings together the expertise of scholars, publishers working with fantasy authors.
Link here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-blo...
Please share :)
Link here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-blo...
Please share :)
Oxford-Bloomsbury Fantasy Summer School 2025 Online
Offering an insight into the past, present and future of the fantasy genre from leading scholars, writers and publishing team in the field.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Free online attendance at The Fantasy Summer School 2025, organised by the University of Oxford, and Bloomsbury Publishing, that brings together the expertise of scholars, publishers working with fantasy authors.
Link here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-blo...
Please share :)
Link here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-blo...
Please share :)
In the spirit of the External Examiners' JISCMAIL list, which has today reached new levels of social etiquette, I think we should all adopt this kind of robust communication style when dealing with the irritation of unnecessary reply-alls.
June 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
In the spirit of the External Examiners' JISCMAIL list, which has today reached new levels of social etiquette, I think we should all adopt this kind of robust communication style when dealing with the irritation of unnecessary reply-alls.
Today the university advertised my current job by accident to the entire staff. Can't make this stuff up.
May 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Today the university advertised my current job by accident to the entire staff. Can't make this stuff up.
Attending yet another emergency Senate this morning. Curious if Wales Online will be providing a live feed.
April 11, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Attending yet another emergency Senate this morning. Curious if Wales Online will be providing a live feed.
Always good to get the important updates about the university from the university - oh sorry, I meant the Western Mail.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/educati...
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/educati...
Cardiff University says school of nursing won't close in U-turn
The level of cuts and job losses has been scaled down
www.walesonline.co.uk
April 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Always good to get the important updates about the university from the university - oh sorry, I meant the Western Mail.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/educati...
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/educati...
I'd really like to gather up all the elitist and unkind words we've encountered from admissions tutors while supporting adult learners with non-traditional educational backgrounds and then publish them. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would be so satisfying.
April 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I'd really like to gather up all the elitist and unkind words we've encountered from admissions tutors while supporting adult learners with non-traditional educational backgrounds and then publish them. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would be so satisfying.
Beautiful round-up of our annual Awards Ceremony at Cardiff University's Division of Lifelong Learning, celebrating our spectacular students and staff. I love working here - it really is the kind of place where lives are transformed through the power of education ❤️
The awards ceremony is the highlight of the year for the Division of Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University. It is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the commitment, passion and successes of our students and our colleagues.
bit.ly/3E4x3jp @webstermedieval.bsky.social @drdeininger.bsky.social
bit.ly/3E4x3jp @webstermedieval.bsky.social @drdeininger.bsky.social
Dathliad o ddysgu gydol oes
Mae ein seremoni wobrwyo yn cydnabod llwyddiannau ein myfyrwyr a'n staff.
bit.ly
March 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Beautiful round-up of our annual Awards Ceremony at Cardiff University's Division of Lifelong Learning, celebrating our spectacular students and staff. I love working here - it really is the kind of place where lives are transformed through the power of education ❤️
Look @learncardiff.bsky.social - our prospectus out in the wild (well, Penarth station haha).
March 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Look @learncardiff.bsky.social - our prospectus out in the wild (well, Penarth station haha).
Signing certificates ahead of our annual Awards Ceremony at @learncardiff.bsky.social this coming Friday - it's so wonderful to celebrate adult learning and all our students' fabulous achievements. ❤️
March 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Signing certificates ahead of our annual Awards Ceremony at @learncardiff.bsky.social this coming Friday - it's so wonderful to celebrate adult learning and all our students' fabulous achievements. ❤️
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
Another blistering critique of senior management at Cardiff University: "...if we continue on this trajectory, we risk becoming a country that cannot afford to teach its own language, support its own culture, or train enough professionals to run its public services."
nation.cymru/opinion/wels...
nation.cymru/opinion/wels...
Welsh universities are in crisis – where is the Welsh Government?
