Mehwaesh

That stage of Ramadan where the fast is going fine, but my patience with work emails is… less spiritually elevated

I’ve heard the ITSS equipment sharing showcase (which links equipment with technician capability) is actually getting used. PIs with big grants often prefer to buy their own kit, while technicians and facility managers are more focussed on making the most of what’s already there

This 2018 report by the Financial Sustainability Strategy Group noted that the usage and effectiveness of the database were pretty limited: www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/dd3baf...
Not sure how much has changed since then

UKRI’s funding reforms: universities and researchers should be valued collaborators, not an afterthought Funding uncertainty could weaken the UK’s higher education sector when it’s already under considerable strain, write Mishal S Khan and colleagues The UK health research funding landscape has changed...

UKRI’s funding reforms: universities and researchers should be valued collaborators, not an afterthought www.bmj.com/content/392/...

UKRI opportunities update from Professor Sir Ian Chapman YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

New video just dropped from Ian Chapman @ukri.org youtu.be/Z1OcZl224qo

Building public connection with research is about more than good communication Sarah Chaytor says that when it comes to research and economic growth it's not just what universities say but what they do that matters

“Declining public trust in institutions suggests that universities cannot take public support for research granted.”

World Book Day tomorrow. The annual reminder that children love books and parents love discovering they need a costume the night before.

This is very very good on the underperformance of the UK graduate premium.

It's a demand side problem.*

*as people at SPRU have been saying for 40 years.

WEEKEND READING: International students deserve the same strategic care as widening participation students - HEPI This blog was kindly authored by Professor Manuel Barcia, Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor (Global Engagement) at the University of Bath When we speak about international students the conversation too often become...

“What truly defines the international student experience is the courage it takes to leave home, the determination to succeed in a new academic culture, and the trust placed in universities to honour that journey with meaningful support.” www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/02/14/w...

‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university? When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope for a ‘left behind’ UK seaside town. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degr...

Excellent article but stark reminder that for all the perceptions of universities as ivory towers for elites, they are actually vital hubs in towns n cities supporting local businesses and providing key services as well as education….

Last week, RPN broke a string of stories on significant changes to funding across a number of research councils (see thread below)

This morning, UKRI chief executive is appearing at the Commons science committee, where he is being asked about them by MPs

Here are some key moments so far 🧵

UK Research and Innovation Arts and Humanities Research Council Executive Chair Candidate Prospectus January 2026

Important! AHRC is looking for a new Executive Chair. A critical role for arts and humanities. £160k - £170k. Please share widely to help get the best possible field!
fa-evzn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

Amongst other things, this is deeply disingenuous wording. The letter states (as positive framing?) that "curiosity-driven research will be the largest component of UKRI's portfolio over the SR period"

Yet the majority of that bucket (61%) is QR funding. This is really conflating two very 1/2

I’d love a natter if you have time. I’ll email you to find a time

Agree on the downsides of splitting oversight reinforcing a false dichotomy. On cross-subsidy, I’m not sure home fee income can play that role now given the size of the teaching deficit in many places

Interesting piece - keen to hear what other research policy folks think.

Happy new year from Manila!

An advert from the Private Eye Christmas special for a Work From Home Lanyard. Illustrated with a cartoon of a man in his pyjamas carrying a laptop and wearing a lanyard

Can't believe no-one got me one of these for Christmas

Very, very good post. I wish it left me more optimistic about the future of UK politics, but alas...

Suffolk and Essex study to research singing and Parkinson's Researchers are looking at whether singing can improve facial mobility and expression capability.

What does your local university do for you?

If your local university is the University of Suffolk or the University of Essex, here's (just) one answer to that question. 1/3

If you’re in the UK and were born between 1970-1990 you can just go to your GP and get revaccinated for MMR because you may have had single vaccines, which are no longer considered valid. I went & did it this summer. Easy way to help protect yourself & your community.

📢Today we are launching the search for the new Chair of our Board.

This high-profile individual will steer CaSE’s evolution as the UK’s leading independent voice for R&D, at a time of great change and opportunity for the charity.

This should be really good. 3rd Dec.

The levy on foreign students is an export tax. Has anyone in government wondered why countries don't usually impose export taxes?

Alan Carr - Comedian playing for Neuroblastoma UK Cat Burns – Singer/Songwriter playing for the National Autistic Society Celia Imrie – Actor playing for Beat Charlotte Church – Singer/Activist playing for The Awen Project Clare Balding - Broadcaster and Author playing for Cancer Research UK David Olusoga - Historian and Filmmaker playing for Bristol Dog Action Welfare Group Greyhound & Lurcher Rescue Joe Marler – Former England Rugby Player and Podcaster playing for CALM Joe Wilkinson - Comedian playing for Wolo Foundation Jonathan Ross - Presenter playing for Cancer Research UK Kate Garraway - Broadcaster playing for Carers First Lucy Beaumont - Comedian playing for Zoe's Place Mark Bonnar - Actor playing for Action for ME Nick Mohammed - Actor and Comedian playing for Blood Cancer UK Niko Omilana - Content Creator playing for Under One Sky Paloma Faith - Singer/Songwriter and Actor playing for Save The Children Ruth Codd - Actor playing for Almost Home Animal Rescue NI Stephen Fry - Actor, Writer, Presenter playing for Mind Tameka Empson – Actor and Comedian playing for Parkinsons UK Tom Daley – Olympian, Author, Broadcaster and Entrepreneur playing for The Brain Tumour Charity

FYI: The BBC has revealed the charities #TheCelebrityTraitors were all competing for, with links so that you can donate.

This piece from the Weekend FT seems relevant
bsky.app/profile/heta...

University costing data must be better used to tackle financial crisis, report says | King's College London The TRAC methodology is not providing the detailed insights that could help support better decision-making

The TRAC methodology is not providing the detailed insights that could help support better decision-making, says a new report from @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social : www.kcl.ac.uk/news/univers...

The organ donation ‘opt-out’ has been a fatal failure | The Observer

What's lost when we lose staff, departments, programmes and faculties in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and what's that got to do with organ donation?

Amid the looming losses faced by Cardiff, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Leicester and Nottingham (among many others), here's a worked example. 1/8

Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.

Tax on international students would be crippling, universities say The Confederation of British Industry and Universities UK warn plans for a 6% levy will also affect the wider economy

📢 Together with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), we’ve urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to rethink the idea of the proposed international student levy.

Read more: loom.ly/VCyzGDg

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