Katharine Hodgson
@katharineh.bsky.social
Exeter University Prof. Russophone poetry. Grows vegetables. Supports Exeter City. President of BASEES 2023-26.
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Protest over future of university language courses www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Protest over future of University of Nottingham language courses
The University of Nottingham has suspended entry for new students on modern language courses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Protest over future of university language courses www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
‘the progressive closure of foreign language degree programmes is especially worrying because of the desperate need for language skills in government’
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/proc...
The procession of university language closures will trip up UK diplomacy
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
‘the progressive closure of foreign language degree programmes is especially worrying because of the desperate need for language skills in government’
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
When almost half of over 150 institutions across an entire economic sector cannot balance their books, it really isn't their individual fault...
here's your headline:
They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).
They (OfS) still expect 45% of ALL universities to report a deficit this academic year. They are not accounting for "significant variation" across the system (i.e. different types and sizes of institution).
November 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
When almost half of over 150 institutions across an entire economic sector cannot balance their books, it really isn't their individual fault...
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
This is what solidarity looks like.
Say it with me- We. Are. The. University.
And we will NOT stop fighting until this administration listens to ALL of us. Staff, Students, and Community are united!
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE #UniversityOfNOttingham #UniversityOfLittleEngland
Say it with me- We. Are. The. University.
And we will NOT stop fighting until this administration listens to ALL of us. Staff, Students, and Community are united!
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE #UniversityOfNOttingham #UniversityOfLittleEngland
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This is what solidarity looks like.
Say it with me- We. Are. The. University.
And we will NOT stop fighting until this administration listens to ALL of us. Staff, Students, and Community are united!
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE #UniversityOfNOttingham #UniversityOfLittleEngland
Say it with me- We. Are. The. University.
And we will NOT stop fighting until this administration listens to ALL of us. Staff, Students, and Community are united!
#StopTheCuts #SaveHE #UniversityOfNOttingham #UniversityOfLittleEngland
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
It's that time of year
November 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
It's that time of year
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
On Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainians light a candle at 4 pm
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
November 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
On Holodomor Remembrance Day, Ukrainians light a candle at 4 pm
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
and place it on the windowsill to honor the millions who died in the 1932-1933 famine.
🕯️4 pm in Ukraine
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Colleagues and UCU members from UoN's Department of Modern Languages have put together this wonderful guide on supporting their programmes. A lot of what they suggest is also helpful in challenging the 48 courses at risk across the university
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
savenottinghamlanguages
The University of Nottingham has suspended applications to all languages degree programmes, with a view to permanent closure of all of its undergraduate languages degrees. Under the proposals, it…
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Colleagues and UCU members from UoN's Department of Modern Languages have put together this wonderful guide on supporting their programmes. A lot of what they suggest is also helpful in challenging the 48 courses at risk across the university
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Rewarding a dictator-aggressor always leads to another war. One that is usually even worse.
November 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Rewarding a dictator-aggressor always leads to another war. One that is usually even worse.
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Hopefully the knowledge that advanced degrees ward off the most insecure men on the planet will encourage more women to pursue PhDs
November 21, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Hopefully the knowledge that advanced degrees ward off the most insecure men on the planet will encourage more women to pursue PhDs
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
A few experts going right now: "hear me out, Budapest Memorandum, keeping Ukraine out of NATO, telling it to accept loss of Crimea, and pretending the Minsk Accords meant to save Ukraine's sovereignty were all mistakes, but if we now combine all this idiocy into a 28-point plan, it might work!"
November 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A few experts going right now: "hear me out, Budapest Memorandum, keeping Ukraine out of NATO, telling it to accept loss of Crimea, and pretending the Minsk Accords meant to save Ukraine's sovereignty were all mistakes, but if we now combine all this idiocy into a 28-point plan, it might work!"
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Almost as if managers are too removed from students to actually understand what they need/want? Almost as if managers relying solely on consultants and not staff is creating a top layer of the university devoid of any input by reality?
What I've been noticing lately in convos with students is that they *despise* the AI-slopification of everything as much or even more than I do. And yet our universities & their admin seem to believe that students for some reason want it integrated into everything. THEY DON'T.
“To be sat there with this material in front of you that is just really not worth anyone’s time, when you could be spending that time actually engaging with something worthwhile, is really frustrating,” he said.
November 21, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Almost as if managers are too removed from students to actually understand what they need/want? Almost as if managers relying solely on consultants and not staff is creating a top layer of the university devoid of any input by reality?
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
We're still open.
November 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
We're still open.
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
similarly, most of UK university manageriat, sometimes even at the professorial level, are *actively acting against* the values of a university, one of which is intellectual striving.
so many examples where the best departments and faculty members were cut or denigrated by their own university...
so many examples where the best departments and faculty members were cut or denigrated by their own university...
This is, of course, a stark betrayal of the New School’s storied history and animating spirit. It demonstrates something many of us know intellectually but have trouble grasping: many university leaders *do not care* about, even *actively despise*, the basic values that bring us to work every day.
The New School is now a place where students cannot major in History, Anthropology, Sociology, Global Policy & International Affairs, Global Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Studies. And more pauses, closures, and mergers coming down the pike this week. The future is uncertain.
