Johnny Rich
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johnnyrich.com
Johnny Rich
@johnnyrich.com
1.2K followers 470 following 740 posts
CEO, PushTalks & @EngProfCouncil Author of The Human Script. Speaker. Specialist in #HigherEd #FairAccess #LifelongLearning #Employability #SocialMobility #Policy #Engineering
Web: johnnyrich.com
Twitter: @johnnysrich
Posts Replies Media Videos
johnnyrich.com
I was very pleased yesterday to be invited to the parliamentary launch of #ResearchPlus, a new grouping of research-led universities.

(New website here: lnkd.in/eq2Bk7Fp)

1/14
Peter Kyle speaks at the parliamentary launch of Research Plus with Sasha Roseneil
October 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
johnnyrich.com
Bricks shouldn’t try to teach birds how to fly, so, Bibi, please forgive us for not seeking your advice on reducing divisions in society.
October 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
johnnyrich.com
Our opening keynote at #EANCongress25 kicks off to a packed room. Prof Malcolm Press, Manchester Met VC and Universities UK incoming President, spells out the challenges and opportunities for HE and engineering academics.
June 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM
johnnyrich.com
The hour is nigh. #EANCongress25 starts today!
June 9, 2025 at 10:19 AM
johnnyrich.com
On behalf of @engprofcouncil.bsky.social, I have today written to the Education Secretary @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social to express concern about plans to defund #Level7Apprenticeships in engineering.

Here is what I said:
epc.ac.uk/article/lett...
March 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
johnnyrich.com
The @FT has published my letter on behalf of @engprofcouncil.bsky.social in response to their coverage of the 14% rise in applications to engineering and technology reported this week. www.ft.com/content/c6e4... (£)
February 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
johnnyrich.com
I'm delighted to feature on both @wonkhe.bsky.social &, with @bevgibbs.bsky.social, on @hepi-news.bsky.social's sites today. (The timing is coincidence not campaign.)

I'm less pleased by the accompanying cliché stock images of engineers: women of colour in hard hats & hi vis, looking at machines.
February 18, 2025 at 11:29 AM
johnnyrich.com
The Lifelong Education Institute Annual Conference on 29/4/25 has a tremendous speaker line-up: @fionaaldridge.bsky.social @tombewick.bsky.social @stephenevans.bsky.social @tom-richmond.com @benrowland.bsky.social, Baroness Alison Wolf & more...

Register at www.lifelongeducation.uk/schedule/lif...
February 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
johnnyrich.com
Not to worry, suggests @makeuk.bsky.social – there are non-graduate pathways into engineering. www.ft.com/content/738a...

21/27
February 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
johnnyrich.com
Last year's rise in applications did not lead to a rise in the number of UK engineering students. Numbers have more or less stagnated since the pandemic.

9/27
Graph shows engineering student numbers steady at about 150k until 2019, then climbing to 170k over two years and then staying there ever since.
February 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
johnnyrich.com
And – unlike financial services, say – engineering is a powerhouse of #RegionalDevelopment, spread remarkably evenly throughout the country. www.engc.org.uk/media/4587/m...

6/27
Infographic shows proportions working in engineering in different UK regions varying from 15% in London to 21% in the East Midlands.
February 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
johnnyrich.com
Certainly, there's a keen labour market for more engineers. EngineeringUK has suggested the shortfall is around 29,000 graduates every year. According to @britishchambers.bsky.social (www.britishchambers.org.uk/wp-content/u...), it's pretty much the largest skills gap in the UK economy.

4/27
List shows engineers and the shortage role most cited by businesses in a poll. https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The_Open_University_Business_Barometer_2024.pdf
February 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
johnnyrich.com
The latest UCAS data (applications by the January 'equal consideration' deadline) suggest a 14% increase in applications to Engineering & Technology courses. It's the second double-digit surge in two years.

Good news, right? Sadly, it's mostly not.

Buckle in: 🧵1/27
www.ucas.com/undergraduat...
Graph shows the sharp increase in engineering and technology applications
February 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
johnnyrich.com
Sally Mapstone, HEPI Chair, introduces @hepi-news.bsky.social / @advancehe.bsky.social event at the House of Commons on #inclusion. At a time when there is an insidious movement dismissing equity and basic fairness as ‘wokeism’, this promises to be an important discussion.
February 12, 2025 at 9:05 AM
johnnyrich.com
"Have you finished writing the Daily, yet, Jim?"
"Yup, I'm just polishing it off."

