Leo McCann
@leomc76.bsky.social
Academic @york.ac.uk
Sociology of Professions / Critical Management Studies / History
Sociology of Professions / Critical Management Studies / History
Pinned
Leo McCann
@leomc76.bsky.social
· Sep 16
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
Thinking of using #ChatGPT for 'help' with assessments? Think again. #university #AI
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
'The Goffman Nobody Knows.' Really enjoyed this book review from @jerolmack.bsky.social. The book sounds fabulous. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The Goffman Nobody Knows
Click on the article title to read more.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 7, 2026 at 10:41 AM
'The Goffman Nobody Knows.' Really enjoyed this book review from @jerolmack.bsky.social. The book sounds fabulous. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Leo McCann
Airline bookings to the U.S. in advance of the World Cup are soft, calling into question whether the high-profile tournament will deliver the boon U.S. tourism officials are expecting.
Fewer Europeans Are Heading To The U.S. This Summer—Here’s What That Could Mean For The World Cup
Airline bookings to the U.S. in advance of the World Cup are soft, calling into question whether the high-profile tournament will deliver the boon U.S. tourism officials are expecting.
www.forbes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Airline bookings to the U.S. in advance of the World Cup are soft, calling into question whether the high-profile tournament will deliver the boon U.S. tourism officials are expecting.
Reposted by Leo McCann
"[V]iolating academic freedom becomes an essential requisite for entrenching and sustaining the specific illiberal mindset that the erosion agents pursue."
Interesting new study about the erosion of #AcademicFreedom in Hungary and Poland.
#HigherEd
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Interesting new study about the erosion of #AcademicFreedom in Hungary and Poland.
#HigherEd
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The sequencing of academic freedom violations during democratic erosion: Comparing the cases of Hungary and Poland - Ellen Bos, Marianne Kneuer, 2026
This paper addresses the widely accepted but still little elaborated observation that democratic erosion evolves in a sequential manner. We argue that the viola...
journals.sagepub.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:22 PM
"[V]iolating academic freedom becomes an essential requisite for entrenching and sustaining the specific illiberal mindset that the erosion agents pursue."
Interesting new study about the erosion of #AcademicFreedom in Hungary and Poland.
#HigherEd
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Interesting new study about the erosion of #AcademicFreedom in Hungary and Poland.
#HigherEd
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
An excellent video from @ucu.org.uk highlighting the continued destruction of higher education in this country. We need urgent change to how the entire sector is funded, led and governed. Please, @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social, can this Labour government do something?
400 jobs at risk. A campus set to close.
This film explains what’s happening at the University of Essex and why staff, students and the local community are organising to stop it.
📍 Southend rally | 5 February
This film explains what’s happening at the University of Essex and why staff, students and the local community are organising to stop it.
📍 Southend rally | 5 February
February 6, 2026 at 12:46 PM
An excellent video from @ucu.org.uk highlighting the continued destruction of higher education in this country. We need urgent change to how the entire sector is funded, led and governed. Please, @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social, can this Labour government do something?
Week zero of the semester and life is hectic. Looking forward to getting back in the classroom but the amount of things swirling around... Let's just say this fog feels appropriate. Hope everyone is well and feeling some sunshine soon! ☀️
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Week zero of the semester and life is hectic. Looking forward to getting back in the classroom but the amount of things swirling around... Let's just say this fog feels appropriate. Hope everyone is well and feeling some sunshine soon! ☀️
Reposted by Leo McCann
The phrases used to avoid saying 'redundancy' and to sanitise the brutality of laying staff off are really something. "Adapting for continued success" here. What others have you heard?
400 jobs lost but still in deficit
New Principal Prof Edwards hopes Aberdeen University can soon break even
There've been “regular management updates” about the 'Adapting for Continued Success' transformation
Small comfort to the 100s who are now jobless
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6943...
New Principal Prof Edwards hopes Aberdeen University can soon break even
There've been “regular management updates” about the 'Adapting for Continued Success' transformation
Small comfort to the 100s who are now jobless
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6943...
