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
Ballots across Scotland from Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde, Stirling & Aberdeen are going in the post
Vote now Save jobs
Post your ballot (with or without a dog) (don't post the dog they're not covered by the prepaid stamp) @ucuscotland.bsky.social
#UCU #Scholar #GTVO #Heriot-Watt #dogsPostingBallots 🐕
Vote now Save jobs
Post your ballot (with or without a dog) (don't post the dog they're not covered by the prepaid stamp) @ucuscotland.bsky.social
#UCU #Scholar #GTVO #Heriot-Watt #dogsPostingBallots 🐕
January 13, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Ballots across Scotland from Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde, Stirling & Aberdeen are going in the post
Vote now Save jobs
Post your ballot (with or without a dog) (don't post the dog they're not covered by the prepaid stamp) @ucuscotland.bsky.social
#UCU #Scholar #GTVO #Heriot-Watt #dogsPostingBallots 🐕
Vote now Save jobs
Post your ballot (with or without a dog) (don't post the dog they're not covered by the prepaid stamp) @ucuscotland.bsky.social
#UCU #Scholar #GTVO #Heriot-Watt #dogsPostingBallots 🐕
Branch meeting on NOW.
So far we have discussed the proposed new academic promotions process.
A great deal of discussion and concerns particularly around how budgets will prevent staff from developing their career at Kent.
So far we have discussed the proposed new academic promotions process.
A great deal of discussion and concerns particularly around how budgets will prevent staff from developing their career at Kent.
January 15, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Branch meeting on NOW.
So far we have discussed the proposed new academic promotions process.
A great deal of discussion and concerns particularly around how budgets will prevent staff from developing their career at Kent.
So far we have discussed the proposed new academic promotions process.
A great deal of discussion and concerns particularly around how budgets will prevent staff from developing their career at Kent.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Imagine this... and then realising that it doesn't even fund the HE system properly anyway. One of the worst Public Policy Disasters in decades. Willetts and Osborne have obvs dined out on it and gone on to great success tho. That's Britain, always failing upwards! 🇬🇧
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Imagine this... and then realising that it doesn't even fund the HE system properly anyway. One of the worst Public Policy Disasters in decades. Willetts and Osborne have obvs dined out on it and gone on to great success tho. That's Britain, always failing upwards! 🇬🇧
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Slightly misleading assumption in the article is that it’s all academics that have chosen to leave. At Exeter, over half of those who accepted TERS were in profesional services. Suspect the same sector-wide. Administrative capacity in the sector is being decimated.
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Slightly misleading assumption in the article is that it’s all academics that have chosen to leave. At Exeter, over half of those who accepted TERS were in profesional services. Suspect the same sector-wide. Administrative capacity in the sector is being decimated.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
@sheffielducu.bsky.social, remain steadfast and resolute in your fight for a better tomorrow. Lancaster UCU members stand with you in your dispute.
January 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM
@sheffielducu.bsky.social, remain steadfast and resolute in your fight for a better tomorrow. Lancaster UCU members stand with you in your dispute.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Like, I posted this and then immediately realised that nowhere near enough staff in university marketing teams will have thought this through (though unis do have a range of policies around images of their students and where/when to use them), and now I absolutely have to get stuck into this don't I
We teach young people, some of whom kindly consent to feature in our marketing and branding images, they do this based on a sense of trust in their institutions not to misuse those images or put them at risk!
and yet, how many of those images now end up on X? has that risk been assessed at all?
and yet, how many of those images now end up on X? has that risk been assessed at all?
January 15, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Like, I posted this and then immediately realised that nowhere near enough staff in university marketing teams will have thought this through (though unis do have a range of policies around images of their students and where/when to use them), and now I absolutely have to get stuck into this don't I
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
How is this 'responsible financial management'? Explain it to us like we're 5. Because that's how staff gets talked at when we point out that cutting your core resource has never led to magic growth anyway.
Change this financial system. Yesterday.
Change this financial system. Yesterday.
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:12 AM
How is this 'responsible financial management'? Explain it to us like we're 5. Because that's how staff gets talked at when we point out that cutting your core resource has never led to magic growth anyway.
Change this financial system. Yesterday.
Change this financial system. Yesterday.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Jesus, hadn't realised it had gotten to over 13,000 jobs (academic and professional services) - any other industry facing this level of job losses would be having crisis meetings with government... (gov took emergency control of British Steel to save 2,700...)
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Jesus, hadn't realised it had gotten to over 13,000 jobs (academic and professional services) - any other industry facing this level of job losses would be having crisis meetings with government... (gov took emergency control of British Steel to save 2,700...)
