The front line in the battle to prevent the capture and marketised decimation of UK Higher Education and the #BonfireOfTheHumanities...
Somewhat appropriately, Halloween is the deadline for informing my hollowed-out, zombie university whether I’ll accept a unilateral, uncompensated 50% cut to my salary and hours.
The answer is no, and they already threatened to terminate me if I refuse. I’ll see them in court.
The answer is no, and they already threatened to terminate me if I refuse. I’ll see them in court.
Ghoul Clapping
ALT: Ghoul Clapping
static.klipy.com
October 31, 2026 at 11:43 AM
The front line in the battle to prevent the capture and marketised decimation of UK Higher Education and the #BonfireOfTheHumanities...
Without drama embedded at school and local authority level and funding for drama school places, almost certainly no Sir Patrick Stewart.
Which makes the pusilanimous response of the leadership of the culture sector to the #BonfireOfTheHumanities in schools and HE even more unforgivable.
Which makes the pusilanimous response of the leadership of the culture sector to the #BonfireOfTheHumanities in schools and HE even more unforgivable.
A moment that changed me: Patrick Stewart on the teacher who spotted his talent – and saved him
I skipped the 11-plus and was failing at school. Then I met Cecil Dormand, the extraordinary English teacher who transformed my life for ever
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Without drama embedded at school and local authority level and funding for drama school places, almost certainly no Sir Patrick Stewart.
Which makes the pusilanimous response of the leadership of the culture sector to the #BonfireOfTheHumanities in schools and HE even more unforgivable.
Which makes the pusilanimous response of the leadership of the culture sector to the #BonfireOfTheHumanities in schools and HE even more unforgivable.
Scottish Society for Northern Studies warns about the HE #BonfireOfTheHumanities
"...we risk depriving future generations of essential knowledge, skills, and wisdom, whilst making Scotland, and the United Kingdom as a whole, a less attractive and desirable place to teach, learn, work, and live."
"...we risk depriving future generations of essential knowledge, skills, and wisdom, whilst making Scotland, and the United Kingdom as a whole, a less attractive and desirable place to teach, learn, work, and live."
The Humanities at Risk: A Statement from the Scottish Society for Northern Studies - Scottish Society for Northern Studies
A statement from the Scottish Society for Northern Studies on the current crisis faced by Humanities and Social Sciences in UK Higher Education.
www.ssns.org.uk
October 18, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Scottish Society for Northern Studies warns about the HE #BonfireOfTheHumanities
"...we risk depriving future generations of essential knowledge, skills, and wisdom, whilst making Scotland, and the United Kingdom as a whole, a less attractive and desirable place to teach, learn, work, and live."
"...we risk depriving future generations of essential knowledge, skills, and wisdom, whilst making Scotland, and the United Kingdom as a whole, a less attractive and desirable place to teach, learn, work, and live."
Three courses in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, are among the 90 programmes to be axed as Edinburgh University seeks to save £140m at the cost of as many as 1800 jobs.
Edinburgh UCU has announced a five week programme of strike action in protest.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Edinburgh UCU has announced a five week programme of strike action in protest.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Edinburgh University to mothball 90 courses as five weeks of strikes to start
The university said mothballing 90 courses will not detract from the institutions standing on the world stage
www.scotsman.com
September 17, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Three courses in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, are among the 90 programmes to be axed as Edinburgh University seeks to save £140m at the cost of as many as 1800 jobs.
Edinburgh UCU has announced a five week programme of strike action in protest.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Edinburgh UCU has announced a five week programme of strike action in protest.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Petition against the job losses here: c.org/ddjtYXzdQQ
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
www.change.org
June 25, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Modern languages are under threat at @uniofnottingham.bsky.social
A university that likes to style itself as "top tier" can't maintain a functioning languages program.
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
#SaveNottinghamLanguages #WeAreUoN #BonfireOfTheHumanities
A university that likes to style itself as "top tier" can't maintain a functioning languages program.
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
#SaveNottinghamLanguages #WeAreUoN #BonfireOfTheHumanities
savenottinghamlanguages
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Modern languages are under threat at @uniofnottingham.bsky.social
A university that likes to style itself as "top tier" can't maintain a functioning languages program.
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
#SaveNottinghamLanguages #WeAreUoN #BonfireOfTheHumanities
A university that likes to style itself as "top tier" can't maintain a functioning languages program.
www.savemlcatnotts.org.uk
#SaveNottinghamLanguages #WeAreUoN #BonfireOfTheHumanities
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
c.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Funny isn't it how we are facing a #BonfireOfTheHumanities in Higher Education and the unaccountable decimation of history, archaeology, creative and performing arts courses, because they are labelled as career dead ends, meaning nobody is interested in them any more and then this happens...
The Odyssey film fans inspired to go back to the original Homer poem
Book sales and audiobook figures for Homer's original poem rise sharply after the film's release.
share.google
July 23, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Funny isn't it how we are facing a #BonfireOfTheHumanities in Higher Education and the unaccountable decimation of history, archaeology, creative and performing arts courses, because they are labelled as career dead ends, meaning nobody is interested in them any more and then this happens...
