William Carruthers
@williamcarruthers.bsky.social
Lecturer in Heritage @phaisessex.bsky.social . ‘Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology’ out now with Cornell UP. Fellow, RHistS. https://williamcarruthers.co.uk // williamcarruthers.wordpress.com
Pinned
In better news my book is coming out in paperback next March (pre-orders now available)! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
Flooded Pasts by William Carruthers | Hardcover | Cornell University Press
Flooded Pasts examines a world famous yet critically underexamined event—UNESCO's International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia (1960–80)—to show how the project, its genealogy, and its...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
Going to re-post this occasionally, with added mention that I’m very happy to do more talks about it
Pleased to see my MP raising the alarm in the face of her own government’s intransigence
MPs told collapse of UK higher education provider could happen by Christmas
Education Committee chair says situation is “not hypothetical”, but skills minister and regulator rebut claim
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Education Committee chair says situation is “not hypothetical”, but skills minister and regulator rebut claim
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
MPs told collapse of UK provider could happen by Christmas - Research Professional News
Education Committee chair says situation is “not hypothetical”, but skills minister and regulator rebut claim
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Pleased to see my MP raising the alarm in the face of her own government’s intransigence
Reposted by William Carruthers
Delighted to have had the chance to write about Beatle ‘historiography’ in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
The long and winding road: Stuart Maconie on why our opinions about the Beatles keep changing
Fans and historians have spent 60 years debating what the band means – and which member is greatest. Will the returning Anthology project and Sam Mendes’s planned biopics create new arguments?
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Delighted to have had the chance to write about Beatle ‘historiography’ in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Reposted by William Carruthers
Delighted to share @arezouazad.bsky.social's blog for @edinburghup.bsky.social: discover more about her upcoming book 'The Warehouse of Bamiyan'!
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
📚 New on the blog!
@arezouazad.bsky.social rediscovers Bamiyan’s medieval archives, revealing a diverse, literate and interconnected Islamicate society in Afghanistan.
Have a read:
@arezouazad.bsky.social rediscovers Bamiyan’s medieval archives, revealing a diverse, literate and interconnected Islamicate society in Afghanistan.
Have a read:
The Warehouse of Bamiyan: Q&A with Arezou Azad - Edinburgh University Press Blog
Arezou Azad rediscovers Bamiyan’s medieval archives, revealing a diverse, literate and interconnected Islamicate society in Afghanistan.
edin.ac
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Delighted to share @arezouazad.bsky.social's blog for @edinburghup.bsky.social: discover more about her upcoming book 'The Warehouse of Bamiyan'!
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
#medievalsky #skystorians #booksky #Afghanistan
Reposted by William Carruthers
It bears constant repetition that expertise is nurtured slowly over a very long time. It doesn’t bounce back like a rubber band with every flex of a spreadsheet. Once it is gone, it can’t be rapidly rebuilt overnight or on demand.
P.S. a lot of Research and innovation happens at unis.
P.S. a lot of Research and innovation happens at unis.
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 11:02 AM
It bears constant repetition that expertise is nurtured slowly over a very long time. It doesn’t bounce back like a rubber band with every flex of a spreadsheet. Once it is gone, it can’t be rapidly rebuilt overnight or on demand.
P.S. a lot of Research and innovation happens at unis.
P.S. a lot of Research and innovation happens at unis.
If this happens expect to see what govt policy actually looks like, I guess?
Commons Education Committee seems to think that there is a provider at risk of collapse before the end of 2025. DfE and OfS disagree.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
Government would protect interests of "students, taxpayers, and research" in provider insolvency
And the committee seems to think there is one on the way before 2026.
wonkhe.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If this happens expect to see what govt policy actually looks like, I guess?
Reposted by William Carruthers
A highly educated society is a better society. Everyone with the desire & ability should be able to go to university. Individuals & society benefit, whatever the subject, so education costs should be subsidised. Public research is a common good. That, apparently, is a controversial take.
November 25, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A highly educated society is a better society. Everyone with the desire & ability should be able to go to university. Individuals & society benefit, whatever the subject, so education costs should be subsidised. Public research is a common good. That, apparently, is a controversial take.
The pasty tax is back!
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The pasty tax is back!
Reposted by William Carruthers
Important role - new Chair of the Board of @ukri.org
£33k for one day a week. Closes 11 Jan. Would be good from my perspective to get someone who understands higher education and the value of the arts, humanities and social sciences!
plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetai...
£33k for one day a week. Closes 11 Jan. Would be good from my perspective to get someone who understands higher education and the value of the arts, humanities and social sciences!
plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetai...
Perrett Laver - Leading Global Executive Search Firm
plusportal.perrettlaver.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Important role - new Chair of the Board of @ukri.org
£33k for one day a week. Closes 11 Jan. Would be good from my perspective to get someone who understands higher education and the value of the arts, humanities and social sciences!
plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetai...
