Council for the Defence of British Universities
@cdbu.bsky.social
The crisis of marketisation has put universities in danger. We believe that it’s time to fight back. Visit our website to become a member 🎓
Pinned
We are pleased to announce that the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance will be officially launched by @profstevenjones.bsky.social on 4 December, at the House of Commons.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
There are only a few spaces left! RSVP now to secure your place 👇👇👇
We are pleased to announce that the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance will be officially launched by @profstevenjones.bsky.social on 4 December, at the House of Commons.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
November 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
There are only a few spaces left! RSVP now to secure your place 👇👇👇
We are pleased to announce that the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance will be officially launched by @profstevenjones.bsky.social on 4 December, at the House of Commons.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
November 14, 2025 at 10:27 AM
We are pleased to announce that the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance will be officially launched by @profstevenjones.bsky.social on 4 December, at the House of Commons.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.
There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
We need to begin to tell these stories about universities as well. So — what did university mean to you? Contact @cdbu.bsky.social at [email protected] with your story. You can read some previous submissions here: cdbu.org.uk/stories/
Stories Gallery | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
October 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
We need to begin to tell these stories about universities as well. So — what did university mean to you? Contact @cdbu.bsky.social at [email protected] with your story. You can read some previous submissions here: cdbu.org.uk/stories/
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
... but they are also places that foster the messier and less quantifiable aspects of understanding ourselves, each other and the world around us. They are places whose value we only really come to understand years after we have left them.
October 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
... but they are also places that foster the messier and less quantifiable aspects of understanding ourselves, each other and the world around us. They are places whose value we only really come to understand years after we have left them.
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
So often universities are spoken about in instrumental language: as institutions that confer skills and training, and as engines of economic growth. Universities are both these things of course...
October 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
So often universities are spoken about in instrumental language: as institutions that confer skills and training, and as engines of economic growth. Universities are both these things of course...
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
Thinking of using #ChatGPT for 'help' with assessments? Think again. #university #AI
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
How AI is undermining learning and teaching in universities | Letter
Letter: Prof Leo McCann and Prof Simon Sweeney say student misuse of generative artificial intelligence is widespread and we must be sceptical of its usefulness
www.theguardian.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Thinking of using #ChatGPT for 'help' with assessments? Think again. #university #AI
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
We are pleased to share this letter written by one of our members, Professor Leo McCann 👏https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/16/how-ai-is-undermining-learning-and-teaching-in-universities
How AI is undermining learning and teaching in universities | Letter
Letter: Prof Leo McCann and Prof Simon Sweeney say student misuse of generative artificial intelligence is widespread and we must be sceptical of its usefulness
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We are pleased to share this letter written by one of our members, Professor Leo McCann 👏https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/16/how-ai-is-undermining-learning-and-teaching-in-universities
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
My new paper is out: "Students as (More Than) Consumers? An Exploration of Undergraduates' Discourses and Practices in Marketised Higher Education."
The full article can be found here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/hequ...
1/2
The full article can be found here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/hequ...
1/2
September 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
My new paper is out: "Students as (More Than) Consumers? An Exploration of Undergraduates' Discourses and Practices in Marketised Higher Education."
The full article can be found here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/hequ...
1/2
The full article can be found here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/hequ...
1/2
We are pleased to publish our Position on the Unsustainability of UK University Funding Models. Visit our website to read it in full:
The Unsustainability of University Funding Models | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
September 22, 2025 at 8:06 PM
We are pleased to publish our Position on the Unsustainability of UK University Funding Models. Visit our website to read it in full:
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
✍🏻 WRITE FOR US! ✍🏻
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
Blog | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
August 15, 2025 at 8:44 PM
✍🏻 WRITE FOR US! ✍🏻
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
Vacuous, generic and scattershot advice for incoming 1st years on the use of AI at university. Especially liking 'Chin recommends giving it class notes and asking it to generate practice exam questions.' Surely we can't be the only programme that supplies students with past & practice exams?