Exclusive: Aberdeen University sheds more than 440 permanent staff over two years in cost-cutting drive
Trade union officials say there has been a “lack of meaningful engagement" over future job losses as strike action remains on the table.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 8:15 AM
The phrases used to avoid saying 'redundancy' and to sanitise the brutality of laying staff off are really something. "Adapting for continued success" here. What others have you heard?
Reposted by Leo McCann
Worst I've seen in university sector was 'shaping for excellence' at Leicester.
Shaping for Mediocrity by Gibson Burrell et al - The Sociological Review share.google/3C4iucDwvizA...
Shaping for Mediocrity by Gibson Burrell et al - The Sociological Review share.google/3C4iucDwvizA...
Shaping for Mediocrity by Gibson Burrell et al
Was the University of Leicester the test bed for the current waves of redundancies, asks Steven Brown reviewing Shaping for Mediocrity by Gibson Burrell and friends.
share.google
February 2, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Worst I've seen in university sector was 'shaping for excellence' at Leicester.
Shaping for Mediocrity by Gibson Burrell et al - The Sociological Review share.google/3C4iucDwvizA...
Shaping for Mediocrity by Gibson Burrell et al - The Sociological Review share.google/3C4iucDwvizA...
Reposted by Leo McCann
'We likely require fewer academics with research in their remit, but those that do need greater time allocated, and must be subject to a strategic research management regime'.
I remain very sceptical/negative about the medium- and long-turn impacts of separating research and teaching. 1/2
I remain very sceptical/negative about the medium- and long-turn impacts of separating research and teaching. 1/2
For Everything to Stay the Same, Everything Must Change
... a riposte to academic nostalgia
profserious.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:11 PM
'We likely require fewer academics with research in their remit, but those that do need greater time allocated, and must be subject to a strategic research management regime'.
I remain very sceptical/negative about the medium- and long-turn impacts of separating research and teaching. 1/2
I remain very sceptical/negative about the medium- and long-turn impacts of separating research and teaching. 1/2
Reposted by Leo McCann
*hisses like a cat* BAD www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK loses measles elimination status
Decision made after outbreaks in 2024, when there were nearly 3,000 cases in England and Wales.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 3:24 PM
*hisses like a cat* BAD www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Leo McCann
France announced today it’s phasing out Teams, Zoom, etc. to be replaced with a French/European solution called Visio. The data is hosted on Outscale. Transcripts and subtitles are also handled by French providers. The target is set on 2027 for government agencies.
January 26, 2026 at 3:31 PM
France announced today it’s phasing out Teams, Zoom, etc. to be replaced with a French/European solution called Visio. The data is hosted on Outscale. Transcripts and subtitles are also handled by French providers. The target is set on 2027 for government agencies.
A boycott of the World Cup absolutely needs doing. But I very much doubt anyone else will suggest it. Few in sport or politics have the gumption or courage.
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
German FA official wants 2026 World Cup boycott talks
A German football association official believes it is time to consider a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the wake of United States President Donald Trump's actions.
www.bbc.com
January 24, 2026 at 6:04 PM
A boycott of the World Cup absolutely needs doing. But I very much doubt anyone else will suggest it. Few in sport or politics have the gumption or courage.
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Please consider supporting striking staff at University of Sheffield. Please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
No lockout for University of Sheffield staff
UCU members have been standing up against the continual cutting and restructuring of the last several years which has significantly damaged the University’s international standing, the quality of educ...
www.megaphone.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Please consider supporting striking staff at University of Sheffield. Please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
Reposted by Leo McCann
Kent, Essex and apparently Sussex all decline to be gouged by Elsevier Read & Publish deals. Others may well follow. 1/2
Three major research universities opt out of new Elsevier deal
Complaints over ‘price increases’ and open access models spur UK institutions to walk away from offer from publishing giant, despite nationally negotiated agreement
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Kent, Essex and apparently Sussex all decline to be gouged by Elsevier Read & Publish deals. Others may well follow. 1/2
While it's good to fight back against the price gouging, the library cuts are hurting research. Papers we publish aren't open access any more, making public engagement harder. Write a blog and the links effectively take you to paywalls. This isn't right.