James Downs, Mental Health Campaigner A tidal wave of cuts is sweeping through Welsh higher education, threatening jobs, courses, and the future of entire institutions. Cardiff University’s announceme...
nation.cymru
February 26, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Another blistering critique of senior management at Cardiff University: "...if we continue on this trajectory, we risk becoming a country that cannot afford to teach its own language, support its own culture, or train enough professionals to run its public services."
nation.cymru/opinion/wels...
nation.cymru/opinion/wels...
Researching the history of Cardiff University's Lifelong Learning provision, which has also included the last time cuts were made to humanities. The gist seems to be (a) tutors' rights were improved & pay went up so (b) the university cut off its nose to spite its face and made everyone redundant.
February 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Researching the history of Cardiff University's Lifelong Learning provision, which has also included the last time cuts were made to humanities. The gist seems to be (a) tutors' rights were improved & pay went up so (b) the university cut off its nose to spite its face and made everyone redundant.
Encountered some interesting wording recently - "holding the tariff", "not softening" when it comes to entry grades. A university that is only interested in la crème de la crème has lost its way. A university that doesn't adapt to support "non-traditional" students is, quite simply, elitist.
February 4, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Encountered some interesting wording recently - "holding the tariff", "not softening" when it comes to entry grades. A university that is only interested in la crème de la crème has lost its way. A university that doesn't adapt to support "non-traditional" students is, quite simply, elitist.
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
Added some of my non-fiction to my website, in case you're interested in that sort of thing: jlgeorgewrites.wordpress.com/non-fiction/
Non-Fiction
Reviews, criticism and essays published in various places, as well as a few favourites from my newsletter. “Fantastical Doubles and Split Selves”, New Welsh Review (subscribers only) &#…
jlgeorgewrites.wordpress.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Added some of my non-fiction to my website, in case you're interested in that sort of thing: jlgeorgewrites.wordpress.com/non-fiction/
What does this mean for the most vulnerable students and areas, such as lifelong learning and foundation years? The way we protect (or don't) these areas speaks volumes for our trajectory as a sector.
🎓 Higher Education News 🎓 [😔 Sadly, not news anymore...]
Nearly one in four leading UK universities are slashing staff numbers and cutting budgets, with up to 10,000 redundancies or job losses, bringing calls for action to avoid damaging the sector’s international standing.
Nearly one in four leading UK universities are slashing staff numbers and cutting budgets, with up to 10,000 redundancies or job losses, bringing calls for action to avoid damaging the sector’s international standing.
Quarter of leading UK universities cutting staff due to budget shortfalls
Up to 10,000 redundancies or job losses feared as institutes undergo restructuring
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2025 at 5:32 PM
What does this mean for the most vulnerable students and areas, such as lifelong learning and foundation years? The way we protect (or don't) these areas speaks volumes for our trajectory as a sector.
I'm reading a book (The Lost Bookshop) where a character stumbles into a library and ends up with a load of information about adult education & going to university as a mature student. Reminds me of finding a leaflet about Oxford University's Dept of Continuing Education c.2001 in Cowley Centre.
January 31, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I'm reading a book (The Lost Bookshop) where a character stumbles into a library and ends up with a load of information about adult education & going to university as a mature student. Reminds me of finding a leaflet about Oxford University's Dept of Continuing Education c.2001 in Cowley Centre.
Not my university sending out feel good news stories via the alumni newsletter and forgetting I also work in the midst of this shit storm. How many of those good news graduate stories will come from other institutions in the future because we've cut our degrees to the bone?
January 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Not my university sending out feel good news stories via the alumni newsletter and forgetting I also work in the midst of this shit storm. How many of those good news graduate stories will come from other institutions in the future because we've cut our degrees to the bone?
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
Some voices are voicier than others.
I don’t like to criticise fellow professionals but for the university body for Welsh universities to be saying *nothing* about the unfurling catastrophes is a total abdication of responsibility. #Cardiff #Wales
www.uniswales.ac.uk/voice-univer...
