Steve Jones

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...

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

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.

Looking forward to this #UKHE event on December 4th.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Exited Launch. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Exited Launch. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

I have a chapter in this new collection (on Exit Cultures in the Market Era of Higher Education), and I'll be speaking about it at today's launch event. us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Risk of ‘standardisation’ as ministers mull progression measures Universities would look to ‘game’ new metric for testing learning gain, critics warn, with external examination defended as ‘best we’ve got’

me, @profstevenjones.bsky.social and others on the dangers of the Skills White Paper proposals for measuring and assuring the quality of education offered by HE institutions: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/risk-st...

Risk of ‘standardisation’ as ministers mull progression measures Universities would look to ‘game’ new metric for testing learning gain, critics warn, with external examination defended as ‘best we’ve got’

Reforming external examining and introducing progression measure risk standardising university curricula and treating them like schools, warn @paulashwin.bsky.social @davehitchcock.bsky.social @profstevenjones.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/risk-st... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social

Students owe nearly £500m of ‘hidden debts’ to UK universities, figures reveal FoI data shows 180,000 students and graduates have private debts to their institutions amid cost of living crisis

Just in case the unhidden debt isn't enough... www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Prime Minister unveils reforms to transform further and higher education Young people across the country will gain the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow’s job market, as the Prime Minister today announced a package of reforms.

Office for Students does such a good job regulating HE, it's given FE too. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Really enjoyed welcoming new MA Education Leadership in Practice recruits to @manchester.ac.uk. #UKHE #HigherEd

Details of a talk I'm giving on #UKHE tomorrow, just in case you're in or around Manchester. All welcome.

‘Scene set’ for busy clearing as recruitment ‘games’ commence Universities turn to advertising, freebies and unconditional offers to attract students, with large numbers expected to change their mind post-results

Worrying new @timeshighered.bsky.social piece about some of the strategies being used by universities to lure students this year, which include the chance to win free accommodation. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scene-s...

N8 responds to announcement of institutions selected for the Global Talent Fund - N8 Research Partnership On July 18th, it was announced that ten UK research universities are to be awarded around £4.5 million each from the UK government’s £54 million Global Talent Fund, designed to attract world-class int...

It is remarkable that none of the ten universities benefiting from from the government’s £54 million #UKHE Global Talent Fund are based in the North of England. Poorly conceived funding stream, irresponsibly distributed? www.n8research.org.uk/n8-responds-...

Last chance to feedback on the draft Code of Ethical University Governance, which I drafted for the @cdbu.bsky.social earlier this year (survey closes 31 July).

There's a link to the draft Code on the survey's landing page.

Please share!

www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...

MIE’s Professor of Higher Education @profstevenjones.bsky.social addressing @manchester.ac.uk’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference - great keynote questioning what excellence looks like in teaching in HE. Thanks too to the brilliant student panel!

Cardiff University secures landmark injunction to protect campus from unlawful encampments Cardiff University secures a landmark injunction against Persons Unknown to prevent unlawful encampments, we share key guidance for landowners and institutions.

I'm not sure that public universities taking out "precautionary injunctions against Persons Unknown not yet on its land" is the win that this piece implies. #UKHE www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts...

Amazing venue (Niamos, in Hulme, Manchester) for this week’s ICMS conference. Looking forward to speaking about university governance as part of the opening #ukhe panel.

Most stress felt by academics after huge job cuts proposal was personal and not work-related, says Cardiff University Vice Chancellor Martin Shipton Cardiff University’s embattled Vice Chancellor Wendy Larner has told a Senedd committee that most of the stress endured by the university’s academic staff since the announcement of a ma...

Remarkable claim: most of the stress endured by academic staff following a major cuts programme is personal, not work-related. nation.cymru/news/most-st... #UKHE, #AcademicSky

A code of ethical university governance is overdue Steven Jones makes the case for a new ethical code to empower university governors to stand up for students, staff and the public value of higher education

Professor Steve Jones makes the case for a new ethical code to empower university governors to stand up for students, staff and the public value of HE.

Draft Code: cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-of...
Consultation: www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...

@profstevenjones.bsky.social #MIE

CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance | CDBU Summary  The CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance is underpinned by the principle that governing bodies have a substantive part to play in affirming higher education as a prized public asset. Th...

We are very pleased to publish our Code of Ethical University Governance today, written on behalf of CDBU by Professor Steve Jones. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-of...

NEW on Wonkhe: Steven Jones makes the case for a new ethical code to empower university governors to stand up for students, staff and the public value of higher education buff.ly/hR1dEeI

Governing bodies ‘too focused on competition, not sector health’ Emergence of governors from private sector means oversight bodies have ‘lost touch with university community’, according to new draft code of conduct

University governing bodies should keep an eye on the collective needs of all institutions instead of just prioritising individual success if they want to improve the financial health of the sector, says @cdbu.bsky.social

#AcademicSky #EduSky

Thanks for the support, @unabridgedopinions.com, and thanks for putting it so eloquently with your "community not institution" framing!

The CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance is currently in draft form. We have a (short) consultation survey open until Thursday 31 July, and welcome all feedback. shorturl.at/y56nw

CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance | CDBU Summary  The CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance is underpinned by the principle that governing bodies have a substantive part to play in affirming higher education as a prized public asset. Th...

Please take a look at the just-published Code of Ethical University Governance. The code is intended to help current and future governors undertake their role in more informed ways, bringing robust & fair 'challenge' to institutional managers when needed. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-of... #HigherEd #UKHE

Thank you so much @qmucu.bsky.social (and great to meet you in person last week!).

The Harvard experience: could it happen here? by GR Evans On 1 May 2025 The Guardian headline read: ‘Trump administration exploits landmark civil rights act to fight universities’ diversity initiatives‘. What prevents a British King or Prime M…

Measured and informed analysis by GR Evans for @srhe.bsky.social, setting out what's happening at Harvard and offering some reassurance that it's less likely to happen in #UKHE. srheblog.com/2025/05/27/t...

Looking forward to speaking at this critical #ukhe event this afternoon. Thanks to you and your colleagues for organising, @ntaylor.bsky.social.

Excellent new piece by my @educationuom.bsky.social colleague, Zhuo Min Huang. advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

Where is the field’s voice against the erosion of international students’ civil liberties? Written by Jenna Mittelmeier (University of Manchester) The current situation (in brief) While the oppressive treatment of international students in various visa regimes is certainly not new, we ar…

New and important piece by my @educationuom.bsky.social colleague @jlmittelmeier.bsky.social, rightly noting that research with international students too often prefers to depoliticize its subject. researchintlstudents.com/2025/04/22/w...