January 22, 2026 at 2:33 PM
While it's good to fight back against the price gouging, the library cuts are hurting research. Papers we publish aren't open access any more, making public engagement harder. Write a blog and the links effectively take you to paywalls. This isn't right.
Reposted by Leo McCann
Trump claims world ‘richer, safer’ than year ago at launch of his ‘board of peace’. US president repeats claims to have stopped eight wars as he hosts signing ceremony at World Economic Forum.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Trump claims world ‘richer, safer’ than year ago at launch of his ‘board of peace’
US president repeats claims to have stopped eight wars as he hosts signing ceremony at World Economic Forum
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Trump claims world ‘richer, safer’ than year ago at launch of his ‘board of peace’. US president repeats claims to have stopped eight wars as he hosts signing ceremony at World Economic Forum.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
If I join the Board of Peace, do I get a free Trump Steak?
January 22, 2026 at 2:22 PM
If I join the Board of Peace, do I get a free Trump Steak?
Reposted by Leo McCann
'To speak of the “demise” of the UK university is not to suggest its disappearance, but its transformation into something increasingly unrecognisable.'
Wise words, these. 1/3
Wise words, these. 1/3
Why are UK universities failing? - LSE Impact
The HE sector in the UK faces the prospect of a university going into administration. How have universities fallen so low and is change possible?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 21, 2026 at 10:40 AM
'To speak of the “demise” of the UK university is not to suggest its disappearance, but its transformation into something increasingly unrecognisable.'
Wise words, these. 1/3
Wise words, these. 1/3
Reposted by Leo McCann
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
January 20, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
Congress can't do anything even if it wanted to. This won't require a formal declaration of war. If Trump is serious about this, then he'll order US military to annexe Greenland, saying it's not a war, it's a 'special operation'. Same as Gulf of Tonkin, or Russian invasion of Ukraine.
January 18, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Congress can't do anything even if it wanted to. This won't require a formal declaration of war. If Trump is serious about this, then he'll order US military to annexe Greenland, saying it's not a war, it's a 'special operation'. Same as Gulf of Tonkin, or Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Genuine question: Does 'theft of railway signalling cables' actually happen in countries outside the UK, or is it just something we do really well here?
vimeo.com/1155503192?f...
vimeo.com/1155503192?f...
0117 St Albans City
This is "0117 St Albans City" by National Rail on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
vimeo.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Genuine question: Does 'theft of railway signalling cables' actually happen in countries outside the UK, or is it just something we do really well here?
vimeo.com/1155503192?f...
vimeo.com/1155503192?f...
Reposted by Leo McCann
'this reflects on the media organisations too. Surely you shouldn’t splash about a report being published if (a) you’ve not seen the report and (b) don’t have a guarantee that the report will actually be published. Otherwise it might be that the report doesn’t exist'. 1/2
Two weeks ago the Telegraph posted an article about ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees based on a report by the Taxpayers Alliance. This post is not about the meaning of TPA report, but what it means that the TPA report has not appeared.
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2026/01/17/t...
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com/2026/01/17/t...
Too woke to publish
The Telegraph ran an article about a report on Mickey Mouse degrees, but the TPA hasn’t actually published the report.
moremeansbetter.wordpress.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:11 PM
'this reflects on the media organisations too. Surely you shouldn’t splash about a report being published if (a) you’ve not seen the report and (b) don’t have a guarantee that the report will actually be published. Otherwise it might be that the report doesn’t exist'. 1/2
Reposted by Leo McCann
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Texas A&M Bans Plato - Daily Nous
Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course. You have a day to decide. That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy a...
dailynous.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:36 AM
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
The situation across the country is increasingly desperate. Some depts have huge student numbers whereas others face possible closure. Everywhere there is short staffing and stress. Student AI misuse is rampant, creating tremendous problems. People feel disempowered. Leadership is often invisible.
January 7, 2026 at 11:15 AM
The situation across the country is increasingly desperate. Some depts have huge student numbers whereas others face possible closure. Everywhere there is short staffing and stress. Student AI misuse is rampant, creating tremendous problems. People feel disempowered. Leadership is often invisible.