Four Exeter Academics have just been elected Fellows of the British Academy.
All are at risk of redundancy under the University's controversial #BonfireOfTheHumanities cuts.
All are at risk of redundancy under the University's controversial #BonfireOfTheHumanities cuts.
Professor Whittle is one of four colleagues in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty at the University of Exeter elected to Fellowship of the British Academy this year. 🗃️
ALL FOUR of these outstanding scholars were placed at risk of redundancy last month. Here's their statement:
ALL FOUR of these outstanding scholars were placed at risk of redundancy last month. Here's their statement:
July 20, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Four Exeter Academics have just been elected Fellows of the British Academy.
All are at risk of redundancy under the University's controversial #BonfireOfTheHumanities cuts.
All are at risk of redundancy under the University's controversial #BonfireOfTheHumanities cuts.
Do we brace for more downsizing, or even course cuts in UK academic archaeology, with a potential impact on the supply of future Archaeologists entering a profession which is central to development & still over 90% graduate?
Overall a culturally and strategicly illiterate #BonfireOfTheHumanities
Overall a culturally and strategicly illiterate #BonfireOfTheHumanities
July 7, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Do we brace for more downsizing, or even course cuts in UK academic archaeology, with a potential impact on the supply of future Archaeologists entering a profession which is central to development & still over 90% graduate?
Overall a culturally and strategicly illiterate #BonfireOfTheHumanities
Overall a culturally and strategicly illiterate #BonfireOfTheHumanities
#ExeterUniversity UCU has issued an e-flyer setting out its six key objections to the proposed job cuts.
If it was a University SMT #BonfireOfTheHumanities Bingo card everyone just scored "House!"
It is as if the Uni sector employed the same consultants to follow the same management playbook.
If it was a University SMT #BonfireOfTheHumanities Bingo card everyone just scored "House!"
It is as if the Uni sector employed the same consultants to follow the same management playbook.
June 30, 2026 at 1:20 PM
#ExeterUniversity UCU has issued an e-flyer setting out its six key objections to the proposed job cuts.
If it was a University SMT #BonfireOfTheHumanities Bingo card everyone just scored "House!"
It is as if the Uni sector employed the same consultants to follow the same management playbook.
If it was a University SMT #BonfireOfTheHumanities Bingo card everyone just scored "House!"
It is as if the Uni sector employed the same consultants to follow the same management playbook.
"The idea that people will be able to hold it together and deliver a term of teaching before they vanish off into the horizon, is bizarre, spiteful and naive as well.”
The Times HE's punchy account of Exeter University's #BonfireOfTheHumanities & what one academic describes as "existential terror".
The Times HE's punchy account of Exeter University's #BonfireOfTheHumanities & what one academic describes as "existential terror".
‘I thought we were safe’: shock at Exeter’s humanities ‘gamble’
Leading department being in the firing line shows how changing student preferences are fundamentally reshaping universities
www.timeshighereducation.com
June 30, 2026 at 7:29 AM
"The idea that people will be able to hold it together and deliver a term of teaching before they vanish off into the horizon, is bizarre, spiteful and naive as well.”
The Times HE's punchy account of Exeter University's #BonfireOfTheHumanities & what one academic describes as "existential terror".
The Times HE's punchy account of Exeter University's #BonfireOfTheHumanities & what one academic describes as "existential terror".
#BonfireOfTheHumanities News
The last student to graduate from Sheffield University's Department of Archaeology is not going quietly.
Our coverage revealed, among other egregious acts, allegations of rigged consultations, deleted documents & a department set up to fail.
#SaveSheffieldArchaeology
The last student to graduate from Sheffield University's Department of Archaeology is not going quietly.
Our coverage revealed, among other egregious acts, allegations of rigged consultations, deleted documents & a department set up to fail.
#SaveSheffieldArchaeology
June 29, 2026 at 2:53 PM
#BonfireOfTheHumanities News
The last student to graduate from Sheffield University's Department of Archaeology is not going quietly.
Our coverage revealed, among other egregious acts, allegations of rigged consultations, deleted documents & a department set up to fail.
#SaveSheffieldArchaeology
The last student to graduate from Sheffield University's Department of Archaeology is not going quietly.
Our coverage revealed, among other egregious acts, allegations of rigged consultations, deleted documents & a department set up to fail.
#SaveSheffieldArchaeology
Classicist Professor Morley has clearly concluded that a Swiftian, "Modest Proposal", level of satire is the only appropriate response to his University SMT's #BonfireOfTheHumanities and his overpromoted, #AI driven, Vice Chancellor with a North Korean management style, is a glorious grotesque.
June 26, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Classicist Professor Morley has clearly concluded that a Swiftian, "Modest Proposal", level of satire is the only appropriate response to his University SMT's #BonfireOfTheHumanities and his overpromoted, #AI driven, Vice Chancellor with a North Korean management style, is a glorious grotesque.
