Ross Balzaretti
@rossbalzaretti.bsky.social
Historian, Emeritus Professor, University of Nottingham. He/him. 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
{New book} 25% off with Arc25 The Lombards in Italy by Christopher Heath www.arc-humanities.org/978180270269...
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
{New book} 25% off with Arc25 The Lombards in Italy by Christopher Heath www.arc-humanities.org/978180270269...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
'All states and territories in Australia should review the legislation underpinning universities “to ensure the primacy of public research and education”, a Senate committee has said.'
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Australian universities ‘must put research and education first’.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
Australian universities ‘must put research and education first’ - Research Professional News
Senate inquiry into university governance recommends stronger regulatory oversight to tackle staff discontent
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
'All states and territories in Australia should review the legislation underpinning universities “to ensure the primacy of public research and education”, a Senate committee has said.'
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
No lockout for University of Sheffield staff
UCU members have been standing up against the continual cutting and restructuring of the last several years which has significantly damaged the University’s international standing, the quality of educ...
www.megaphone.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Please can I encourage followers to fill in this home office survey on changes to how long it takes to get settled status (or indefinite leave to remain) in the UK, and to put across a pro-immigration viewpoint. The UK needs immigrants and contribute a lot to our society!
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
December 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Please can I encourage followers to fill in this home office survey on changes to how long it takes to get settled status (or indefinite leave to remain) in the UK, and to put across a pro-immigration viewpoint. The UK needs immigrants and contribute a lot to our society!
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Alastair Campbell was said to have a rule that if a story about someone ran for more than 12 days in the media it would not end well. The various & growing allegations about Farage started on 18th November
wp.me/p15p2Q-fG3
wp.me/p15p2Q-fG3
Farage & Alastair Campbell’s 12 day rule on bad publicity
Farage & the 12 day rule When Alastair Campbell was Tony Blair’s spin doctor he was said to have a 12 day rule about stories on people or issues. If they story was still running after 12 days t…
wp.me
December 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Alastair Campbell was said to have a rule that if a story about someone ran for more than 12 days in the media it would not end well. The various & growing allegations about Farage started on 18th November
wp.me/p15p2Q-fG3
wp.me/p15p2Q-fG3
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
'Steve Jones, professor of higher education at the University of Manchester and the main author of the code told Times Higher Education that it came at a “vital time” for the sector amid widespread redundancies and financial crisis.' 2/2
Strong support for ethical reform of university governance - HEPI
New research suggests there is strong backing for a university governance Code that addresses power imbalances and over-financialisation. This is the first of two reports that HEPI is publishing on un...
www.hepi.ac.uk
December 4, 2025 at 8:11 AM
'Steve Jones, professor of higher education at the University of Manchester and the main author of the code told Times Higher Education that it came at a “vital time” for the sector amid widespread redundancies and financial crisis.' 2/2
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Graduate of the American Studies programme that the University of Nottingham wishes to close wins 2025 Wolfson History Prize for Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
The Wolfson History Prize - Celebrating Outstanding History
The Wolfson History Prize is awarded annually to promote and recognise outstanding history written for a general audience.
www.wolfsonhistoryprize.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Graduate of the American Studies programme that the University of Nottingham wishes to close wins 2025 Wolfson History Prize for Survivors: The Lost Stories of the Last Captives of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
History, it's a long game. Divest in haste, repent for the longue durée.
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
We all desperately want to clear the courts backlog seeing victims withdraw from the criminal justice process.
But the backlog was caused by chronic underfunding, not juries.
Restricting jury trials would undermine our democracy and right to a fair trial, and may even be a false economy.
But the backlog was caused by chronic underfunding, not juries.
Restricting jury trials would undermine our democracy and right to a fair trial, and may even be a false economy.
December 2, 2025 at 6:14 PM
We all desperately want to clear the courts backlog seeing victims withdraw from the criminal justice process.
But the backlog was caused by chronic underfunding, not juries.
Restricting jury trials would undermine our democracy and right to a fair trial, and may even be a false economy.
But the backlog was caused by chronic underfunding, not juries.
Restricting jury trials would undermine our democracy and right to a fair trial, and may even be a false economy.