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
💥New: UK academia’s presence on X is reaching a tipping point
✍️ @andytattersall.bsky.social
#X #AcademicSocialMedia #AcademicSky
✍️ @andytattersall.bsky.social
#X #AcademicSocialMedia #AcademicSky
UK academia’s presence on X is reaching a tipping point - Impact of Social Sciences
Data collected on UK universities’ use of social media shows academic engagement with X is at a tipping point with more institutions off the platform than on.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 14, 2026 at 11:08 AM
💥New: UK academia’s presence on X is reaching a tipping point
✍️ @andytattersall.bsky.social
#X #AcademicSocialMedia #AcademicSky
✍️ @andytattersall.bsky.social
#X #AcademicSocialMedia #AcademicSky
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
I have tried, repeatedly and professionally and very carefully, to explain the ticking timebomb of reputational damage here to university leaders. Even now my institution posts to X as if nothing has changed.
💥New: UK academia’s presence on X is reaching a tipping point
✍️ @andytattersall.bsky.social
#X #AcademicSocialMedia #AcademicSky
✍️ @andytattersall.bsky.social
#X #AcademicSocialMedia #AcademicSky
UK academia’s presence on X is reaching a tipping point - Impact of Social Sciences
Data collected on UK universities’ use of social media shows academic engagement with X is at a tipping point with more institutions off the platform than on.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 15, 2026 at 9:47 AM
I have tried, repeatedly and professionally and very carefully, to explain the ticking timebomb of reputational damage here to university leaders. Even now my institution posts to X as if nothing has changed.
'The total economic impact of the UK higher education sector on the UK economy is more than £265 billion' www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/p...
Yet over 13,000 jobs (so far) were cut last year.
Yet over 13,000 jobs (so far) were cut last year.
January 15, 2026 at 10:47 AM
'The total economic impact of the UK higher education sector on the UK economy is more than £265 billion' www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/p...
Yet over 13,000 jobs (so far) were cut last year.
Yet over 13,000 jobs (so far) were cut last year.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
A couple hundred jobs go in a factory and there’s journalistic and parliamentary outcry. Thousands of staff cuts across UK HE every year for a few years - a ‘lucrative export services industry’ - barely gets a mention outside the sector.
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:02 AM
A couple hundred jobs go in a factory and there’s journalistic and parliamentary outcry. Thousands of staff cuts across UK HE every year for a few years - a ‘lucrative export services industry’ - barely gets a mention outside the sector.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
A briefing that starts "higher education is facing an existential crisis". All too true!
January 14, 2026 at 1:06 PM
A briefing that starts "higher education is facing an existential crisis". All too true!
Welcome back - it's already been an 'interesting' start to the New Year as campus was closed on Tuesday due to the water problem.
I hope most classes went ahead smoothly online. No doubt we'll hear more today at our 1st Branch Meeting of the term.
1pm on Teams - email invites already sent.
I hope most classes went ahead smoothly online. No doubt we'll hear more today at our 1st Branch Meeting of the term.
1pm on Teams - email invites already sent.
January 15, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Welcome back - it's already been an 'interesting' start to the New Year as campus was closed on Tuesday due to the water problem.
I hope most classes went ahead smoothly online. No doubt we'll hear more today at our 1st Branch Meeting of the term.
1pm on Teams - email invites already sent.
I hope most classes went ahead smoothly online. No doubt we'll hear more today at our 1st Branch Meeting of the term.
1pm on Teams - email invites already sent.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
📢📢Please re-share and amplify 📢📢 in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel’s scholasticide @qmucu.bsky.social @birminghamucu.bsky.social @ucuimperial.bsky.social @ucukent.bsky.social @lboroucu.bsky.social
On Tuesday, the Israeli military invaded Birzeit University, attacking students with live ammunition.
Israel's scholasticide is a core part of its attempt to obliterate the collective life of the Palestinian people.
We have written to Yvette Cooper urging the British government to take action.
Israel's scholasticide is a core part of its attempt to obliterate the collective life of the Palestinian people.
We have written to Yvette Cooper urging the British government to take action.
January 8, 2026 at 8:26 PM
📢📢Please re-share and amplify 📢📢 in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israel’s scholasticide @qmucu.bsky.social @birminghamucu.bsky.social @ucuimperial.bsky.social @ucukent.bsky.social @lboroucu.bsky.social
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Trans scholars have to stick together 🏳️⚧️
As we know from trans scholars, students and HE workers, the university was a cisnormative space before these rulings. But they will go even further in forcing trans people to choose between their safety and their careers or studies. 2/2
December 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Trans scholars have to stick together 🏳️⚧️
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
If you are managing people (e.g. PI, HoD, etc) the best thing you can do at this time of year is actively help your people let go of false end of the calendar year urgency.
Can that wait until January? Say so. Out loud.
They can decide what to do but relieve the pressure to do it because of you
Can that wait until January? Say so. Out loud.
