Howard Stevenson

This course is now full - and @gftuet.org.uk have opened up a waiting list. The version of the programme aimed at workplace reps still has a few places left. Sign up via the GFTU website.

We’ve had to add an extra group for this programme - the only trade union leadership programme with external accreditation. First dates in mid-January. Working in a trade union in a leadership role? - sign up here gftuet.org.uk/courses/trad...

Was a great session - thanks to all who contributed to the discussions.

Government to ditch day-one unfair dismissal policy from workers’ rights bill Flagship Labour plan to be replaced with six-month threshold after Peter Kyle vows to not let businesses ‘lose’ under new law

Ffs www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...

Reith lecturer accuses BBC of cowardice for censoring his remarks on Trump Dutch writer Rutger Bregman says claim that Trump was ‘most openly corrupt president in US history’ was removed

Look forward to Musk et al condemning this blatant attack on free speech www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...

Our legal victory in AAUP v. Trump ensures that the Trump administration cannot use civil rights laws to pull federal research funds from universities, which undermines our 1st and 10th amendment rights.

AAUP General Counsel Veena Dubal explains why this is a major victory for higher ed workers.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester & Sarah Kirkland, senior Project Manager, Dementia United

"Living Well with dementia should be the national strategy" Andy Burnham. Absolutely!Such a pleasure to chair the Greater Manchester Showcase at #UKDC2025

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

Welcome to the University of Little England. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

AFT’s Weingarten and AAUP’s Wolfson on Texas A&M University System Board of Regents’ Vote to Censor Curriculum COLLEGE STATION, Texas—AFT President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement condemning the Texas A&M University…

““The notion that politicians or high-level administrators can dictate what can be taught, researched, discussed or debated in a college classroom is fundamentally at odds with what higher education is about."

- Todd Wolfson, AAUP President

@aft.org

New AI experiences and academic offering for Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Education Blog Explore new AI-powered experiences at no additional cost for educators and students—plus an academic offering for Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Is "learning science" being appropriated by Big Tech to justify its expansion into education? Absolutely. Here's Microsoft calling the new "Teach" mode of Copilot "learning science" - which means of course an "advanced agent" it will push at schools like it or not.. www.microsoft.com/en-us/educat...

A photo of a man with a conductors baton pushed against his nose with various tv show title cards next to him

“The UoN Music department set me up in my career. The arts and art education are vital, and the UoN music department excel at not only imparting knowledge, but creating community. So, the idea of removing arts programmes and closing the department seems to be incredibly short-sighted.” Sam Watts, composer & UoN alum

Sam Watts, composer of #TheTraitors theme and UoN music alumni, shares his thoughts on the newly renamed University of Little England course closures...

#StopTheCuts #SaveHE

c.org/pdK6xxk6yf

Knowledge infrastructure crisis: digital democratic deficits and alternative designs for education The production and circulation of knowledge in education increasingly depends on large-scale digital infrastructures. In this article we provide a critical review of the transformation of the conte...

New paper just out on how changing sociotechnical systems of knowledge production and access - platforms, the cloud, AI - pose profound challenges to educational practice and research doi.org/10.1080/0305...

Bloomington Faculty Council urges IU to reject Trump’s higher education compact The resolution passed with overwhelming support.

“I feel very strongly that we need to do all we can to stand against the notion that there is anything good about making compromises of the sort the Trump administration is asking universities to do."

— Maria Bucur, AAUP Indiana University Bloomington

As my linguist friend reminded me - wasn’t UoN the only institution where you could do 3 languages at one point? Yes - the BA Modern Language Studies. 2 from A level and 1 ab initio. My undergraduate programne!

Quietly Axing Your Courses (but Thank You for Your Support) In response to yesterday’s communication on course closures, a colleague—designated here only as CE-12 (Communications Entity 12)—has provided a translation that removes the corporate varnish and c…

This is well worth a read to understand what a complete mess higher education has become with @uniofnottingham.bsky.social among those leading the way muircheartblog.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/06/q...

Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham In a statement the institution also says it is "proposing to reduce its nursing offer".

