ElMurphs
@elmurphy.bsky.social
Digital Technologist working at a UK uni. Dead by Daylight survivor. PCD. Senior Listener to the Important Broadcast. Lover of comedy podcasts. International worrier.
Reposted by ElMurphs
Universities... I've just been sent to the edge today by all this stupid reporting about A-Level results day like everything's fine and dandy. Those 18yos are heading into a proper storm. It's hot, I'm hot, none of us can do anything about it anyway.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK universities face ‘financial crisis’ amid collapse in international students
Higher education figures call on Labour to reverse tax on fees and warn institutions at risk of ‘going under’
www.theguardian.com
August 13, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Universities... I've just been sent to the edge today by all this stupid reporting about A-Level results day like everything's fine and dandy. Those 18yos are heading into a proper storm. It's hot, I'm hot, none of us can do anything about it anyway.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by ElMurphs
It's very painful inside 95% of universities. The reality is that (a) 25% to 33% of posts will close; (b) a handful of unis will go bust and be forcibly merged; (c) Arts and Humanities will be restricted to a small number of institutions whose disgraceful behaviour certainly won't be forgotten.
So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper.
August 2, 2026 at 9:46 AM
It's very painful inside 95% of universities. The reality is that (a) 25% to 33% of posts will close; (b) a handful of unis will go bust and be forcibly merged; (c) Arts and Humanities will be restricted to a small number of institutions whose disgraceful behaviour certainly won't be forgotten.
Reposted by ElMurphs
Bridget Phillipson, reflecting on her years spent standing idly by while UK higher education crumbled into the abyss and tens of thousands of university workers implored her to do something, literally anything, to save their jobs: BUT WHAT ABOUT ME THO
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘It hurts to lose a job you love’: Starmer loyalist Bridget Phillipson fights on despite cabinet demotion
Exclusive: The former education secretary on her new role as Labour chair and continuing as the minister for women and equalities
www.theguardian.com
July 30, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Bridget Phillipson, reflecting on her years spent standing idly by while UK higher education crumbled into the abyss and tens of thousands of university workers implored her to do something, literally anything, to save their jobs: BUT WHAT ABOUT ME THO
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by ElMurphs
This is another favourite. What is the toxic looking orange liquid, and why has someone been allowed to prop their bike up by the books? (I think it might be 1.5 bikes...)
Also, by the clothes I'd peg those people as from the USA, not the UK.
Also, by the clothes I'd peg those people as from the USA, not the UK.
July 23, 2026 at 3:15 PM
This is another favourite. What is the toxic looking orange liquid, and why has someone been allowed to prop their bike up by the books? (I think it might be 1.5 bikes...)
Also, by the clothes I'd peg those people as from the USA, not the UK.
Also, by the clothes I'd peg those people as from the USA, not the UK.
Reposted by ElMurphs
I'll say it again, as I do almost every day in some context: the way policy is set up right now, most British universities will either radically downsize or close in this Parliament or the next. Only a small elite of c.10 to 20 will be recognisable as univs at all. How do people not know this?
July 8, 2026 at 8:38 AM
I'll say it again, as I do almost every day in some context: the way policy is set up right now, most British universities will either radically downsize or close in this Parliament or the next. Only a small elite of c.10 to 20 will be recognisable as univs at all. How do people not know this?
Reposted by ElMurphs
📢 URGENT STAFF WEBINAR
All colleagues are required to attend a mandatory briefing at 7:45am tomorrow regarding the University’s response to England’s 1am kick-off.
All colleagues are required to attend a mandatory briefing at 7:45am tomorrow regarding the University’s response to England’s 1am kick-off.
July 5, 2026 at 2:10 PM
📢 URGENT STAFF WEBINAR
All colleagues are required to attend a mandatory briefing at 7:45am tomorrow regarding the University’s response to England’s 1am kick-off.
All colleagues are required to attend a mandatory briefing at 7:45am tomorrow regarding the University’s response to England’s 1am kick-off.
Reposted by ElMurphs
We are now moving from the chronic to the acute phase of the university crisis. The next few months will be vital in seeing what can be saved and what is too far gone.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...
British Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damage
As course closures, shrinking provision and widening regional inequalities threaten the future of UK higher education and research, President of the British Academy, Susan J Smith calls for an immedia...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
July 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM
We are now moving from the chronic to the acute phase of the university crisis. The next few months will be vital in seeing what can be saved and what is too far gone.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...
Reposted by ElMurphs
In the end, there were just a lot more human rights abuses than I was expecting from the human rights lawyer.
June 22, 2026 at 11:55 AM
In the end, there were just a lot more human rights abuses than I was expecting from the human rights lawyer.
Reposted by ElMurphs
Rare red warning. Risk to life. Stay out of the sun. Avoid unnecessary exposure.
Picture editor: "Counterpoint: Run the fun-on-the-beach shots?"
We won't improve heat coverage until we stop illustrating public health emergencies with beach photos.
www.independent.co.uk/weather/heat...
Picture editor: "Counterpoint: Run the fun-on-the-beach shots?"
We won't improve heat coverage until we stop illustrating public health emergencies with beach photos.
www.independent.co.uk/weather/heat...
UK heatwave live: Rare red weather warning issued as Britain braces for 40C heat
Britons have been warned to stay out of the sun and to avoid exercising between 11am and 3pm
www.independent.co.uk
June 22, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Rare red warning. Risk to life. Stay out of the sun. Avoid unnecessary exposure.
Picture editor: "Counterpoint: Run the fun-on-the-beach shots?"
We won't improve heat coverage until we stop illustrating public health emergencies with beach photos.
www.independent.co.uk/weather/heat...
Picture editor: "Counterpoint: Run the fun-on-the-beach shots?"
We won't improve heat coverage until we stop illustrating public health emergencies with beach photos.
www.independent.co.uk/weather/heat...
Reposted by ElMurphs
And an equally enormous loss: EThOS remains down, with plans to resurrect only a hugely degraded version, without downloads.
Access to the PhD theses here was crucial. I would always search it on a topic, because these PhD works can be really good. And they don't need to be a book to be cited.
Access to the PhD theses here was crucial. I would always search it on a topic, because these PhD works can be really good. And they don't need to be a book to be cited.
Meanwhile the UK Web Archive has been unavailable since the British Library cyberattack in October 2023. Our already-spotty digital preservation infrastructures are falling into disrepair along with our universities. www.webarchive.org.uk
www.webarchive.org.uk
June 12, 2026 at 8:42 AM
And an equally enormous loss: EThOS remains down, with plans to resurrect only a hugely degraded version, without downloads.
Access to the PhD theses here was crucial. I would always search it on a topic, because these PhD works can be really good. And they don't need to be a book to be cited.
Access to the PhD theses here was crucial. I would always search it on a topic, because these PhD works can be really good. And they don't need to be a book to be cited.
Reposted by ElMurphs
Why is the universities crisis being ignored?
Essential piece by @gsoh31.bsky.social for Arguably on the “grim dribbling away of one of Britain's great triumphs and economic advantages” – and why so few politicians seem to care. www.arguably.uk/p/the-quiet-...
Essential piece by @gsoh31.bsky.social for Arguably on the “grim dribbling away of one of Britain's great triumphs and economic advantages” – and why so few politicians seem to care. www.arguably.uk/p/the-quiet-...
The quiet collapse of British universities
One of our great triumphs and economic advantages is fading away
www.arguably.uk
June 11, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Why is the universities crisis being ignored?
Essential piece by @gsoh31.bsky.social for Arguably on the “grim dribbling away of one of Britain's great triumphs and economic advantages” – and why so few politicians seem to care. www.arguably.uk/p/the-quiet-...
Essential piece by @gsoh31.bsky.social for Arguably on the “grim dribbling away of one of Britain's great triumphs and economic advantages” – and why so few politicians seem to care. www.arguably.uk/p/the-quiet-...
Reposted by ElMurphs
Ten years in the fog.
And so many more to come.
See you in 4 days.
And so many more to come.
See you in 4 days.
June 10, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Ten years in the fog.
And so many more to come.
See you in 4 days.
And so many more to come.
See you in 4 days.
I’m still a bit baffled by the social-not-social-network aspect of StoryGraph but anyone who is interested in friending/following I’m at app.thestorygraph.com/profile/elmu...
Sign In | The StoryGraph
app.thestorygraph.com
June 9, 2026 at 5:06 PM
I’m still a bit baffled by the social-not-social-network aspect of StoryGraph but anyone who is interested in friending/following I’m at app.thestorygraph.com/profile/elmu...
