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Marc Welsh

@marcwelsh.bsky.social

Eclectic, inert, nerdish, a collection of spare parts. Niche Doctor Who references a forte. Masquerades as an academic with a political bent, tho mostly moans about how and why the current system doesn't work. Once wrote something something resilience.

446 Posts200 Follower226 Folgt
Marc Welsh@marcwelsh.bsky.social · 8h ago

The headlines for Welsh HE are dire but well outlined in the Welsh Government review of HE ToR. Whilst it is great to see one of the UK governments recognising the scale of the issue, ultimately Wales is hampered by UK government purse-strings and (lack of) ambition. www.gov.wales/review-highe...

Review of higher education in Wales: terms of reference | GOV.WALES

The review of higher education in Wales will make recommendations on the funding and organisation of higher education.

gov.wales

Marc Welsh@marcwelsh.bsky.social · 3d ago

If you can wade through the management speak this FT piece paints the starkest picture of what comes next. Collapse, mergers, fewer staff covering more gaps, serious reduction in learning and research opportunities for students and economy. A doom loop in action.

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 3d ago

If you're arriving at uni this autumn, or maybe dropping your kids, remember that there could be a ghostly phalanx of absent redundant staff, lost modules and degraded degrees making it a very unhappy place. It may *look* the same, but it won't *be* the same. www.ft.com/content/e5b0...

Dr Dave Hitchcock@davehitchcock.bsky.social · last mo.

I am very glad to see how widely covered the insanity at Exeter is, but please I beg everyone, understand this is happening EVERYWHERE in UK universities. If people care about anything valuable that this sector does or contributes too, they need to get loud, now.

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · last mo.

Something deeply troubling & shocking is happening at Exeter University*, where a mass cull of staff is planned, even though it's in surplus. No good justifications given. @jamesgdyke.info provides the details: www.technosphere.earth/the-bonfire-... *Disclosure: I have a Visiting Fellowship here. +🧵

Paolo Sandro@paolosandro.bsky.social · last mo.

This is *pitch-perfect* from @davidallengreen.bsky.social on the Court of Appeal judgement in the Palestine Action case. And what a final quote. Highly recommended

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · last mo.

Few people understand the scope of the powers UK governments have granted themselves, to criminalise us as terrorists for expressing an opinion. Fewer still understand how illiberal the Court of Appeal judgement is. But @davidallengreen.bsky.social does.🧵 www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

Ian Dunt@iandunt.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Condemning riots isn't enough. We need policy action, including an immediate appraisal of X as a vehicle for coordinating far-right disorder. And we need political leadership, to challenge white nationalism as an idea, not to validate it daily and then complain when it turns violent.

Marc Welsh@marcwelsh.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A really interesting reflection from a 1st timer on last weeks UCU National Congress. 👇 I've more pithy reflections on the prime policy development body of UCU (IMHO it's fundamentally unfit-for-purpose) but these reflections from Michael Bartlett are helpful. ucucommons.org/comparing-th...

Comparing the UCU Congress with the Quakers' Britain Yearly Meeting

By Michael Bartlett UCU and the Quakers are in some ways similar institutions. Both have thousands of members across the UK, both are arranged in an inverted pyramid of local branches supported by re...

ucucommons.org

Marc Welsh@marcwelsh.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Criminal Record is criminally underrated, and sadly perfectly timed for the exploration of far-right mobilisation. The writing is superb. Cush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi tread the line between driven and broken and unlikeable. The supporting performances are consistently top notch. Worth your time.

Sylvia de Mars@sylviademars.me · 2mo ago

Of course, the "university is for better jobs" model of marketisation has made that harder - we see less of students, we get to challenge them or cater to their interests less because of standardisation, we are drowning in admin that displaces learning ... if we're still employed at all. 3/

Alex Prichard@profalexp.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Good piece, brief and to the point from @drjogrady.bsky.social Gen Sec of UCU: “We are calling for direct government intervention before the crisis spirals further.” Intervention is cheaper than most think, and pound for pound excellent investment in our future economic prosperity.

The government must intervene before the universities crisis worsens

During moments of political crisis it’s often said there are weeks when decades happen. This has been one such week.

politicshome.com

Marc Welsh@marcwelsh.bsky.social · 3mo ago

England only, but given the policy context (Student Finance England, migration policy, UKRI, various levels of legislative competence) the recommendations (p. 109 - 120) will be of interest across UKHE.

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The House of Commons Education Committee is out today with a report on Higher Education... I'm quoted four times! There's a lot of good meat in there, even if I think the recommendations don't meet the case. But the policy disaster is very clear. (1/2) committees.parliament.uk/work/9012/hi...

Duncan Weldon@duncanweldon.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Got about a third of the English local authority results and none of the Scottish or Welsh devolved administration results so far. Lots of post-match commentaries being written about 20 minutes into the game.