How to use ChatGPT at university without cheating: ‘Now it’s more like a study partner’
The ubiquitous AI tool has a divisive effect on educators with some seeing it a boon and others a menace. So what should you know about where to draw the line between check and cheat?
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Vacuous, generic and scattershot advice for incoming 1st years on the use of AI at university. Especially liking 'Chin recommends giving it class notes and asking it to generate practice exam questions.' Surely we can't be the only programme that supplies students with past & practice exams?
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
Between them, politicians and employers are destroying our great higher education sector.
We won't sit back and let it happen.
#WeAreTheUniversity
We won't sit back and let it happen.
#WeAreTheUniversity
September 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Between them, politicians and employers are destroying our great higher education sector.
We won't sit back and let it happen.
#WeAreTheUniversity
We won't sit back and let it happen.
#WeAreTheUniversity
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
UCU Bangor pass a motion of no confidence in the VC and CFO of @bangoruniversity.bsky.social over sweeping cuts
Members are now balloting for industrial action with staff at "breaking point" over 200 potential job losses
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Members are now balloting for industrial action with staff at "breaking point" over 200 potential job losses
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Bangor University staff in vice chancellor vote of no confidence
UCU union members at Bangor University passed a motion of no confidence due to staff and budget cuts.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 10:36 AM
UCU Bangor pass a motion of no confidence in the VC and CFO of @bangoruniversity.bsky.social over sweeping cuts
Members are now balloting for industrial action with staff at "breaking point" over 200 potential job losses
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Members are now balloting for industrial action with staff at "breaking point" over 200 potential job losses
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
For those in UK #academia, please give @cdbu.bsky.social a follow and think about joining us. CDBU's work to influence UK university policy and governance on behalf of academic values is very much needed in the present polycrisis. For some reason we never got much attention on Twitter... cdbu.org.uk
Council for the Defence of British Universities | CDBU
The Council for the Defence of British Universities is proud to fund research into many aspects of higher education in the UK, including governance, policy, ...
cdbu.org.uk
September 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
For those in UK #academia, please give @cdbu.bsky.social a follow and think about joining us. CDBU's work to influence UK university policy and governance on behalf of academic values is very much needed in the present polycrisis. For some reason we never got much attention on Twitter... cdbu.org.uk
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
4,000 university courses closed in last academic year, with nearly half of these at 'low-tariff' institutions. 47% of history/philosophy/religion courses at low tariff providers have closed in the last year alone www.timeshighereducation.com/news/almost-... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Almost 4,000 courses closed at UK universities since 2024
Analysis reveals half of closures have come at lower-tariff universities, creating a ‘vicious cycle’ for institutions struggling to attract students
www.timeshighereducation.com
September 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM
4,000 university courses closed in last academic year, with nearly half of these at 'low-tariff' institutions. 47% of history/philosophy/religion courses at low tariff providers have closed in the last year alone www.timeshighereducation.com/news/almost-... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
I spoke to Jane Harrington, the current vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, who is set to lead the 'Kentwich' merger. She said:
- Other universities could join the group at a later stage
- She could not rule out job cuts
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-un...
- Other universities could join the group at a later stage
- She could not rule out job cuts
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-un...
More universities could join new Kent-Greenwich group, says v-c
Incoming leader of new entity says course sharing on the cards ‘where it makes sense’ as unions fear merger will result in more job cuts
www.timeshighereducation.com
September 11, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I spoke to Jane Harrington, the current vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, who is set to lead the 'Kentwich' merger. She said:
- Other universities could join the group at a later stage
- She could not rule out job cuts
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-un...
- Other universities could join the group at a later stage
- She could not rule out job cuts
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-un...