They can decide what to do but relieve the pressure to do it because of you
December 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you are managing people (e.g. PI, HoD, etc) the best thing you can do at this time of year is actively help your people let go of false end of the calendar year urgency.
Can that wait until January? Say so. Out loud.
They can decide what to do but relieve the pressure to do it because of you
Can that wait until January? Say so. Out loud.
They can decide what to do but relieve the pressure to do it because of you
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Pleased to be interviewed for this much needed piece on the rising transphobia in higher education.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trans-s...
(Archive link: archive.is/oYqXS)
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trans-s...
(Archive link: archive.is/oYqXS)
Trans scholars being ‘pushed out of academia’, researchers warn
Universities ‘afraid to be trans inclusive’ after Supreme Court ruling and OfS Sussex fine, leaving staff fearing ‘hostile environment’
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Pleased to be interviewed for this much needed piece on the rising transphobia in higher education.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trans-s...
(Archive link: archive.is/oYqXS)
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trans-s...
(Archive link: archive.is/oYqXS)
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Latest UK universities to post deficits: Cambridge, Queen’s Belfast, Leicester, London Met, Derby, Nottingham Trent, Liverpool John Moores www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-univ... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
UK universities report ongoing deficits after ‘difficult year’
Cambridge, Queen’s University Belfast and Leicester record shortfalls for the second year in a row as latest accounts highlight sector-wide financial challenges
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Latest UK universities to post deficits: Cambridge, Queen’s Belfast, Leicester, London Met, Derby, Nottingham Trent, Liverpool John Moores www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-univ... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
As we're in the final week of term at Kent our blog has been updated with some reminders about taking a break -
blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/2025/...
blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/2025/...
End of Term – UCU University of Kent
blogs.kent.ac.uk
December 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
As we're in the final week of term at Kent our blog has been updated with some reminders about taking a break -
blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/2025/...
blogs.kent.ac.uk/ucuuok/2025/...
In the UK we have a shortage of teachers and healthcare workers.
They are careers that (rightly) require Higher Education. Universities are shrinking and closing courses that often lead to teaching and healthcare.
Make it make sense!
They are careers that (rightly) require Higher Education. Universities are shrinking and closing courses that often lead to teaching and healthcare.
Make it make sense!
December 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
In the UK we have a shortage of teachers and healthcare workers.
They are careers that (rightly) require Higher Education. Universities are shrinking and closing courses that often lead to teaching and healthcare.
Make it make sense!
They are careers that (rightly) require Higher Education. Universities are shrinking and closing courses that often lead to teaching and healthcare.
Make it make sense!
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
it's gutting to see access and widening participation initiatives being binned across the university sector. ELCE here at Bristol, Essex Pathways here. nothing pushes my personal, visceral buttons like the idea of denying academic study to someone whose life it could change
In yet more devastating news, the VC has confirmed her plans to cut 80% of academic staff from Essex Pathways, our foundation year department. This would effectively close down all our existing foundation year programmes through the back door.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
December 8, 2025 at 8:18 AM
it's gutting to see access and widening participation initiatives being binned across the university sector. ELCE here at Bristol, Essex Pathways here. nothing pushes my personal, visceral buttons like the idea of denying academic study to someone whose life it could change
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
Dictating what people can study based on their postcode is bad, actually.
'There in the shadows [of the White Paper] lies the call for HE institutions to specialise, with the lurking threat that many will lose their research funding in some, but perhaps many, areas, in order to better fund those with more intensive research.'
Labour must not repeat history by sidelining research in post-92 universities
The abolition of the binary divide in HE made visible the wealth of research excellence in what became known as the post-92 part of the sector. Katie Normington worries that forcing specialisation ris...
wonkhe.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Dictating what people can study based on their postcode is bad, actually.
This is a key point for ALL students in the South East region - local transport networks are so poor that it's often quicker, easier, but NOT CHEAPER to get to central London.
We need Universities in the SE that are not in London.
We need Universities in the SE that are not in London.
By public transport (assuming travelling from Southend) they'd be able to get to central London faster.
December 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This is a key point for ALL students in the South East region - local transport networks are so poor that it's often quicker, easier, but NOT CHEAPER to get to central London.
We need Universities in the SE that are not in London.
We need Universities in the SE that are not in London.
Reposted by UCU University of Kent branch
the one good thing is that they clearly underestimated that people would notice and care. our students at southend can’t just pick up their lives and jobs and move to colchester and it’s too far and expensive to commute on public transport. people will simply have to abandon their studies.
December 6, 2025 at 1:32 PM
the one good thing is that they clearly underestimated that people would notice and care. our students at southend can’t just pick up their lives and jobs and move to colchester and it’s too far and expensive to commute on public transport. people will simply have to abandon their studies.