UCU University of Kent branch
@ucukent.bsky.social
UCU University of Kent
Fighting for a better Higher Education - staff working conditions are student learning conditions.
https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/
https://www.instagram.com/ucu.kent?igsh=MWRuZnZ5Y3k1ZXlhNQ==
Fighting for a better Higher Education - staff working conditions are student learning conditions.
https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/
https://www.instagram.com/ucu.kent?igsh=MWRuZnZ5Y3k1ZXlhNQ==
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Seriously - if you work in the UK education sector, you need to read this...
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Seriously - if you work in the UK education sector, you need to read this...
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Read this. And then vote YES/YES in the ballot. We need staff back in the picture of all #UKHE strategising, and our managers aren't going to put us there.
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Read this. And then vote YES/YES in the ballot. We need staff back in the picture of all #UKHE strategising, and our managers aren't going to put us there.
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
This is being replicated all over the UK. In the past year over 15,000 jobs have been lost or cut.
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
The biggest marker that my university has lost a LOT of staff is being able to park in the main staff car park at 11.30am.
It used to be the case if you arrived after 9am, forget it.
#AcademicSky
It used to be the case if you arrived after 9am, forget it.
#AcademicSky
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This is being replicated all over the UK. In the past year over 15,000 jobs have been lost or cut.
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
NEW on Wonkhe: It's taken eleven months, but the draft OfS strategy is now finalised. David Kernohan takes a look at what has changed buff.ly/K1ccOB7
November 13, 2025 at 11:45 AM
NEW on Wonkhe: It's taken eleven months, but the draft OfS strategy is now finalised. David Kernohan takes a look at what has changed buff.ly/K1ccOB7
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
heads up #histSTM people - nominations are open for the @bshsnews.bsky.social Pickstone Prize - best scholarly book (in English) published in the last 2 years. Don't assume your publisher will nominate you, be proactive about your book or books you love!
🗃️
🗃️
The BSHS Pickstone Prize
The BSHS Pickstone Prize is awarded every two years to the best scholarly book in the history of science (broadly construed) in English. The Prize aims to recognize pioneering works that advance the s...
www.bshs.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:46 AM
heads up #histSTM people - nominations are open for the @bshsnews.bsky.social Pickstone Prize - best scholarly book (in English) published in the last 2 years. Don't assume your publisher will nominate you, be proactive about your book or books you love!
🗃️
🗃️
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Apparently today is a day for reminding people that they have worth and value. So if you need reminding of that - you have worth. You have value. You are allowed to take up space.
November 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Apparently today is a day for reminding people that they have worth and value. So if you need reminding of that - you have worth. You have value. You are allowed to take up space.
The vote is national, EVERYONE in the UCU needs to vote!
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
Time is ticking 🕣🕣🕣 have you posted your #WeAreTheUniversity ballot yet?
Vote now, vote YES! We have 1 day left to safely send out our ballot!
@ucu.org.uk
Vote now, vote YES! We have 1 day left to safely send out our ballot!
@ucu.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The vote is national, EVERYONE in the UCU needs to vote!
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
'Members of the University and College Union...are unhappy about the threat of compulsory redundancies, as the university seeks to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m, amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.'
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
Lancaster University staff to start industrial action over job cuts
The university is looking to save £30m amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
'Members of the University and College Union...are unhappy about the threat of compulsory redundancies, as the university seeks to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m, amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.'
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Managers cite concern for students in everything they do, but never actually prioritise student opinion or voices in any of their decision making. They do irreparable harm to student courses and turn around to staff and ask: ‘right: how can we improve student satisfaction and recruitment?’
We've had 2 massive mergers in 2 years. In both cases, QMUL refused to hear students (staff was told not to talk about it with students for fear of repercussions), and *after* both of them, management said 'our bad, we'll talk to students next time'.
#UKHE managers don't prioritise students.
#UKHE managers don't prioritise students.