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
UK universities could be hit with nationwide strikes after the University and College Union announced it will ballot its members over pay, reports @julietterowsell.bsky.social
#academicsky #strikeballot
#academicsky #strikeballot
UCU to hold nationwide strike ballot after ‘insulting’ pay offer
Union threatens ‘coordinated’ strikes to cause ‘maximum disruption’ at UK universities
www.timeshighereducation.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
UK universities could be hit with nationwide strikes after the University and College Union announced it will ballot its members over pay, reports @julietterowsell.bsky.social
#academicsky #strikeballot
#academicsky #strikeballot
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
Last week on Wonkhe: The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are moving together into a single governance structure. Mark Leach and David Kernohan report on the sector's first "super university"
The first multi-university group arrives
The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are moving together into a single governance structure. Mark Leach and David Kernohan report on the sector's first "super university"
buff.ly
September 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Last week on Wonkhe: The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are moving together into a single governance structure. Mark Leach and David Kernohan report on the sector's first "super university"
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
Your weekly UK HE equivalent of doomscrolling. A good sobering summary and assessment.
NEW from me today... In case you missed it earlier, I'm in the @politicalquarterly.bsky.social asking 'Where Next For Britain's Universities?' The answer: a very long and grim retreat. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Where now for Britain's Universities?
Although the financial crisis facing the United Kingdom's universities is by now well known, the detailed reasons behind it have been less prominent in public and political debate. It is true that fr...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Your weekly UK HE equivalent of doomscrolling. A good sobering summary and assessment.
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
In AAUP v. Marco Rubio, the government tried hard to explain itself. chroni.cl/4mqwotm
Can Academic Freedom Survive the Surveillance State?
Two weeks in a Boston courtroom underscore the perils of intellectual life in America.
chroni.cl
August 1, 2025 at 1:44 PM
In AAUP v. Marco Rubio, the government tried hard to explain itself. chroni.cl/4mqwotm
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
“It is now abundantly evident that AI is disrupting the flow of scientific publishing in multiple ways. There are even reports of researchers hiding secret messages in their manuscripts, asking AI for positive reviews. The research community must strengthen its collective vigilance.”
Opinion: As the associate editor of a scientific journal, I am receiving submissions from spurious authors consisting of previously published papers altered by AI. But why, asks Seongjin Hong
#academicsky #academicpublishing
#academicsky #academicpublishing
AI-based fake papers are a new threat to academic publishing
As an editor, I am receiving submissions from spurious authors consisting of previously published papers altered by AI. But why, asks Seongjin Hong
www.timeshighereducation.com
August 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
“It is now abundantly evident that AI is disrupting the flow of scientific publishing in multiple ways. There are even reports of researchers hiding secret messages in their manuscripts, asking AI for positive reviews. The research community must strengthen its collective vigilance.”
✍🏻 WRITE FOR US! ✍🏻
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
Blog | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
August 15, 2025 at 8:44 PM
✍🏻 WRITE FOR US! ✍🏻
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.
We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.
Please send pitches to [email protected]
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
Ministers aim to export London’s academic success to England’s struggling schools
Ministers aim to export London’s academic success to England’s struggling schools
Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson says Rise scheme will use techniques from Blair government’s London Challenge
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Why are London schools outperforming the rest of England?
Ministers plan to turbocharge their school improvement programme to tackle regional inequalities, aiming to export the success of London’s high-achieving pupils to England’s most struggling schools.
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said her school improvement plan was “taking the best” of the previous Labour government’s successful London Challenge, which revolutionised the city’s school system, and applying the techniques to flagging schools throughout England. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Ministers aim to export London’s academic success to England’s struggling schools
“Advertising is a hidden cost of the market in higher education. We don’t know exactly how much universities are spending, but we do know it adds little to the quality of teaching or support that students receive.” @profstevenjones.bsky.social
‘Scene set’ for busy clearing as recruitment ‘games’ commence
Universities turn to advertising, freebies and unconditional offers to attract students, with large numbers expected to change their mind post-results
www.timeshighereducation.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
“Advertising is a hidden cost of the market in higher education. We don’t know exactly how much universities are spending, but we do know it adds little to the quality of teaching or support that students receive.” @profstevenjones.bsky.social
Reposted by Council for the Defence of British Universities
"Got the t-shirt!"
⏰ You have two more days to complete the consultation on ethical university governance! Don’t miss your chance to have your say.
➡️ qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_bB…
➡️ qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_bB…
July 30, 2025 at 8:25 AM
"Got the t-shirt!"