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
This is shameful. The University of Cambridge has a duty to stand against the disgraceful anti-intellectualism of the right.
www.varsity.co.uk/news/30787
www.varsity.co.uk/news/30787
Cambridge cosies up to Reform UK
Leaked recordings of a University Council meeting, obtained by Varsity and The Sunday Times, show the VC fearful of Trump-style recriminations if Reform were to win power
www.varsity.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:40 AM
This is shameful. The University of Cambridge has a duty to stand against the disgraceful anti-intellectualism of the right.
www.varsity.co.uk/news/30787
www.varsity.co.uk/news/30787
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Nottingham University spent £80m on Castle Meadow Campus & now decides to sell it
Only 2 buildings were ever used
No one is taking blame for huge fiasco
University blithely calls it “strategic realignment” -- while sacking staff & closing courses
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
Only 2 buildings were ever used
No one is taking blame for huge fiasco
University blithely calls it “strategic realignment” -- while sacking staff & closing courses
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
Struggling university selling £80m 'vanity project' campus
Unions criticised the 'vanity project' as being partly to blame for hundreds of job cuts
www.nottinghampost.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Nottingham University spent £80m on Castle Meadow Campus & now decides to sell it
Only 2 buildings were ever used
No one is taking blame for huge fiasco
University blithely calls it “strategic realignment” -- while sacking staff & closing courses
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
Only 2 buildings were ever used
No one is taking blame for huge fiasco
University blithely calls it “strategic realignment” -- while sacking staff & closing courses
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
After 1997 the watering down of the New Labour Employment Rights Bill was described as 'practical'. In 2025 the watering down of the Newer Labour Employment Rights Bill is described as 'pragmatic'. Its the same old song...
wp.me/p15p2Q-fAW
wp.me/p15p2Q-fAW
Labour & Employment Rights 1997-2025. The same old song…
Labour & Employment Rights 1997-2025. The same old song Labour’s Employment Bill is back in the Lords. In some cases it won’t be until the autumn of 2026 before some measures become law. There …
wp.me
November 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
After 1997 the watering down of the New Labour Employment Rights Bill was described as 'practical'. In 2025 the watering down of the Newer Labour Employment Rights Bill is described as 'pragmatic'. Its the same old song...
wp.me/p15p2Q-fAW
wp.me/p15p2Q-fAW
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
The removal of individual institutions’ student number caps was a disaster.
'Bols and Maguire trace the current financial problems higher education institutions are facing back to the government’s decision to remove the limit on student numbers in 2015-16 and deregulate student recruitment, while maintaining caps on tuition fees, thus limiting universities’ income.' 2/3
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The removal of individual institutions’ student number caps was a disaster.
These are really useful questions for workers fighting useless university senior management across the sector.
As mgmt at UoN continue to gaslight staff at town halls over reckless changes and cuts, Phil has put together some FUQs (frequently unanswered questions)
How many jobs will go? Have the modellied the risks associated with such a high SSR?
muircheartblog.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/28/f...
How many jobs will go? Have the modellied the risks associated with such a high SSR?
muircheartblog.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/28/f...
Frequently Unanswered Questions (FUQs)
The following questions have all been submitted during (or before) various senior management “Town Hall” meetings in recent weeks. It may not come as a complete surprise to hear that re…
muircheartblog.wpcomstaging.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:31 AM
These are really useful questions for workers fighting useless university senior management across the sector.
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
The last person I want to hear from on employment rights is the woman overseeing the destruction of one of the UK’s most valuable sectors.
Minister defends 'pragmatic' U-turn on workers' rights
Minister defends 'pragmatic' U-turn on workers' rights
Bridget Phillipson told the BBC the climbdown would enable wider benefits to be delivered quickly.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The last person I want to hear from on employment rights is the woman overseeing the destruction of one of the UK’s most valuable sectors.
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Not only is it at risk of closure, the current plan is to gut human geography at Leicester by merging Geosciences and Chemistry - please sign this!
The geology department at the University of Leicester, where myself and countless others did our palaeontology PhDs, is at serious risk of closure
Please show your support by signing the below!
c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Please show your support by signing the below!
c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Save Geology at the University of Leicester
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
c.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Not only is it at risk of closure, the current plan is to gut human geography at Leicester by merging Geosciences and Chemistry - please sign this!
