UCU University of Kent branch
@ucukent.bsky.social
UCU University of Kent
Fighting for a better Higher Education - staff working conditions are student learning conditions.
https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/
https://www.instagram.com/ucu.kent?igsh=MWRuZnZ5Y3k1ZXlhNQ==
Fighting for a better Higher Education - staff working conditions are student learning conditions.
https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/
https://www.instagram.com/ucu.kent?igsh=MWRuZnZ5Y3k1ZXlhNQ==
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
How on earth is the Office for Students still allowed to lord it over the sector, by the way? It's not as if they've in any way provided any evidence of improvements since parliament deemded them not fit for purpose and failing to anticipate the looming crisis in September 2023? #UKHE
November 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
How on earth is the Office for Students still allowed to lord it over the sector, by the way? It's not as if they've in any way provided any evidence of improvements since parliament deemded them not fit for purpose and failing to anticipate the looming crisis in September 2023? #UKHE
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
VOTY MCVOTEFACE!
If that hearing yesterday showed anything, it is that the regulator, minister, and managers are not taking the crisis seriously and that staff needs to make it their problem. Let's get that mandate and let's drag this sector out of its impasse.
If that hearing yesterday showed anything, it is that the regulator, minister, and managers are not taking the crisis seriously and that staff needs to make it their problem. Let's get that mandate and let's drag this sector out of its impasse.
TODAY IS THE LAST SAFE DAY TO POST YOUR BALLOT!
‼️📮This is your reminder that tomorrow (Wed 26 Nov) is the last day to safely return your postal ballot in the national dispute. 🧵Here’s why this dispute matters for us at Goldsmiths:
November 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
VOTY MCVOTEFACE!
If that hearing yesterday showed anything, it is that the regulator, minister, and managers are not taking the crisis seriously and that staff needs to make it their problem. Let's get that mandate and let's drag this sector out of its impasse.
If that hearing yesterday showed anything, it is that the regulator, minister, and managers are not taking the crisis seriously and that staff needs to make it their problem. Let's get that mandate and let's drag this sector out of its impasse.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Solidarity @uonucu.bsky.social wonderful turnout! 🌟🌟🌟
A huge turnout in Nottingham today, around 300 staff and students standing together against cuts.
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
Powerful speeches, real solidarity, and a clear message: we won’t let our universities be dismantled.
We are the university. ✊if you’ve not voted there is still time! Get it in!
@uonucu.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Solidarity @uonucu.bsky.social wonderful turnout! 🌟🌟🌟
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Budget getting you down? Retake the initiative and submit that ballot by 5pm today: qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... #UKHE
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Budget getting you down? Retake the initiative and submit that ballot by 5pm today: qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... #UKHE
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
With only a few hours left to vote, our regional officials – Mary Senior, Julie Kelley, Lawson Armstrong and Gareth Lloyd are all saying the same thing: get the vote out.
✅ Have you voted?
✅ Have you checked your colleagues have?
Let’s do this together.
✅ Have you voted?
✅ Have you checked your colleagues have?
Let’s do this together.
November 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
With only a few hours left to vote, our regional officials – Mary Senior, Julie Kelley, Lawson Armstrong and Gareth Lloyd are all saying the same thing: get the vote out.
✅ Have you voted?
✅ Have you checked your colleagues have?
Let’s do this together.
✅ Have you voted?
✅ Have you checked your colleagues have?
Let’s do this together.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT BEFOER 5PM TODAY!
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
a man in a suit is sitting in the driver 's seat of a car and making a funny face .
ALT: a man in a suit is sitting in the driver 's seat of a car and making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
SUBMIT YOUR BALLOT BEFOER 5PM TODAY!
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
And if you need five good reasons why it's worth digging that pink envelop out of the pile of post and get it in a postbox:
qmucu.org/2025/11/21/v... -- with huge thanks to @ducu.bsky.social
Our UCU branch meeting is going on NOW on Teams - email link has been sent out to all members.
We've just voted on getting back our industrial action mandate.
The indicative vote was carried almost unanimously. An electronic vote will now be sent out to all members.
We've just voted on getting back our industrial action mandate.
The indicative vote was carried almost unanimously. An electronic vote will now be sent out to all members.
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Our UCU branch meeting is going on NOW on Teams - email link has been sent out to all members.
We've just voted on getting back our industrial action mandate.
The indicative vote was carried almost unanimously. An electronic vote will now be sent out to all members.
We've just voted on getting back our industrial action mandate.
The indicative vote was carried almost unanimously. An electronic vote will now be sent out to all members.
Don't forget we've got a branch meeting today on Teams at 1pm. Check your email for the invite.
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Don't forget we've got a branch meeting today on Teams at 1pm. Check your email for the invite.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
I just don't think we are taking the interaction of this tech with our cognitive processes and known psychological weaknesses as a species anything like seriously enough. The tech companies want us to think this kind of thing is an aberration and a distraction. I'm no psychologist, but you...
I am by no means a prominent public intellectual, but my inbox is increasingly filled with messages from people who have been convinced by sycophantic chatbots that they have discovered revolutionary theories that entirely upend our scientific understanding of the universe.
November 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I just don't think we are taking the interaction of this tech with our cognitive processes and known psychological weaknesses as a species anything like seriously enough. The tech companies want us to think this kind of thing is an aberration and a distraction. I'm no psychologist, but you...
It's been a short but very intense term here at Kent. Everyone I've spoken to is exhausted.
We're nearly there.
Don't forget to send off your #vote
#StrongerTogether
We're nearly there.
Don't forget to send off your #vote
#StrongerTogether
It's Friday. I'm already at work. I need coffee and my weekly croissant treat.
Let's do this.
