Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Johnny Rich

@johnnyrich.com

1.2K followers 470 following 680 posts

CEO, PushTalks & @EngProfCouncil Author of The Human Script. Speaker. Specialist in #HigherEd #FairAccess #LifelongLearning #Employability #SocialMobility #Policy #Engineering Web: johnnyrich.com Twitter: @johnnysrich

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 1d

I was hosting a party and lots of people praised my salsa and dips.

I’ve always been a good dancer. #weakendpun

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 2d

The Nobel Peace Prize should always be awarded to someone who wants peace, not someone who wants a prize.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

María Corina Machado: Venezuelan opposition leader wins Nobel Peace Prize

Machado is recognised for "tireless work promoting democratic rights" in Venezuela, the Nobel Committee says.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

“An Iain Duncan Smith for our time” 🤣🤣🤣

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

The Conservatives are missing an opportunity to come up with an HE policy that would address skills shortages in the economy and create opportunities for exactly the voters they now need to pull back from Reform.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

Besides, if employers were that excited about recruiting 100,000 more apprenticeships, they're not really being held back. The problem is not really a lack of funding for apprenticeships (although it might help). It's a lack of employer demand.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

As for redirecting 100,000 people into apprenticeships, this is not the way to support industry, learners or the economy. The apparently encouraging data on some apprenticeship outcomes may have more to do with selection than value added and the drop-out rates would make unis blush.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

That said, the removal of caps has not been all good and there are certainly measures that could be introduced to address some of the ill-effects. (eg. Agreements with local authorities on student numbers based on housing and other provisions.)

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

The removal of number caps was one of the greatest achievements of the last Conservative government – a driver for social mobility, skills and growth. To reimpose them is, in @nickhillman.bsky.social's words, an inane idea.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

Those whose lives would be most transformed by higher education – bringing them individual benefits, but also wider society and the economy – would be denied that opportunity.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

There's so many reasons this is a bad policy that wouldn't do what the Conservatives want (let alone what should be done). @davidkernohan.bsky.social has laid out just a few (highly entertainingly).
The most important though is that student number caps hit those from disadvantaged backgrounds most.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 4d

With this "inane" policy, Badenoch says she'll save £3Bn, which she intends to immediately spend (more than once, it seems).

The announcement comes the same day the Tories announce a new "golden fiscal rule" that half of any spending savings will go to deficit cuts.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...

a man with a beard is holding a cup of coffee

ALT: a man with a beard is holding a cup of coffee

media.tenor.com

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 6d

Imagine not being allowed even one speech when they're giving Badenoch two.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 8d

Is Feng shui just home-opathy? #weakendpun

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 9d

Bricks shouldn’t try to teach birds how to fly, so, Bibi, please forgive us for not seeking your advice on reducing divisions in society.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 11d

"The balance between what students pay, what the government pays and what businesses pay has become skewed" 👏

I've proposed a system to rebalance funding, save students & tax-payers, and deliver better outcomes for employers & graduates; www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/04/11/g...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

University boss wants 'free' education for British students

The University of Portsmouth vice-chancellor says many students

Reposted by Johnny Rich

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 12d

Some good news.

London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces.

The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 11d

We need to recognise that choice is a process not a moment and we serve it best by helping to guide someone through the process, instead of bombarding them with information and hoping they will be able to sort the signal from the noise.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 11d

How then do we feed information into choice? The answer is to drip-feed from an early stage what potential students need to know when they need to know it, just enough to keep challenging their preconceptions, keep fostering their curiosity and keep fuelling a growing understanding.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 11d

Students decide on unis in much the same way that behavioural science tells us humans make almost all decisions: a complex interplay of irrational thinking (not nonsensical or wrong, just not reasoned), unconscious biases (especially confirmation bias), poor proxies and post hoc rationalisation.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 11d

Excellent post by Jenny Shaw on the factors that feed into student choice.

It feeds into a wider understanding of how decision-making works and how we can support students.
www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/09/29/h...

Head or Heart? How do applicants make decisions about higher education? - HEPI

The blog was kindly authored by Jenny Shaw, Director of Higher Education External Engagement at Unite Students. Thousands of new undergraduates are taking their first steps into higher education, bu...

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 13d

Bridget giveth and Bridget taketh away.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 13d

That’s dumb and financially unnecessary.

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 13d

Oh really? ☹️

Reposted by Johnny Rich

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 13d

Labour MP Alex Sobel describes government fee levy plan as “stupid”, and also says ministers should never have implemented free speech act.

Meanwhile, Russell Group VC describes fee levy as “utterly bonkers”.

Lively session at #Lab25.

Full story:
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Labour MP describes government fee levy plan as ‘stupid’ - Research Professional News

Labour 2025: Alex Sobel also says ministers “should never should have implemented free speech act”

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Johnny Rich @johnnyrich.com · 13d

This is fantastic news. Many of us have called for this for a long time to give extra help to those who need it most to be able grasp opportunities and realise ambitions.

Bridget Phillipson MP @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · 13d

Access to our colleges and universities shouldn’t just be for a wealthy few.

That’s why I’m bringing back maintenance grants for those who need them most.

Labour is ambitious for all our children, no matter their background. I’m putting our values into action.