@wonkhe.bsky.social @jimdickinson.bsky.social
January 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
johnnyrich.com
Such as an actual criminal record, perhaps?
January 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
johnnyrich.com
@jimdickinson.bsky.social is presenting 'Belong' research on student working by @wonkhe.bsky.social / Cybil. 2/3rds of students are doing paid work just to pay bills. 1 in 6 needs to work to support their family. More than 1/2 work more than 15hrs/wk (the level considered detrimental to study).
December 10, 2024 at 12:12 PM
johnnyrich.com
I'll be speaking at this free @hepi-news.bsky.social/CDBU event on 16/1/25, arguing the case for grad employer contributions #FairerFunding

Mail cdbuchair@gmail.com to attend in person/online

@nickhillman.bsky.social @timleunig.bsky.social @rstephenson123.bsky.social
Who Pays? Exploring Fairer Funding Models for Higher Education A SYMPOSIUM JOINTLY HOSTED BY THE COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF BRITISH UNIVERSITIES AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY INSTITUTE The UK's higher education system faces many challenges, of which the largest is student fees. Many proposals are circulating but none commands a consensus. The CDBU and HEPI are holding this day-long symposium to consider solutions, to examine wider issues of justice and to look at alternative continental models. The day's outcomes will be forwarded to government. JANUARY 16 2025 | BIRKBECK, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON RUSSELL SQUARE, WC1E 7HX | HYBRID EVENT | 10-5PM Please email cdbuchair@gmail.com to register your in-person or virtual attendance
December 2, 2024 at 11:23 AM
johnnyrich.com
Grok is totally trolling Elon and X right now.
November 20, 2024 at 10:55 AM
johnnyrich.com
Fascinating discussion currently on #SkillsInSchools in the Lifelong Education Institute webinar (with Andy Forbes, Joanne Harper, Tim Coulson & Dave Phoenix).

Is there a false dichotomy between a knowledge-based and skills-based curriculum?
November 19, 2024 at 12:28 PM
johnnyrich.com
I’m a cosignatory of a letter from The Fair Access Coalition in today’s Times welcoming reports over the weekend of a potential planned return of maintenance grants. www.thetimes.com/comment/lett...
Letter text: It is essential that any changes to maintenance grants increase the overall amount of support students are getting. Simply replacing some loan entitlement with grants will not help students to pay the bills. Going to university remains one of the best choices a young person can make to increase their chances of getting a good job. Proposals such as these this will help to turn Labour's opportunity mission into reality. The Fair Access Coalition Laura Gray CEO, Brightside; Anne-Marie Canning CEO, The Brilliant Club; Sam Holmes CEO, Causeway; Steve Haines director of public affairs, Impetus; Rachel Carr CEO, IntoUniversity; Jonny Rich CEO, Push; Nick Bent CEO, UpReach; Jayne Taylor CEO, The Elephant Group; Anna Searle CEO, The Access Project Letter to the editor of The Times: Student grants Sir, The report in your article ("University. tuition fees 'to rise with inflation'", Sep 28) of a potential increase in maintenance grants for university students is most welcome. Support for students on low incomes to cover rent, food and travel has not kept up with inflation. This is a significant concern for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds considering applying to higher education. Our experience of working with thousands of these students means we know first-hand the extreme hardships they face as undergraduates.
September 30, 2024 at 7:35 AM
johnnyrich.com
Excellent and helpful summary by Rose Stephenson & @josh-freeman.bsky.social of discussions about #HigherEd at the fringe events of the #LabourPartyConference2024.

www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/09/27/t...

I particularly liked this bit 😉:
September 27, 2024 at 12:01 PM
johnnyrich.com
Meanwhile, over on the #hellsite, efforts to keep out the fake accounts are clearly going well...
August 30, 2024 at 12:43 PM
johnnyrich.com
I'm especially proud today to be a governor of The Charter School East Dulwich, where the second ever cohort of sixth formers have excelled in their #ALevels and #BTECs

Congratulations to all the students and staff for your hard work.
Press release showing a second year of strong A level results at the Charter School East Dulwich
August 15, 2024 at 11:58 AM
johnnyrich.com
New report by @Lifelong_Ed with @HarperAdamsUni on lifelong learning in #AgriFood sector. The pace of innovation creates a need for urgent up-/re-skilling.
Congratulations to @mariusostrowski @res_publica and everyone who worked on this.

www.lifelongeducation.uk/research-1/h...
Recommendations from the report
October 3, 2023 at 8:54 AM