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Rachel Brooks

@rachelbrooks.bsky.social

2.4K followers 1K following 130 posts

Professor of Higher Education, University of Oxford | President, British Sociological Association | Editor, British Journal of Sociology of Education

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Political science 39%

Education 36%

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 29d

‘The author David Nicholls is rumoured to be working on a novel about a star-crossed couple who run into each other over the decades on the days Mandelson quits.’
Ouch from @roberthutton.co.uk
thecritic.co.uk/oh-mandy/

Oh Mandy … | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine

Some of us are old enough to remember where we were every time Peter Mandelson resigned. His departures from high office are like royal weddings: a chance to freeze a moment in our nation’s long story...

thecritic.co.uk

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Johanna L. Waters @johannawaters.bsky.social · Sep 11

Forthcoming in Spring 2026:

@rachelbrooks.bsky.social
@brisunipress.bsky.social
@uclgeography.bsky.social

#internationalstudentmobilities

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien

Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · Sep 4

We’re delighted to announce that Professor @rachelbrooks.bsky.social (Professor of Higher Education) has been appointed to the Education sub-panel of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 @ref2029.bsky.social.

Read more: bit.ly/3JESI4q

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Reposted by Will Jennings, Rachel Brooks, Joni Lovenduski

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Aug 22

Britain is ‘increasingly rudderless’ as its statistical system is unable to answer core questions - powerful column by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com which shows the nation’s data problems can open the door for populist claims
on.ft.com/4mpFAyh

Britain’s statistics scandal means it cannot answer its most pressing questions

More and more of the numbers needed to guide policy are going dark

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien , and 7 more Stephen P. Jenkins, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien, Justin H. Kirkland, Frank van Tubergen, Miles Corak, Adam Gamoran, Patrick Präg, Jake Anders, Jani Erola

Christiaan Monden @cmonden.bsky.social · Aug 20

Job alert! Join us at @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social as a postdoctoral fellow to work on your own research for three years. #sociology

www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Les Back

British Sociological Association @britsoci.bsky.social · Aug 19

Abstract submissions are now invited for the BSA’s 75th anniversary conference, 8-10 April 2026, University of Edinburgh. Take part in ‘75 Years of Sociology’ – a fixture in the sociological calendar unlike any other. Submission deadline: 3 October 2025 tinyurl.com/23sjk4nh #sociology

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Reposted by Mel Bartley, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien , and 3 more Mel Bartley, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien, Margreet Zwarteveen, Miles Corak, Maria Abreu

Per Engzell @pengzell.bsky.social · Aug 18

Sociology at Nuffield College invites applications for academic visitors during the 2026-27 academic year www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/our-research...

Sociology Visitorships - Nuffield College Oxford University

The Nuffield College Sociology Group invites applications for a Visitorship at the College during the 2026-27 academic year (between early October 2026 and late June 2027).

www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Jonathan Portes, Cas Mudde , and 45 more Dani Rodrik, Jonathan Portes, Cas Mudde, Daniela Gabor, Elizabeth Saunders, Nandita Sharma, Juan Moreno, Gavin A. Schmidt, Patrick A. Jansen, Zhang, John Horgan, David H. Kaye, Jonathan Parker, Rachel Brooks, Rosemary A. Joyce, Leigh Sparks, South África, Laia Balcells, Fatih Guvenen, Naomi Priest, Claire Dupont, Luke Moffett, Nichola Raihani, Göran Bolin, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Mirya R. Holman, Jo Barraket, Silvia Secchi, McKenzie Wark, Holger Hestermeyer, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Julie Cupples, Bessma Momani, Els Torreele, James Goodwin, Sarah Roberts, Erin O’Donnell, Ann Bartow, Mauro Gatti, Federica Genovese, Aleksandra Urman, Tim Stephens, Robert L. Tsai, Nancy M. Wingfield, Tabitha Bonilla, Tarik Abou‐Chadi, Élisabeth Vallet, James M. Thomas

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · Aug 10

BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.

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Reposted by Diane Coyle, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien , and 2 more Diane Coyle, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien, Tom Shakespeare, Martin Paul Eve

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Aug 10

‘Much of what universities spend a great deal of time discussing - such as global strategy, impact & innovation, development & philanthropy - even research… [has] very little effect on the bottom line.’
Useful primer on HE finance by @profserious.bsky.social
profserious.substack.com/p/understand...

Understanding University Finances

... a very short guide

profserious.substack.com

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Reposted by Jonathan Portes, John Drury, Rachel Brooks

@nasarmeer.bsky.social @nasarmeer.bsky.social · Jul 27

More than 40 students currently trapped in Gaza with full scholarships to UK Universities are asking for a safe route to come and study. Please sign and share ⬇️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Open letter: Request for biometric deferral and safe evacuation of incoming Palestinian students and scholars from Gaza to UK Universities

More than 40 students currently trapped in Gaza with full scholarships to UK Universities are asking for a safe route to come and study. We, the academic community hoping to welcome these scholars, ca...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Velda Elliott @veldaelliott.bsky.social · May 12

Really exciting to have @iancushing.bsky.social delivering the public seminar at @education.ox.ac.uk tonight - closely related to his article that's just come out in print in @oxfordreved.bsky.social ! Huge turnout in the room and online!

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Mike Ratcliffe @mike-rat.bsky.social · Jun 9

Excellent inaugural lecture tonight by @rachelbrooks.bsky.social on student mobility. There’s much to learn from Turing (as it likely disappears) including some possible unintended outcomes with the involvement of third party providers of ‘experiences’.

