Margot Finn
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eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn
@eicathomefinn.bsky.social
17K followers 4.5K following 9.9K posts

Historian of Britain and colonialism, material culture, the EIC. Also works on equalities, museums, open access & research policy. Download the EIC @ Home open access volume here: https://www.uclpress.co.uk/products/88277 (or individual chapters via JSTOR) .. more

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Margot C. Finn is a British historian and academic who specialises in Britain and the British colonial world during the long nineteenth century. She has been Professor of Modern British History at the University College, London (UCL) since 2012. Finn was previously the President of the Royal Historical Society and a trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum. .. more

Political science 31%
Economics 26%
Posts Replies Media Videos

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 4h
'Language and area studies has fallen 38 per cent over the decade (against 29 per cent UK-wide), concentrated in a single small provider – Aberystwyth, which accounts for 920 of 4,760 enrolments.' 3/3

Very comprehensive and well worth reading. 3/3

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 4h
'At subject level, the domicile data shows up something closer to an identity crisis. In economics, only 15 per cent of UCAS acceptances to Welsh providers are Welsh domiciles. In biosciences it’s 23 per cent, chemistry 24 per cent, geography 23 per cent, languages and area studies 23 per cent.' 2/3

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 4h
'Overall enrolments grew 14 per cent over the past decade, which sounds healthy until you note that the UK figure was 25 per cent. Wales is growing more slowly than the system it sits within, and the gap is widening in several subject areas that matter.' 1/3
Wales needs a plan. Don’t we all
Jim Dickinson reviews a Welsh HE system too concentrated geographically, too thin in subject breadth, and too dependent on English demand to serve the students it's supposed to be for Jim Dickinson re...
wonkhe.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 4h
'Meanwhile, new data published by BAE Systems, a defence company that is one of the country’s largest apprenticeship providers, found almost two-thirds of parents (63 per cent) would prefer their child to pursue an apprenticeship'.

Do they still think this when they compare completion rates? 2/2

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 4h
'Universities “recognise that we must continue to evolve to meet the country’s needs and to play our full part…in building long term prosperity,” said Malcolm Press, president of UUK.'

Maybe start by explaining what we already do on this front, how, why and what the results have been to date? 1/2
Universities ramp up employer engagement as criticisms intensify
UUK announces new business engagement initiative as data suggests most young people see apprenticeships as viable alternative to higher education
www.timeshighereducation.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 5h
Loving the fact that we've been told off for months for not collaborating enough in UK research, but are now threatened with being excluded from the collaborative Horizon pillar. Well, actually, not loving it at all.

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 5h
'A large layer of planking is missing from the vessel's interior, which indicates the remains have been buried in sand since the 1630s, according to the National Trust.' 2/2

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 5h
'Maritime archaeologists from Bournemouth University believe it forms a missing piece of the Swash Channel wreck that was first discovered in the 1990s in a key shipping approach to Poole Harbour.' 1/2 #Skystorins
Timbers from 17th Century shipwreck appear on Dorset beach
Experts believe timbers found at Studland Beach form a missing piece of the Swash Channel wreck from 1631.
www.bbc.co.uk

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 5h
'Meanwhile, staff at the University of Essex will begin seven days of strike action on 12 February over plans the UCU says could put 400 jobs at risk.

Staff will also begin action short of a strike'. 3/3

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 5h
'Elsewhere, staff at Southampton Solent University walked out on 9 February over proposed changes to pension benefits...At Northumbria University, 10 days of strike action spread over three weeks will begin on 12 February, also as part of a dispute over pension provision'. 2/3

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 5h
'The Durham branch of the University and College Union said on 9 February that 63 per cent of participants in a ballot had backed strike action in a row over working conditions and job security. Turnout in the vote was 54 per cent.' 1/3

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

resprofnews.bsky.social
Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 6h
Durham staff vote to strike as action begins at three universities.

University and College Union takes action in disputes over job security and pensions provision.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Durham staff vote to strike as action begins at three universities - Research Professional News
University and College Union takes action in disputes over job security and pensions provision
www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

johnmorgan3.bsky.social
John Morgan @johnmorgan3.bsky.social · 7h
UKRI's chief executive said recently that the UK "may wish to explore" paring back its association to the EU's research programme, to make it partial.

That would be a "profound strategic error", critics now warn.

By @clanicholson.bsky.social

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Any UK plan for partial Horizon association ‘a profound error’ - Research Professional News
Academic leaders warn against UK abandoning participation in collaborative part of EU R&I programme
www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, John R. Hutchinson, Mark D. White , and 6 more

civilwarmemory.bsky.social
Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · 9h
Not at all surprised to learn that Bad Bunny has a historical adviser. His halftime show was a reminder that our history and culture are deeply intertwined with the rest of the western hemisphere. We should think of his performance as part of #America250. #SuperBowl
news.wisc.edu/pop-star-bad...
Pop star Bad Bunny needed a Puerto Rican history scholar. UW–Madison had just the one.
Bad Bunny collaborated with UW–Madison history professor Jorell Meléndez-Badillo on Puerto Rican narratives that accompany the new album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”
news.wisc.edu

Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Margot C. Finn

openbookcollective.bsky.social
Open Book Collective @openbookcollective.bsky.social · 10h
We’ve been made aware of individuals receiving emails claiming to be from the OBC, requesting fees from authors. To be clear: OBC does not charge individuals, book clubs, or authors for meetings/events. We're a collective funding model that channels library support to OA publishers & infrastructure.