£33k for one day a week. Closes 11 Jan. Would be good from my perspective to get someone who understands higher education and the value of the arts, humanities and social sciences!
plusportal.perrettlaver.com/VacancyDetai...
Reposted by William Carruthers
Man Who Thought Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ Was Over In For Thrill Of His Fucking Life https://theonion.com/man-who-thought-fleetwood-macs-the-chain-was-over-in-for-thrill-of-his-fucking-life/
November 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Man Who Thought Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ Was Over In For Thrill Of His Fucking Life https://theonion.com/man-who-thought-fleetwood-macs-the-chain-was-over-in-for-thrill-of-his-fucking-life/
‘The UK’s biggest error has been to make war on its own strengths’
November 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
‘The UK’s biggest error has been to make war on its own strengths’
On Glasman
At the risk of turning what will be a selective set of anecdotes into data, a lot of 1960s and 70s working class parents absolutely busted a gut to get their kids to university and were dead proud their kids had become middle class but I suppose they dont count?
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
On Glasman
Reposted by William Carruthers
"My beloved working class" - i.e. the one that exists in his head, but in real life has always rejected this particularly ugly strain of 'you don't deserve commercial television, nice holidays or little luxuries' whenever Labour have taken it to the public.
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
"My beloved working class" - i.e. the one that exists in his head, but in real life has always rejected this particularly ugly strain of 'you don't deserve commercial television, nice holidays or little luxuries' whenever Labour have taken it to the public.
Farage finally on the ropes—or is it too late?
November 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Farage finally on the ropes—or is it too late?
Someone explain to me why decolonisation in archaeology never involves stopping digging
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Someone explain to me why decolonisation in archaeology never involves stopping digging
Reposted by William Carruthers
Reposted by William Carruthers
If the UK tax system could be entirely based on other people paying I’m sure it would command 100% support.
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
If the UK tax system could be entirely based on other people paying I’m sure it would command 100% support.
Reposted by William Carruthers
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
Reposted by William Carruthers
I'd like to see the response to this if the question added "if that that means universities have less money to spend on UK students".
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I'd like to see the response to this if the question added "if that that means universities have less money to spend on UK students".
Reposted by William Carruthers
"In the Same Family Ownership for over 35 Years" WERE THEY THE MANSONS?
They really don't want to share any interior shots but when they do, you just know that unspeakable acts have been committed within... www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...
Check out this 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove
3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in 75 Camden Mews, Camden, London, NW1 9BY, NW1 for £925,000. Marketed by Auction House London, Hampstead
www.rightmove.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
"In the Same Family Ownership for over 35 Years" WERE THEY THE MANSONS?
Reposted by William Carruthers
Some compelling ideas here for upcoming British Rail corporate ads
Der Bahn Song
YouTube video by Deutsche Bahn
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Some compelling ideas here for upcoming British Rail corporate ads
Reposted by William Carruthers
"‘Which is the best university in the world?’ is not a useful question. ‘Which university might be best for me, given that I care about X and Y?’ is a better question — but one for which current measures are unlikely to provide a good answer"
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
To reform universities, first tackle global rankings
Universities are in thrall to a rankings system that prioritizes narrow aspects of academic life. Three changes would give institutions the freedom to explore fresh ways of working.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
"‘Which is the best university in the world?’ is not a useful question. ‘Which university might be best for me, given that I care about X and Y?’ is a better question — but one for which current measures are unlikely to provide a good answer"
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by William Carruthers
The Royal Historical Society has published a very helpful guide to its various membership categories, including the Fellowship. If you're engaged in History study, research or teaching (including in public history, journalism & GLAM) & keen to support the discipline, do have a look. #Skystorians
Joining the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society: a brief guide if you’re considering an application | Historical Transactions
blog.royalhistsoc.org
November 24, 2025 at 10:07 AM
The Royal Historical Society has published a very helpful guide to its various membership categories, including the Fellowship. If you're engaged in History study, research or teaching (including in public history, journalism & GLAM) & keen to support the discipline, do have a look. #Skystorians
The problem is that kicking universities will be popular both because of over-inflated growth predictions for them and because degrees have become transactional. This is a sector comms issue as much as anything else.
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
The problem is that kicking universities will be popular both because of over-inflated growth predictions for them and because degrees have become transactional. This is a sector comms issue as much as anything else.
Reeves will be putting 2p on income tax tomorrow given she has now annoyed every special-interest group in the country
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reeves will be putting 2p on income tax tomorrow given she has now annoyed every special-interest group in the country
Reposted by William Carruthers
"Yorkshire business leaders urge Rachel Reeves to axe international student levy"
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
"Yorkshire business leaders urge Rachel Reeves to axe international student levy"