I don’t like to criticise fellow professionals but for the university body for Welsh universities to be saying *nothing* about the unfurling catastrophes is a total abdication of responsibility. #Cardiff #Wales
www.uniswales.ac.uk/voice-univer...
The voice of universities in Wales | Universities Wales
www.uniswales.ac.uk
January 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Some voices are voicier than others.
I don’t like to criticise fellow professionals but for the university body for Welsh universities to be saying *nothing* about the unfurling catastrophes is a total abdication of responsibility. #Cardiff #Wales
www.uniswales.ac.uk/voice-univer...
I don’t like to criticise fellow professionals but for the university body for Welsh universities to be saying *nothing* about the unfurling catastrophes is a total abdication of responsibility. #Cardiff #Wales
www.uniswales.ac.uk/voice-univer...
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
Only 12 signatures needed for 1,800 in the Save the Latin Excellence Programme Petition. Have you signed and supported Latin in state schools? Sign at chng.it/tSYnmxZ4Rd
Sign the Petition
Save the Latin Excellence Programme - keep teaching Latin in state schools
chng.it
December 30, 2024 at 4:50 PM
Only 12 signatures needed for 1,800 in the Save the Latin Excellence Programme Petition. Have you signed and supported Latin in state schools? Sign at chng.it/tSYnmxZ4Rd
Been feeling very dispirited this week with work, having spent a lot of time advocating for mature students and not feeling heard. While the future might include shiny things that don't exist yet, we must keep nurturing what's in front of us, especially the most disenfranchised groups. (1/3)
December 11, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Been feeling very dispirited this week with work, having spent a lot of time advocating for mature students and not feeling heard. While the future might include shiny things that don't exist yet, we must keep nurturing what's in front of us, especially the most disenfranchised groups. (1/3)
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
Question for writers out there, specifically those with experience pitching a short story collection anchored by a novella:
How did you approach writing a pitch for it? Individual pitches for each story? A longer pitch for the novella followed by general mention of the stories? Something else?
How did you approach writing a pitch for it? Individual pitches for each story? A longer pitch for the novella followed by general mention of the stories? Something else?
December 2, 2024 at 12:08 PM
Question for writers out there, specifically those with experience pitching a short story collection anchored by a novella:
How did you approach writing a pitch for it? Individual pitches for each story? A longer pitch for the novella followed by general mention of the stories? Something else?
How did you approach writing a pitch for it? Individual pitches for each story? A longer pitch for the novella followed by general mention of the stories? Something else?
Me: FFS why is my f-ing monitor off and my laptop battery not charging GRAGHHHHH
{Minutes pass, swearing continues}
Also me: ahhhhh...
{Minutes pass, swearing continues}
Also me: ahhhhh...
December 2, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Me: FFS why is my f-ing monitor off and my laptop battery not charging GRAGHHHHH
{Minutes pass, swearing continues}
Also me: ahhhhh...
{Minutes pass, swearing continues}
Also me: ahhhhh...
I did not do this graffiti in a friend's toilet but I may have aided and abetted the culprit. It's impossible not to with this brand.
December 2, 2024 at 10:52 AM
I did not do this graffiti in a friend's toilet but I may have aided and abetted the culprit. It's impossible not to with this brand.
Reposted by Dr Michelle Deininger 🌈
My work wellbeing app says this today. I'm currently suffering from insomnia (again) exacerbated by... the stress of work.
There's another wellbeing app that's available but only the first 1000 to sign up can have it.
There's another wellbeing app that's available but only the first 1000 to sign up can have it.
November 25, 2024 at 11:51 PM
My work wellbeing app says this today. I'm currently suffering from insomnia (again) exacerbated by... the stress of work.
There's another wellbeing app that's available but only the first 1000 to sign up can have it.
There's another wellbeing app that's available but only the first 1000 to sign up can have it.