Did @uniofnottingham.bsky.social consult any students before announcing the proposed course closures? @uonucu.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Managers cite concern for students in everything they do, but never actually prioritise student opinion or voices in any of their decision making. They do irreparable harm to student courses and turn around to staff and ask: ‘right: how can we improve student satisfaction and recruitment?’
We ended up with over 100 people attending online in addition to those in the lecture theatre.
Lots of concerns about the proposed merger. Some of the points raised are in outline in this thread - I was live posting during the meeting.
Lots of concerns about the proposed merger. Some of the points raised are in outline in this thread - I was live posting during the meeting.
Our Town Hall to discuss the proposed merger with Greenwich Uni is underway - there over 80 people online and more in person in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1.
November 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
We ended up with over 100 people attending online in addition to those in the lecture theatre.
Lots of concerns about the proposed merger. Some of the points raised are in outline in this thread - I was live posting during the meeting.
Lots of concerns about the proposed merger. Some of the points raised are in outline in this thread - I was live posting during the meeting.
Our Town Hall to discuss the proposed merger with Greenwich Uni is underway - there over 80 people online and more in person in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1.
November 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Our Town Hall to discuss the proposed merger with Greenwich Uni is underway - there over 80 people online and more in person in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Mamdani got a humanities degree.
His win helps to illustrate that one of the central forces driving higher ed’s dissolution of the humanities is the fear that teaching people how power works can also lead to their interest in seizing it on behalf of the less powerful.
His win helps to illustrate that one of the central forces driving higher ed’s dissolution of the humanities is the fear that teaching people how power works can also lead to their interest in seizing it on behalf of the less powerful.
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Mamdani got a humanities degree.
His win helps to illustrate that one of the central forces driving higher ed’s dissolution of the humanities is the fear that teaching people how power works can also lead to their interest in seizing it on behalf of the less powerful.
His win helps to illustrate that one of the central forces driving higher ed’s dissolution of the humanities is the fear that teaching people how power works can also lead to their interest in seizing it on behalf of the less powerful.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
"Labour’s immigration crackdown could cost the UK £4.4bn, Home Office admits"
Labour’s immigration crackdown could cost the UK £4.4bn, Home Office admits
Starmer’s plan to make it harder for international students to stay in the UK will have a drastic impact on the economy, government assessment finds
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"Labour’s immigration crackdown could cost the UK £4.4bn, Home Office admits"
Our Town Hall (WITH FREE LUNCH!!) is starting now - well, the eating part is!
Grimmond building - go an grab a sandwich.
The Town Hall starts at 1pm in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
Grimmond building - go an grab a sandwich.
The Town Hall starts at 1pm in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
November 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Our Town Hall (WITH FREE LUNCH!!) is starting now - well, the eating part is!
Grimmond building - go an grab a sandwich.
The Town Hall starts at 1pm in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
Grimmond building - go an grab a sandwich.
The Town Hall starts at 1pm in Grimmond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Compulsory team teaching on every module is perhaps the biggest ever threat to the quality of teaching in UK universities.
It causes chaos on the ground for timetabling, ruins course coherence and turns lecturers into permanent supply teachers. It is pedagogically incoherent… 1/
It causes chaos on the ground for timetabling, ruins course coherence and turns lecturers into permanent supply teachers. It is pedagogically incoherent… 1/
November 6, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Compulsory team teaching on every module is perhaps the biggest ever threat to the quality of teaching in UK universities.
It causes chaos on the ground for timetabling, ruins course coherence and turns lecturers into permanent supply teachers. It is pedagogically incoherent… 1/
It causes chaos on the ground for timetabling, ruins course coherence and turns lecturers into permanent supply teachers. It is pedagogically incoherent… 1/
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Vote!
#WeAreTheUni
#WeAreTheUni
Bought some ice cream from the cornershop & posted my @ucu.org.uk ballot.
As my dept rep said this week, pensions took 5 years to win, we've got to be dogged & stubborn even when we're tired.
There's no way (higher) education will get better without education workers fighting for it
#WeAreTheUni
As my dept rep said this week, pensions took 5 years to win, we've got to be dogged & stubborn even when we're tired.