‘The University of Little England’ - @uonucu.bsky.social absolutely nail it. The University of Nottingham gives up any claim to be a genuinely international university. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Promotional graphic for a GFTU Educational Trust event titled 'Lessons in Organising - Strategy,' scheduled from February 11-13, featuring a list of discussion topics, alongside an image of Howard Stevenson speaking at a podium.

Promotional poster for 'Meet the Tutor' featuring Howard Stevenson, Emeritus Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Nottingham and President of the UCU branch. Includes details about the course titled 'Lessons in Organising - Strategy" running from 11-13 February 2026 at Quorn Grange.

🎓 Join Lessons in Organising – Strategy with Professor @howardstevenson.bsky.social, designed for trade union leaders & organisers ready to build true organising cultures.

✊ Register here whilst places last: https://gftuet.org.uk/courses/lessons-in-organising-strategy

#GFTUET #Organising #Strategy

Some of these faces look familiar 👀👀👀

Unfortunately, the fight at Edinburgh sounds familiar as well. This should not be the norm across the entire sector, but here we are.

And this is why we fight.

#StopTheCuts #SaveHE

We hear a lot about AI in education in the US on here, so can I just tell you about how it's working out in the schools sector in England? It's interesting! It's about data consultants, private education outfits and think tanks. Slow thread...

UoN UCU 22nd October 2025 – Chris TREGENZA Rally featuring Jo Grady, General Secretary of the UCU

More of Chris' photos are here: tregenza.com/uon-ucu-22nd...

Jack DeJohnette was more than a jazz drummer – his staggering range made him a superhuman force in music With a complex playing style that was nevertheless generous towards other musicians, the US musician was in a category all of his own

RIP Jack DeJohnette - lucky enough to see you twice with Keith Jarrett. Extraordinary talent. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

Javier Milei hails ‘tipping point’ as his far-right party wins Argentina’s midterm elections The result falls short of giving Milei a congressional majority but has been widely described as surprising by Argentinian analysts

How to buy an election www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

In the eye of the storm: Higher education in an age of crises The research examines recent trends in the higher education sector and how they align with the current provisions of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Pe...

These two days the @etuce.bsky.social Higher Education and Research Committee (HERSC) is meeting for strategic direction of higher education unions in Europe

Now @howardstevenson.bsky.social on his 'In the eye of the storm: Higher education in an age of crises' report
www.ei-ie.org/en/item/3008...

Tel Aviv football derby between Hapoel and Maccabi called off after rioting Israeli police make nine arrests, citing ‘disorderly conduct, riots, injured police officers’ and infrastructure damage The Tel Aviv football derby between Hapoel and Maccabi has been called off after rioting and “risks to human life”, Israeli police said. The match was due to take place on Sunday night at Bloomfield Stadium, a ground the two sides share, as a home fixture for Hapoel. Continue reading...

Tel Aviv football derby between Hapoel and Maccabi called off after rioting

I’m doing this soon at my local pub. Not only talking Gramsci but feeding people with three homemade breads too. Already booked out. There is no counter-hegemony without food, cooking/baking and people eating together.

Incredible action by @uonucu.bsky.social - such an inspiration. Strike fund support I’m sure much appreciated- details at uonucu.org.

I enjoyed attending this and making a contribution. Right issue - right time. Hat tip to @etuce.bsky.social for organising (in every sense).

Union Renewal Starts Locally: ETUCE’s “Your Turn 2” Workshop in Utrecht On 2-3 October 2025, ETUCE, in collaboration with Dutch education union AOb, hosted the second training workshop of the “Your Turn 2: Teachers for Trade Union Renewal” project in Utrecht. This event f...

Union renewal starts locally!
At our “Your Turn 2” workshop in Utrecht, teachers and union activists explored how local leadership drives change and keeps unions strong.

Read more: www.csee-etuce.org/en/news/etuc...

#ETUCE #YourTurn2 #UnionRenewal

And the full report here neu.org.uk/latest/libra...

Thanks to Patrick Yarker, from Forum, for his excellent blog based on our report for the @neunion.bsky.social ‘Are you on slide 8 yet?’ The impact of standardised curricula on teacher professionalism. Patrick’s blog here lwbooks.co.uk/just-teach-t...