Sir Albert Sloman envisioned languages at the heart of the University of Essex.

❗ Now, his legacy is in danger.

Sign the petition:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

UK job cuts hit English and modern languages staff hardest ‘Vicious cycle’ of course closures means system ‘gradually losing breadth and depth of expertise’

Languages are falling into a vicious cycle that will be difficult to break.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-job-...

What AI Can’t Do AI may replace narrow technical skills, but the liberal arts equip students with the critical thinking employers increasingly demand.

@wildavsky.bsky.social, author of The Career Arts, shared a piece in @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social about the value of liberal arts, now more than ever:

New Post: WEEKEND READING: Future‑proofing academic integrity: the case for a new charter www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/04/19/w...

Across all sectors in Education @englishassociation.bsky.social offers a special collective community, brings people together to give voice to their profession, their students, teaching, learning, concerns. hopes - to talk together, share experiences of our subject, connect. 🌟Celebrate & join us! 🙌🏼⬇️

If you or your students research any aspect of British, Irish or British colonial/imperial history (Roman empire to today) and need a tool that will never hallucinate sources, check out the BBIH. It develops research skills rather than repressing them. Instit. & indiv. subscriptions available.

GCSE languages sees rise in Wales after new approach After a long decline, the number of pupils taking language GCSEs in Wales rises for two years.

Languages and culture go together so well!: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A few edge-of-the-seat moments in a lively discussion, with top tips from @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social on how to tell gripping tales about findings that matter…

Thanks - an energising, soul-searching, eye-opening lesson to on how to win (or not) hearts and minds…

"As one of the four national academies, the British Academy is both a key stakeholder for the department but also a delivery partner playing an important role in the overall research and innovation landscape. I'm grateful to the Academy for your leadership and advocacy across the SHAPE disciplines."

Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, was welcomed by our President Susan J. Smith. His keynote began with strong support the Academy's role in research. #SHAPEConference26

We’re getting into the weeds of how we tell a better story about the value of HE and research in society with our brilliant plenary panel @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social, British Academy President Susan J Smith and Professor Malcolm Press from Universities UK #SHAPEConference26

Hetan Shah, Christopher Smith, Susan J. Smith, Vivenne Stern, Adam Tickell, Evelyn Welch, Andy Westwood.

The keynote speaker for today is Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear. Other speakers and participants include: Samira Ahmed,
Philip Augar, Isabella Mascarenhas,
Shirley Pearce, Malcolm Press…

We look forward to a day of reflection and discussion examining the significant reshaping of the HE sector and research environment over the past year together. Thank you to all our member associations for their continued support and contribution. #SHAPE #Mythbusting

SHAPE Conference 2026 The British Academy's annual SHAPE conference will be held in London on 4 March 2026.

The Arts and Humanities Alliance is proud to sponsor the 2026 @britishacademy.bsky.social SHAPE conference. Our session is Myth busting for the public with @ritagardner.bsky.social @jennyrichards.bsky.social & @sebgordon1.bsky.social
Chair @emmacayley.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/shape-conf...

Important discussion in Hall One with Sir Chris Bryant & Baronness Shriti Vadera discussing the value and risks in the creative industries 💡💸

Find out more about today's speakers 🔗 summit.wearecreative.uk/speakers

#BigSummit26 #CreativeIndustries

Universität Basel: Professor in English linguistics (open-rank) A position as Professor in English linguistics with a focus on English as a lingua franca in the digital age is to be filled at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Basel...

Job opening : Professor in English linguistics (open-rank) @unibas.ch – come and join us !
jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...

We have to stop calling some jobs ‘low skilled’ Freeing ourselves of these labels might help young people to think more creatively about the future

Given no one really knows what subjects to study to be resilient in the future perhaps this might free young people up to study things they enjoy says @sarahoconnorft.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/0409...

Tutorial Fellow and Professor (or Associate Professor) of Literature in English at University of Oxford Discover Tutorial Fellow and Professor (or Associate Professor) of Literature in English jobs and more in higher education on jobs.ac.uk. Apply for further details on the top job board.

Tutorial Fellow and Professor (or Associate Professor) of Literature in English
University of Oxford - Balliol College

Literature of the long 19th century

Permanent

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQM832/t...

Students begin further Covid legal action after UCL case settled Pre-action letters sent to 36 more universities over lost teaching during pandemic as long-running ‘test case’ resolved

Group representing students affected by Covid disruption to teaching plans legal action against 36 more universities after settling case with UCL www.timeshighereducation.com/news/student... via @helenpacker.bsky.social

NEW on Wonkhe: Universities are at the forefront of global campaigns for influence and power. James Coe unpacks limitations of new guidance when it comes to spies, spying, and state interference. buff.ly/LlSXnvk

NEW on Wonkhe: The traditional commercialisation paradigm isn’t the only way to approach knowledge exchange. Kim Stuart and Audrey Cumberford introduce a new initiative in Scotland spanning modern and smaller universities and the college sector buff.ly/x86jg5x

Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40%, study finds Cognitive health in later life is ‘strongly influenced’ by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers

'Reading, writing and learning a language or two can lower your risk of dementia by almost 40%, according to a study that suggests millions of people could prevent or delay the condition.' 1/2

New Post: New HEPI +City St George’s Report: ”We believe this is the way to do it’: Exploring the City St George’s merger www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/02/12/n...

Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows

The initiative will provide €325 (£283) a week to 2,000 eligible artists based in the Republic of Ireland. This follows a pilot (for which 2,000 artists were randomly selected from 8,000 applicants).

‘The scheme recouped more than its net cost of €72m’
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Opening screen of Royal Historical Society blog post: 'With December’s restart, what next for REF2029 and for History?' Full abstract: On 10 December 2025, Research England announced the ‘unpausing’ of REF2029 and, with it, completion of a three-month review of the terms and principles of the next assessment exercise. The messaging that accompanied December’s announcement was clear: a more pragmatic, less burdensome REF template is ‘back on track’, with attention soon to move to the work of criteria setting by subject panels. However, December marked more than resumption after a temporary halt. The updates announced are extensive and include significant changes to the structure and content of REF2029. Here, we summarise and review the key headlines. This post also considers the implications of these changes, with reference to History and the wider humanities. These include positives, notably changes to the portability of books and to impact case studies. But there are also concerns, most notably in relation to the new-look environment element and changes to the form and weighting of its assessment. These put at risk the central REF principle of ‘rewarding excellence wherever it is found’.

What changes were made to REF2029 as part of last December's 'unpausing'; and what are the likely implications - positive and negative - for History and the wider humanities?

New on the RHS blog: bit.ly/3ZIfe0P

#Skystorians @artsandhums.bsky.social

Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet

Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...

Regulator raises alarm over rise in top grades at English universities Office for Students says almost two-thirds more first-class degrees were awarded than can be explained

Need to contextualise this (and to question the basis of the modelling). Introduction of late summer resits, vast improvements in student support, great variety in classification schemes and renewed attention to teaching quality all need a look. And compare UK stats to the typical GPA at Harvard...

THREE DAYS LEFT TO APPLY:
AAH bursaries for doctoral and early career researchers to attend our 2026 Annual Conference are open for application.

These competitive bursaries, which are assessed by our DECR committee, are available to speakers, session panel organisers and ⬇️

Events | The English Association We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.

Events! Take a look through our upcoming events,book your places on them! Visit our archive of recordings for supply of inspiring expertise across sectors, Early Years through to Higher Education via Primary, Secondary & Further Education #Teaching #Curriculum etc. ⬇️
englishassociation.ac.uk/events/