November 19, 2025 at 7:13 PM
similarly, most of UK university manageriat, sometimes even at the professorial level, are *actively acting against* the values of a university, one of which is intellectual striving.
so many examples where the best departments and faculty members were cut or denigrated by their own university...
so many examples where the best departments and faculty members were cut or denigrated by their own university...
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Save Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
savenottinghamlanguages
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Save Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
From my perspective? I’d rather universities simply not address the crisis at all unless they are fully committed to removing structural organizational stressors.
I’m exhausted by exhortations to self care and wellness from the same folks who are knowingly amplifying my grinding anxiety.
I’m exhausted by exhortations to self care and wellness from the same folks who are knowingly amplifying my grinding anxiety.
Any university programming intended to address the massive faculty mental health crisis that does not include investments to remove organizational stressors is bullshit. Faculty are not weak, they’re underwater for structural reasons ffs.
November 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM
From my perspective? I’d rather universities simply not address the crisis at all unless they are fully committed to removing structural organizational stressors.
I’m exhausted by exhortations to self care and wellness from the same folks who are knowingly amplifying my grinding anxiety.
I’m exhausted by exhortations to self care and wellness from the same folks who are knowingly amplifying my grinding anxiety.
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
👏 UK on US peace plan: Russia can end war by withdrawing its troops
UK on US peace plan: Russia can end war by withdrawing its troops – Reuters
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has stated that the country supports US President Donald Trump's plan for peace in Ukraine, saying that Russia can end the war immediately by withdr...
www.pravda.com.ua
November 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
👏 UK on US peace plan: Russia can end war by withdrawing its troops
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
This isn’t “efficiency” it’s an ideological shift towards a Little England university system.
Nottingham is set to become the only Russell Group university with no modern languages or music degrees.
48 courses on the line. We’re fighting it.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Nottingham is set to become the only Russell Group university with no modern languages or music degrees.
48 courses on the line. We’re fighting it.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
University of Nottingham considers axing language and music degrees
Total of 48 degrees could disappear from Russell Group institution, with falling revenues and rising costs blamed
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
This isn’t “efficiency” it’s an ideological shift towards a Little England university system.
Nottingham is set to become the only Russell Group university with no modern languages or music degrees.
48 courses on the line. We’re fighting it.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Nottingham is set to become the only Russell Group university with no modern languages or music degrees.
48 courses on the line. We’re fighting it.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
INDUSTRIAL ACTION UPDATE: We’ve had some movement in response to our strike action. A 🧵.
November 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
INDUSTRIAL ACTION UPDATE: We’ve had some movement in response to our strike action. A 🧵.
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Fifteen years of ideological choices to strangle & gut the public realm - NHS to schools to social services to local museums - is what underlies the anger "tearing our country apart"; immigration is simply the scapegoat that the far right are pushing people toward.
Why can't Labour just say this?
Why can't Labour just say this?
November 18, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Fifteen years of ideological choices to strangle & gut the public realm - NHS to schools to social services to local museums - is what underlies the anger "tearing our country apart"; immigration is simply the scapegoat that the far right are pushing people toward.
Why can't Labour just say this?
Why can't Labour just say this?
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Kinda strange we have living survivors right here and we’re waiting for what’s left of some files
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Kinda strange we have living survivors right here and we’re waiting for what’s left of some files
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
"Higher education generated £24bn in export earnings for the UK in 2022-23, far above aircraft manufacturing with £12bn, legal services with £9.5bn and telecoms with £8.8bn."
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Less than Greggs? Public have no idea of value of top universities, study finds
Belief that snack chain’s revenues exceed those of Oxford’s one of many misconceptions about UK’s HE sector
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
"Higher education generated £24bn in export earnings for the UK in 2022-23, far above aircraft manufacturing with £12bn, legal services with £9.5bn and telecoms with £8.8bn."
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
#HigherEd
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Politicians and managers can only DREAM of those approval ratings (not above 30% for the latter here…)
Yet they’re the ones destroying what universities actually do.
Yet they’re the ones destroying what universities actually do.
'Graduates are overwhelmingly positive about universities – 81 per cent say universities have a positive impact on the nation. Among non-graduates, that figure drops to just 55 per cent.' (Interesting that it's that high). 1/3
The political centre of gravity continues to shift towards higher education sceptics
Graduates and non-graduates are polarised in their views of university study. Steve O’Neil thinks through how the sector can demonstrate its value across the electorate Graduates and non-graduates are...
wonkhe.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Politicians and managers can only DREAM of those approval ratings (not above 30% for the latter here…)
Yet they’re the ones destroying what universities actually do.
Yet they’re the ones destroying what universities actually do.
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
Reposted by Katharine Hodgson
“How many refugees have been granted asylum in the UK?”
Most people overestimate the number - by a lot. With far-right figures spreading misinformation, it’s hard for the public to know the truth.
Watch the video to see just how wide the gap is between perception and reality.
Most people overestimate the number - by a lot. With far-right figures spreading misinformation, it’s hard for the public to know the truth.
Watch the video to see just how wide the gap is between perception and reality.
November 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
“How many refugees have been granted asylum in the UK?”
Most people overestimate the number - by a lot. With far-right figures spreading misinformation, it’s hard for the public to know the truth.
Watch the video to see just how wide the gap is between perception and reality.
Most people overestimate the number - by a lot. With far-right figures spreading misinformation, it’s hard for the public to know the truth.
Watch the video to see just how wide the gap is between perception and reality.