Professor Rachel Brookes explains third party providers in the provision of Turing scheme ‘experiences’

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Reposted by Becky Francis, Rachel Brooks

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jul 17

A record number of Americans have applied to undergraduate courses at UK universities - a 14% rise from last year and the highest number since records began in 2006
on.ft.com/4kFC5Ct

More US students choosing UK universities after Trump attacks on higher education

Latest admissions data shows 14% rise in American applications for undergraduate courses

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Tim Bale, Rachel Brooks, Maria Sobolewska

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Jul 15

People in their early twenties are now more likely to be out of work due to ill health than those in their early forties.

Read The good, the bad and the messy here 👉 buff.ly/0O2OHhy

Chart showing proportion of the working-age population who are economically inactive due to ill health, by single year of age: UK

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Les Back

British Sociological Association @britsoci.bsky.social · Jul 14

Take part in ‘75 Years of Sociology’ – a fixture in the sociological calendar unlike any other. Abstract submissions are invited for the BSA's 75th anniversary conference, 8-10 April 2026, University of Edinburgh. Submission deadline: 3 October 2025 tinyurl.com/23sjk4nh #sociology

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Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jul 10

Thanks - will look forward to reading!

Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jul 10

Sorry you didn’t get a chance to present your paper in this session! Would like to have heard it 😊 Is it published anywhere?

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Jill Timms @jilltimms.bsky.social · Jul 8

What stops #wideningparticipation students taking or succeeding in sandwich 🥪courses? Great to discuss at #isaforum25 learning from international colleagues at the RC04 with @rachelbrooks.bsky.social.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@isa-sociology.org @surreylib.bsky.social @education.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Reuben Rose-Redwood @reubenroseredwood.bsky.social · Jul 3

Just published an article in The Conversation on international student activism & the politics of higher ed that follows up on the book we published last year in light of the current targeting of international students in the US theconversation.com/internationa... @uvicsocialsciences.bsky.social

International student activism histories show how education can foster democracy

The very presence of international students on university campuses is a political matter that depends on a measure of good will between the host and home countries.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · Jun 30

Congratulations to Professor @rachelbrooks.bsky.social on being awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship 🎉

The award will enable her to travel to Australia and the US to research the ways in which access to international student mobility can be made more equitable 🌍

Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4lyn1Y5

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

BSA Mid-Career Forum @bsamcf.bsky.social · Jun 25

We’re a new BSA Forum supporting sociologists navigating the mid-career stage. Co-convened by @katyjmc.bsky.social and @drfloraposte.bsky.social we’re building a space for solidarity, strategy, and shared stories. For more: www.britsoc.co.uk/groups/speci... and keep watch for an online Launch Event.

Mid-Career Forum

www.britsoc.co.uk

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Jun 23

NEW: 6 in 10 top achievers outside of London leave their home town by their early 30s.

Read @xiaoweixu.bsky.social's new report on geographical inequalities in the UK, funded by ADR UK: ifs.org.uk/publications...

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Carolyn Jackson

Educational Research@Lancaster Uni @edreslancaster.bsky.social · Jun 12

Many congratulations to Leila Pinto-Campillo who successfully defended her thesis on 5/6. She completed a #PhDinHEREE and was supervised by @carolynjackson.bsky.social. Many thanks to the Examiners Malcolm Tight and @rachelbrooks.bsky.social. @centreforhere.bsky.social

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Sociology at Oxford @sociologyoxford.bsky.social · Jun 11

🎓 In the 1st Halsey Lecture, Prof Rachel Brooks takes us across 6 European countries - from policy docs to plasticine models.

What she finds is surprising: student identity in Europe isn’t homogenised, but shaped by history, context, culture & class.

Watch now! 📽️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHYO...

Halsey Lecture 2025: What is a student? Perspectives from across Europe | Professor Rachel Brooks

YouTube video by Oxford Department of Sociology

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Chris Havergal @chrishavergal.bsky.social · Jun 11

“Gold rush” of Turing scheme funding has brought “unscrupulous” third-party providers into student mobility market, warns @rachelbrooks.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/third-p... via @patrickjack.bsky.social

Third-party providers in ‘gold rush’ for Turing funding

International student mobility has increasingly been ‘outsourced’ to private providers since the Turing scheme replaced Erasmus+

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Reposted by Maria Berghs

Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jun 11

Apply by Friday (13 June) to become a member of the @bjse.bsky.social editorial board

Expertise in digital technologies and/or quant methods particularly welcome

think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru...

Editorial Board Members needed for British Journal of Sociology of Education

think.taylorandfrancis.com

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Reposted by Rachel Brooks

Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · Jun 10

🎓 Thank you Professor Rachel Brooks for an engaging seminar yesterday on Post-Brexit Student Mobilities!

🎥If you couldn't attend, don't worry, you can watch the recording on YouTube! www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLuY...

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Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jun 10

Thanks, Jo! Hope you think I did (parts of) our book justice!

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Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jun 10

Congratulations!

Reposted by Sarah Mills

Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jun 9

Really enjoyed giving my inaugural lecture at @education.ox.ac.uk this evening! Good to share work that I’ve been doing with @johannawaters.bsky.social over the past few years on post-Brexit student mobilities

Thanks to everyone who came along - in person or online 😊

Mike Ratcliffe @mike-rat.bsky.social · Jun 9

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