Council for the Defence of British Universities

I wrote a piece for the CDBU blog with some low or no cost things our employers could do right now if they care about precarious staff as much as they say they do.

Our employers say they care about precarious staff. Here are five low cost things they could do right now to help us – and them - CDBU

New on the CDBU blog: 5 low cost things employers could do to help precarious staff 💰

Words by @hagenilda.bsky.social ✍️

Thanks for your support, Mike!

Excellent launch event for the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance. Very important principles set out - starting with constructive criticism. There’s been a reminder today from OfS that providers need to meet the public interest governance principles.

“HEPI’s new Policy Note finds striking consensus across the higher education community for more ethical, transparent and balanced university governance.”

@profstevenjones.bsky.social

New Post: New HEPI Policy Note: Views on University Governance www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/12/04/n...

Strong support for ethical reform of university governance - HEPI New research suggests there is strong backing for a university governance Code that addresses power imbalances and over-financialisation. This is the first of two reports that HEPI is publishing on un...

Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation. This is the first Code of #governance in the #UKHE sector to be grounded in academic research and to reflect a broad spectrum of views. A summary of consultation responses is here. www.hepi.ac.uk/reports/stro...

Well done to Steve & others involved in producing this 👏

Now we just need university governance to live up to such principles! The code, usefully, lays out practical steps towards this. It's collective/political pressure & organising that can make it a widespread reality.

Excited to see the final version of the @cdbu.bsky.social Code of Ethical University Governance in the public domain, and looking forward to the launch event in Parliament later today. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20... #UKHE #governance

After extensive consultation and development from individuals and organisations across the sector, we are very pleased to publish the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance.

You can read the code and the tracked changes version here: cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20...

@profstevenjones.bsky.social 👏🏻

There are only a few spaces left! RSVP now to secure your place 👇👇👇

@profstevenjones.bsky.social @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social @dyfrigjones.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk @hepi-news.bsky.social @soasicop.bsky.social

We are pleased to announce that the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance will be officially launched by @profstevenjones.bsky.social on 4 December, at the House of Commons.

Prof Jones will be joined by an excellent panel of speakers.

There are limited spaces, so RSVP as soon as possible.

We need to begin to tell these stories about universities as well. So — what did university mean to you? Contact @cdbu.bsky.social at cdbupress@gmail.com with your story. You can read some previous submissions here: cdbu.org.uk/stories/

... but they are also places that foster the messier and less quantifiable aspects of understanding ourselves, each other and the world around us. They are places whose value we only really come to understand years after we have left them.

So often universities are spoken about in instrumental language: as institutions that confer skills and training, and as engines of economic growth. Universities are both these things of course...

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

Thinking of using #ChatGPT for 'help' with assessments? Think again. #university #AI

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

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

We are pleased to share this letter written by one of our members, Professor Leo McCann 👏https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/16/how-ai-is-undermining-learning-and-teaching-in-universities

My new paper is out: "Students as (More Than) Consumers? An Exploration of Undergraduates' Discourses and Practices in Marketised Higher Education."

The full article can be found here: dx.doi.org/10.1111/hequ...

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We are pleased to publish our Position on the Unsustainability of UK University Funding Models. Visit our website to read it in full:

✍🏻 WRITE FOR US! ✍🏻

We welcome pieces on anything related to higher education. Previous topics include governance, student experience, free speech, and academic freedom.

We offer a fee for our writers – particularly the precariously employed and students.

Please send pitches to cdbupress@gmail.com

How to use ChatGPT at university without cheating: ‘Now it’s more like a study partner’ The ubiquitous AI tool has a divisive effect on educators with some seeing it a boon and others a menace. So what should you know about where to draw the line between check and cheat?

Vacuous, generic and scattershot advice for incoming 1st years on the use of AI at university. Especially liking 'Chin recommends giving it class notes and asking it to generate practice exam questions.' Surely we can't be the only programme that supplies students with past & practice exams?

Between them, politicians and employers are destroying our great higher education sector.

We won't sit back and let it happen.

#WeAreTheUniversity

Bangor University staff in vice chancellor vote of no confidence UCU union members at Bangor University passed a motion of no confidence due to staff and budget cuts.

UCU Bangor pass a motion of no confidence in the VC and CFO of @bangoruniversity.bsky.social over sweeping cuts

Members are now balloting for industrial action with staff at "breaking point" over 200 potential job losses

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For those in UK #academia, please give @cdbu.bsky.social a follow and think about joining us. CDBU's work to influence UK university policy and governance on behalf of academic values is very much needed in the present polycrisis. For some reason we never got much attention on Twitter... cdbu.org.uk

Almost 4,000 courses closed at UK universities since 2024 Analysis reveals half of closures have come at lower-tariff universities, creating a ‘vicious cycle’ for institutions struggling to attract students

4,000 university courses closed in last academic year, with nearly half of these at 'low-tariff' institutions. 47% of history/philosophy/religion courses at low tariff providers have closed in the last year alone www.timeshighereducation.com/news/almost-... via @patrickjack.bsky.social

More universities could join new Kent-Greenwich group, says v-c Incoming leader of new entity says course sharing on the cards ‘where it makes sense’ as unions fear merger will result in more job cuts

I spoke to Jane Harrington, the current vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich, who is set to lead the 'Kentwich' merger. She said:

- Other universities could join the group at a later stage
- She could not rule out job cuts

www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-un...

UCU to hold nationwide strike ballot after ‘insulting’ pay offer Union threatens ‘coordinated’ strikes to cause ‘maximum disruption’ at UK universities

UK universities could be hit with nationwide strikes after the University and College Union announced it will ballot its members over pay, reports @julietterowsell.bsky.social
#academicsky #strikeballot

The first multi-university group arrives The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are moving together into a single governance structure. Mark Leach and David Kernohan report on the sector's first "super university"

Last week on Wonkhe: The University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are moving together into a single governance structure. Mark Leach and David Kernohan report on the sector's first "super university"