#TwoWeeksLeft
#AcademicSky
Let's do this.
#TwoWeeksLeft
#AcademicSky
a woman is wearing a scarf and a jacket and says two weeks .
Alt: a woman is wearing a scarf and a jacket and says two weeks .
media.tenor.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:48 AM
It's been a short but very intense term here at Kent. Everyone I've spoken to is exhausted.
We're nearly there.
Don't forget to send off your #vote
#StrongerTogether
We're nearly there.
Don't forget to send off your #vote
#StrongerTogether
November 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
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 UCU University of Kent branch
If you've not voted, VOTE. We can (and I'm sure will) argue at length about what that vote should be, just like we always do. Just like a union is SUPPOSED to do. But if we don't reach that aburd Tory-spawned anti-union threshold, that argument gets taken out of our hands.
November 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
If you've not voted, VOTE. We can (and I'm sure will) argue at length about what that vote should be, just like we always do. Just like a union is SUPPOSED to do. But if we don't reach that aburd Tory-spawned anti-union threshold, that argument gets taken out of our hands.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
As we near the last safe day for ballot posting in the current national UCU ballot (get 'em in by Wed, preferably sooner), let's remember what we're fighting for. We'll start with the graphs we made last week. Decades of pay erosion has left many of us a full pay spine point below where we should be
And here we are! Literally every spine point is paying less in real terms than it was back in 2008. Spine point 5 (now replaced by the real living wage) is down by about 3.4%. By spine point 10, we're down over 10%. By spine point 23, over 20%, ultimately reaching a 22.1% reduction. 3/3
November 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
As we near the last safe day for ballot posting in the current national UCU ballot (get 'em in by Wed, preferably sooner), let's remember what we're fighting for. We'll start with the graphs we made last week. Decades of pay erosion has left many of us a full pay spine point below where we should be
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Seriously - if you work in the UK education sector, you need to read this...
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Seriously - if you work in the UK education sector, you need to read this...
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Read this. And then vote YES/YES in the ballot. We need staff back in the picture of all #UKHE strategising, and our managers aren't going to put us there.
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Read this. And then vote YES/YES in the ballot. We need staff back in the picture of all #UKHE strategising, and our managers aren't going to put us there.
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
November 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We hope that everyone at Kent is surviving this term - so many new systems, new modules, a shorter term; lots and lots of changes.
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
Make sure you're resting when you can. We keep hearing of colleagues who are exhausted - we've still another 3 weeks to go.
We can do it!
#StrongerTogether #VoteYes
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Somewhere in the Department for Education, a phone is ringing
On October 20th at a bit after 5pm, the UK government introduced its Education and Skills white paper to Parliament, to absolutely no…
hitchcockian.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
If you haven't already seen the excellent piece written by Dr Dave Hitchcock (a fellow Canterbury academic), read it now.
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
Dave has long been a voice of reason in UK HE.
hitchcockian.medium.com/somewhere-in...
@davehitchcock.bsky.social
This is being replicated all over the UK. In the past year over 15,000 jobs have been lost or cut.
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
The biggest marker that my university has lost a LOT of staff is being able to park in the main staff car park at 11.30am.
It used to be the case if you arrived after 9am, forget it.
#AcademicSky
It used to be the case if you arrived after 9am, forget it.
#AcademicSky
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This is being replicated all over the UK. In the past year over 15,000 jobs have been lost or cut.
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
No wonder the car parks are empty.
#SaveAcademia #UCU #VoteYes #StrongerTogether
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
NEW on Wonkhe: It's taken eleven months, but the draft OfS strategy is now finalised. David Kernohan takes a look at what has changed buff.ly/K1ccOB7
November 13, 2025 at 11:45 AM
NEW on Wonkhe: It's taken eleven months, but the draft OfS strategy is now finalised. David Kernohan takes a look at what has changed buff.ly/K1ccOB7
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
heads up #histSTM people - nominations are open for the @bshsnews.bsky.social Pickstone Prize - best scholarly book (in English) published in the last 2 years. Don't assume your publisher will nominate you, be proactive about your book or books you love!
🗃️
🗃️
The BSHS Pickstone Prize
The BSHS Pickstone Prize is awarded every two years to the best scholarly book in the history of science (broadly construed) in English. The Prize aims to recognize pioneering works that advance the s...
www.bshs.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:46 AM
heads up #histSTM people - nominations are open for the @bshsnews.bsky.social Pickstone Prize - best scholarly book (in English) published in the last 2 years. Don't assume your publisher will nominate you, be proactive about your book or books you love!
🗃️
🗃️
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Apparently today is a day for reminding people that they have worth and value. So if you need reminding of that - you have worth. You have value. You are allowed to take up space.
November 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Apparently today is a day for reminding people that they have worth and value. So if you need reminding of that - you have worth. You have value. You are allowed to take up space.
The vote is national, EVERYONE in the UCU needs to vote!
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
Time is ticking 🕣🕣🕣 have you posted your #WeAreTheUniversity ballot yet?
Vote now, vote YES! We have 1 day left to safely send out our ballot!
@ucu.org.uk
Vote now, vote YES! We have 1 day left to safely send out our ballot!
@ucu.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The vote is national, EVERYONE in the UCU needs to vote!
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
A union is only as strong as its members, and we're stronger together.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
'Members of the University and College Union...are unhappy about the threat of compulsory redundancies, as the university seeks to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m, amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.'
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
Lancaster University staff to start industrial action over job cuts
The university is looking to save £30m amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
'Members of the University and College Union...are unhappy about the threat of compulsory redundancies, as the university seeks to cut 400 full-time posts as part of efforts to save £30m, amid rising costs and a fall in international student numbers.'
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?
"are unhappy about" an existential crisis?