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10h
Grindcore: the new misogyny. Discuss, preferably intersectionally.
AI gold rush sees tech firms embracing 72-hour weeks
In the race for AI, tech firms are asking for their staff to work long hours. But there are risks, experts say.
www.bbc.co.uk

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10h
'Once the public are in the arena politicians will do things to try and win their votes. The communication challenge is to inform this debate. Avoiding politics is to remove key context on how decisions are made and why.'

This is smart, important and readable during a very quick coffee break.
Why research communications needs more politics
James Coe unpacks how more attention to political communications can make the whole research funding debate better
wonkhe.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 11h
Prof Miles Ogborn, Queen Mary University of London
Who was Granville? Questions from the archive of the 1831-32 uprising in Jamaica
5-7 PM | SR24 | English Faculty Building, Cambridge University
Faculty of English
www.english.cam.ac.uk

Reposted by Margot C. Finn

localnotail.bsky.social
Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 12h
The Stuart Hall Archive Project Readings Seminars provide an opportunity to read and listen to a selection of Stuart Hall’s unpublished lectures, interviews, and letters, discussing his life and work and our own times.
3. Wed 11 February Education: Maximising Difference
buytickets.at/stuarthallar...
Stuart Hall Archive Project - February 2026 The third of our Readings Seminars will be held on Wednesday 11 February: Education: Maximising Difference. For this seminar, we welcome Dr Ingrid Abrahams, who will introduce us to her doctoral research on the systemic underrepresentation of black senior leaders in schools in England, particularly since the Education Reform Act of 1988. Abrahams will begin with an introduction to a speech, given by Stuart Hall in the early 1980s, on 'Anti-Racist Education'. The recording was made on an audio-cassette labelled 'Prof Stuart Hall, Anti-Racist Education, Hampstead School' (no date given) and has been digitised. Those who register for this seminar will be given access both to the audio and a transcript. To Register and for details of future Seminars: https://buytickets.at/stuarthallarchiveprojectattheuniversityofbirmingham/2013038

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
Leading to lower volume measure for REF and thus less QR. Vicious circle. Emphasis on vicious.

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
That will be going well for them, what with the pause in MRC funding...

Reposted by Lyn Robinson

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
' Ronald Barnett describes the contemporary fascination with skills as a form of ‘bewitchment’ (others have put it more strongly elsewhere)....When individuals are defined in this way, they become more easily interchangeable in the labour market, increasing workers’ vulnerability.'
How did skills take over higher education? One short history - HEPI
Over the weekend HEPI published blogs on the freezing of student loan thresholds, and the Westminster Hall debates on duty of care. This blog was kindly authored by Dr. Josh Patel, Senior Education an...
www.hepi.ac.uk

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
Badly conceived line management by your line managers. The ESRC news is good news, both relative to recent STEM RC news and in absolute terms.

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
'The ground-breaking study from the University of Stirling will examine the educational, economic, social and cultural factors that impact on language learning, analysing the different approaches and outcomes in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.'
University launches major study into languages in schools
Researchers at the University of Stirling have secured funding for a multi-national project exploring the 'cultures of language learning'.
www.heraldscotland.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
'“With some exceptions,” Hegseth added, “the Ivy League as a whole has pervasive institutional bias and a lack of viewpoint diversity, including the coddling of toxic ideologies that undercuts our mission.” Presumably he is referring to a bias toward the rule of law. 2/2

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12h
'The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said the Pentagon is ending all military training, fellowships and certificate programs with Harvard University, marking the Trump administration’s latest escalation against the Ivy League school.' 1/2
Pentagon to cut ties with Harvard over ‘wokesters’, ending training, programs and fellowships
Move by Pete Hegseth marks latest escalation by Trump administration against the Ivy League school
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Margot C. Finn, Sarah Hall

jdportes.bsky.social
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 12h
Five years on: Hong Kong migrants to the UK under the HK BN(O) visa scheme.

Findings from our @ukri.org funded survey,led by Tak Wing Chan (UCL), with me, @msumption.bsky.social @benbrindle.bsky.social

Wed, 2pm, at UCL

Register here:

www.eventbrite.com/e/hong-kong-...
Hong Kong BN(O) Migrants Panel Survey Wave 2 Result Seminar
Discover Wave 1 & 2 findings of the BN(O) Panel Survey on 11 Feb 2026. Panels on community and research findings. Join us for insights!
www.eventbrite.com

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h
'Though there are no plans to stop applications to the existing schemes, Westlake said they would be “refreshed” towards the end of 2026 and into 2027..... “we want to keep on supporting people at all stages of their careers”.

Reposted by Dave O’Brien

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h
'Westlake highlighted that there will be no hiatus or new submission deadlines in the ESRC’s existing applicant-led schemes: research grants, new investigator grants and secondary data analysis.' 2/2

Reposted by Dave O’Brien

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13h
'Launching in April and running until October, they will each offer researchers the opportunity of between £50,000 and £100,000 funding.' 1/2