Reposted by ElMurphs
Giles was a great librarian, recognizing the information needs of his patrons and supporting their research projects with courage, dedication, and the occasional magic spell. RIP.
Oh man, this one really hurts. Thank you for Giles, and then for decades of playing oily bastards who were nothing like Giles and clearly having a ball with that. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Anthony Head: Buffy and Ted Lasso actor dies at 72
The 72-year-old British actor also had roles in shows including Merlin and Little Britain.
www.bbc.com
June 5, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Giles was a great librarian, recognizing the information needs of his patrons and supporting their research projects with courage, dedication, and the occasional magic spell. RIP.
Reposted by ElMurphs
Dear Dog Owners,
If you let your dog out at 5 am and it just sits in your yard barking non stop for 30 minutes before you let it back in, you deserve a punch to the face.
Sincerely,
People who enjoy sleep.
If you let your dog out at 5 am and it just sits in your yard barking non stop for 30 minutes before you let it back in, you deserve a punch to the face.
Sincerely,
People who enjoy sleep.
May 22, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Dear Dog Owners,
If you let your dog out at 5 am and it just sits in your yard barking non stop for 30 minutes before you let it back in, you deserve a punch to the face.
Sincerely,
People who enjoy sleep.
If you let your dog out at 5 am and it just sits in your yard barking non stop for 30 minutes before you let it back in, you deserve a punch to the face.
Sincerely,
People who enjoy sleep.
It’s very strange watching #Eurovision in Italy with no Graham commentary, it’s just not the same without him.
May 16, 2026 at 8:27 PM
It’s very strange watching #Eurovision in Italy with no Graham commentary, it’s just not the same without him.
Reposted by ElMurphs
This is Higher Education now. The dumbest thing I have ever seen. Hey, taxpayers! You paid for most of this! It's all being thrown into a burning dumpster! *Slow handclap of all slow handclaps*.
Every single member of the History Department at Uni of Nottingham is at risk of redundancy. Every single one of us.
May 13, 2026 at 1:14 PM
This is Higher Education now. The dumbest thing I have ever seen. Hey, taxpayers! You paid for most of this! It's all being thrown into a burning dumpster! *Slow handclap of all slow handclaps*.
Reposted by ElMurphs
News I'm hearing from across universities is disastrous. The sector has been falling apart for months, but the process is now continuously speeding up. Outside a small handful of institutions, HE as we've known it has basically zero future.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ulster University to cut up to 450 jobs
It is not clear which areas of the university, which has campuses in Belfast, Londonderry and Coleraine as well as a campus in Qatar, will be affected.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 15, 2026 at 1:49 PM
News I'm hearing from across universities is disastrous. The sector has been falling apart for months, but the process is now continuously speeding up. Outside a small handful of institutions, HE as we've known it has basically zero future.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by ElMurphs
About half the people employed by a university in the UK are not academics, and *everybody* is busy all year round: there are no long dreamy summer vacations with nothing to do
What's something that experts/practitioners in your field universally agree upon, but that remains a "hot take" among the general public?
March 29, 2026 at 1:21 PM
About half the people employed by a university in the UK are not academics, and *everybody* is busy all year round: there are no long dreamy summer vacations with nothing to do
Reposted by ElMurphs
Yesterday in Parliament I was proud to back the bid for St Neots to be the #UKTownOfCulture2028.
March 20, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Yesterday in Parliament I was proud to back the bid for St Neots to be the #UKTownOfCulture2028.
Reposted by ElMurphs
People really do need to stop reacting to library mailing lists with emojis if the mailing lists can't stop sending these on to everyone. Come back people not knowing how to unsubscribe- all is forgiven!
March 11, 2026 at 2:22 PM
People really do need to stop reacting to library mailing lists with emojis if the mailing lists can't stop sending these on to everyone. Come back people not knowing how to unsubscribe- all is forgiven!
Surely can’t be a year since I was last here? Birmingham for #Digifest2026 V glad I have finally learned to go from Marylebone and not Euston.
March 10, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Surely can’t be a year since I was last here? Birmingham for #Digifest2026 V glad I have finally learned to go from Marylebone and not Euston.