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
I'm a member of the Green Party, and I've just donated.
If you can afford to and you want to see decent, humane local and national government policies that support the poor, migrants and the environment, please donate as well.
Either way, please repost.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hopeishere
If you can afford to and you want to see decent, humane local and national government policies that support the poor, migrants and the environment, please donate as well.
Either way, please repost.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hopeishere
November 28, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I'm a member of the Green Party, and I've just donated.
If you can afford to and you want to see decent, humane local and national government policies that support the poor, migrants and the environment, please donate as well.
Either way, please repost.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hopeishere
If you can afford to and you want to see decent, humane local and national government policies that support the poor, migrants and the environment, please donate as well.
Either way, please repost.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hopeishere
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
It's on Linguist List so I guess it's official....Language & LGBTQ+ Youth is out now!! 🎉 📚
November 28, 2025 at 6:43 AM
It's on Linguist List so I guess it's official....Language & LGBTQ+ Youth is out now!! 🎉 📚
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Wonderful to see latest in Special Issue of @genderandhistory.bsky.social edited @writinghelena.bsky.social, Lisa Hellman, Rachel Jean-Baptiste and me out! Christina Thomas on educator Geraldine Wilson: "A Black Girl's Coming of Age in Jim Crow Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" 🌟 doi.org/10.1111/1468...
A Black Girl's Coming of Age in Jim Crow Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In the late twentieth century, Geraldine L. Wilson emerged as one of the leading voices in early Black childhood education, grounding her pedagogy in Black history and culture. This article traces th...
doi.org
November 26, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Wonderful to see latest in Special Issue of @genderandhistory.bsky.social edited @writinghelena.bsky.social, Lisa Hellman, Rachel Jean-Baptiste and me out! Christina Thomas on educator Geraldine Wilson: "A Black Girl's Coming of Age in Jim Crow Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" 🌟 doi.org/10.1111/1468...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
A huge turnout in Nottingham today, around 300 staff and students standing together against cuts.
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A huge turnout in Nottingham today, around 300 staff and students standing together against cuts.
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Putting aside the fact that Farage’s racism has and continues to be well-documented, his claims he may have “misspoken” and that he had never *directly* racially abused anyone nicely summarises the views many white supremacist apologists hold…
November 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Putting aside the fact that Farage’s racism has and continues to be well-documented, his claims he may have “misspoken” and that he had never *directly* racially abused anyone nicely summarises the views many white supremacist apologists hold…
University pressing ahead with course closures plan despite 'profound' warning
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
University pressing ahead with course closures plan despite 'profound' warning
MPs called for the University of Nottingham to immediately pause the suspension of certain courses
www.nottinghampost.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
University pressing ahead with course closures plan despite 'profound' warning
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
www.nottinghampost.com/news/notting...
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Council is hiding behind locked doors with security guards blocking corridors but they can't escape from the anger of over 200 staff and students condemning management's incompetence and protesting course closures and redundancies.
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Council is hiding behind locked doors with security guards blocking corridors but they can't escape from the anger of over 200 staff and students condemning management's incompetence and protesting course closures and redundancies.
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Who is the university? We are!!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Ross Balzaretti
Publication – « Aristocratic networks. Elites and social dynamics in Italy in the age of Lothar I », éd. Giuseppe Albertoni, Manuel Fauliri, Leonardo Sernagiotto
rmblf.be/2025/11/25/p...
rmblf.be/2025/11/25/p...
Publication – « Aristocratic networks. Elites and social dynamics in Italy in the age of Lothar I », éd. Giuseppe Albertoni, Manuel Fauliri, Leonardo Sernagiotto
This volume collects the proceedings of a conference held at the Department of Humanities of the University of Trento from 13 to 15 October 2022, as part of the initiatives of the PRIN 2017 project…
rmblf.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Publication – « Aristocratic networks. Elites and social dynamics in Italy in the age of Lothar I », éd. Giuseppe Albertoni, Manuel Fauliri, Leonardo Sernagiotto
rmblf.be/2025/11/25/p...
rmblf.be/2025/11/25/p...