There's no way (higher) education will get better without education workers fighting for it
#WeAreTheUni
November 5, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Vote!
#WeAreTheUni
#WeAreTheUni
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
The fortnightly newsletter from @ucucommons.bsky.social feels like a calm breath of insight + reflection, even when - as now - our HE sector is on fire. Thoughtful perspectives on developments + issues that matter.
The latest issue of our fortnightly newsletter includes a report from the HEC held on 10 October. Also featuring @davehitchcock.bsky.social, @matildaf.bsky.social, @hagenilda.bsky.social and more! #UKHE #UCU
ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
UCU Commons newsletter #3, 5 November 2025
Our fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news
ucucommons.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The fortnightly newsletter from @ucucommons.bsky.social feels like a calm breath of insight + reflection, even when - as now - our HE sector is on fire. Thoughtful perspectives on developments + issues that matter.
Undergraduates studying the media examine this as a key part of their degrees.
This is another reason why the humanities are important.
This is another reason why the humanities are important.
School pupils are to be taught how to tackle conspiracy theories, spot 'fake news' & root out misinformation. The Daily Mail, ajudged by Wikipedia to be an unreliable new source, is furious. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out why.
November 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Undergraduates studying the media examine this as a key part of their degrees.
This is another reason why the humanities are important.
This is another reason why the humanities are important.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Staff at Dundee University are taking action again next week to defend jobs and resist compulsory redundancies.
A year after the university’s financial crisis, uncertainty still hangs over hundreds of staff.
Solidarity with Dundee UCU members fighting for fairness and job security. ✊
A year after the university’s financial crisis, uncertainty still hangs over hundreds of staff.
Solidarity with Dundee UCU members fighting for fairness and job security. ✊
News that further job cuts are coming is just another shocking revelation in a year when staff have been told one thing only to be told something different over the number of jobs to be cut and the need for compulsory redundancies.
DUCU co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio
news.stv.tv/north/dundee...
DUCU co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio
news.stv.tv/north/dundee...
University staff strikes set to continue amid job cut threats
Further strike action is expected from UCU members from November 10 next week amid a long running dispute with university bosses.
news.stv.tv
November 5, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Staff at Dundee University are taking action again next week to defend jobs and resist compulsory redundancies.
A year after the university’s financial crisis, uncertainty still hangs over hundreds of staff.
Solidarity with Dundee UCU members fighting for fairness and job security. ✊
A year after the university’s financial crisis, uncertainty still hangs over hundreds of staff.
Solidarity with Dundee UCU members fighting for fairness and job security. ✊
Tomorrow we're holding a Town Hall event (with lunch provided!) to discuss the proposed merger with Greenwich University. All Kent UCU members have been sent an email about it, but do bring your non-union colleagues.
It's being held in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
It's being held in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
November 5, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Tomorrow we're holding a Town Hall event (with lunch provided!) to discuss the proposed merger with Greenwich University. All Kent UCU members have been sent an email about it, but do bring your non-union colleagues.
It's being held in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
It's being held in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 and on Teams.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
I have to say as a former chair of the UCU Disabled Members Committee… this is becoming beyond bearable to watch happening inside of our own union. My branch @ucukent.bsky.social Has discussed this several times and on each occasion offered solidarity to our staff.
Being disabled shouldn’t mean you’re on a lower wage, or that you’re afraid to ask for support at work because it could hit you financially.
Having a reasonable adjustment should never lead to a pay cut.
But this is what’s happening to some UCU staff right now.
Short 🧵
Having a reasonable adjustment should never lead to a pay cut.
But this is what’s happening to some UCU staff right now.
Short 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I have to say as a former chair of the UCU Disabled Members Committee… this is becoming beyond bearable to watch happening inside of our own union. My branch @ucukent.bsky.social Has discussed this several times and on each occasion offered solidarity to our staff.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
October 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
I’m old enough to remember when everybody agreed that higher education was a “market” and offering “choice” was how the universities were meant to grow
on.ft.com/3WTwBue
on.ft.com/3WTwBue