As she has shared on this platform, among the people who finds their job at risk in Exeter University's #BonfireOfTheHumanities, is prehistorian and editor of the prestigious Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society @suegreaney.bsky.social.
And now it is Exeter's turn. Along with c.500 other academic staff, mostly in humanities, my job is 'at risk' in order to make c.150 of us redundant 😞
A statement from Exeter UCU branch @ucu.org.uk - please share far and wide.
June 25, 2026 at 11:37 AM
As she has shared on this platform, among the people who finds their job at risk in Exeter University's #BonfireOfTheHumanities, is prehistorian and editor of the prestigious Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society @suegreaney.bsky.social.
A thread on the decades of experience and scholarship the SMT of Exeter University are prepared to throw away in their #BonfireOfTheHumanities, here specifically in the Classics Department, although other programmes are under threat, with 14% of all staff, including 84% of humanities staff, at risk.
A brief appreciation thread for some of my colleagues in Classics at Exeter, who the University of Exeter have put at risk of redundancy @exeter.ac.uk. A few are on here, most are not, but I'm going to say nice things about them anyway.
June 24, 2026 at 2:23 PM
A thread on the decades of experience and scholarship the SMT of Exeter University are prepared to throw away in their #BonfireOfTheHumanities, here specifically in the Classics Department, although other programmes are under threat, with 14% of all staff, including 84% of humanities staff, at risk.
The planned closure of the Archaeology institute at Humboldt-Universität Berlin is still on the table.
So if you haven't signed the petition yet, please do (and share).
Archaeology has been a part of Humboldt-Universität's academic tradition for almost 200 years
weact.campact.de/petitions/sc...
So if you haven't signed the petition yet, please do (and share).
Archaeology has been a part of Humboldt-Universität's academic tradition for almost 200 years
weact.campact.de/petitions/sc...
Schließung des Instituts für Archäologie an der HU-Berlin
Die Archäologie gehört seit fast 200 Jahren zur wissenschaftlichen Tradition der Humboldt-Universität. Ihre Schließung bedeutet den Abbruch einer gewachsenen Forschungstradition und eine dauerhafte Sc...
weact.campact.de
June 16, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Between the rock of digital and #AI and the hard place of funding cuts and the #BonfireOfTheHumanities, live entertainment venues may never have been more important, or more threatened.
Time then to celebrate 50 years of @theatrestrust.bsky.social and fifty case studies highlighting its work.
Time then to celebrate 50 years of @theatrestrust.bsky.social and fifty case studies highlighting its work.
Fifty@50
In our anniversary year, we are highlighting 50 of the theatres we've helped over our half century of supporting the UK's theatre sector.
www.theatrestrust.org.uk
June 1, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Between the rock of digital and #AI and the hard place of funding cuts and the #BonfireOfTheHumanities, live entertainment venues may never have been more important, or more threatened.
Time then to celebrate 50 years of @theatrestrust.bsky.social and fifty case studies highlighting its work.
Time then to celebrate 50 years of @theatrestrust.bsky.social and fifty case studies highlighting its work.
Cardiff University is proposing to take out an entire floor (7km of books), in its Arts and Social Sciences Library.
Subjects affected include, Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Archeology, History, Music, Fine Arts, Languages, Literature, and Welsh and Celtic literature
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Subjects affected include, Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Archeology, History, Music, Fine Arts, Languages, Literature, and Welsh and Celtic literature
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Stop Cardiff University from scrapping the ASSL's second floor!
7km of books and crucial study spaces are at risk. Cardiff Uni wants to repurpose the busiest library on campus into classrooms. Help protect our library and sign the petition today.
you.38degrees.org.uk
May 18, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Cardiff University is proposing to take out an entire floor (7km of books), in its Arts and Social Sciences Library.
Subjects affected include, Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Archeology, History, Music, Fine Arts, Languages, Literature, and Welsh and Celtic literature
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Subjects affected include, Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Archeology, History, Music, Fine Arts, Languages, Literature, and Welsh and Celtic literature
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
#BonfireOfTheHumanities News
An important and infuriating precis of an article in the Times HE (£).
All the classics are here, "difficult decisions", declining demand, no consultation, refusing to share metrics and the no meaningful push back.
The Humanities are in unmanaged freefall. Discuss
An important and infuriating precis of an article in the Times HE (£).
All the classics are here, "difficult decisions", declining demand, no consultation, refusing to share metrics and the no meaningful push back.
The Humanities are in unmanaged freefall. Discuss
'A spokesperson said that the “difficult decision” had been made to suspend recruitment to undergraduate courses in history, philosophy, English literature, linguistics and creative writing due to sustained low student recruitment and declining demand'. 1/3
Hertfordshire drops history, English and other humanities courses
University says programmes no longer financially viable due to drops in recruitment
www.timeshighereducation.com
May 7, 2026 at 11:34 AM
#BonfireOfTheHumanities News
An important and infuriating precis of an article in the Times HE (£).
All the classics are here, "difficult decisions", declining demand, no consultation, refusing to share metrics and the no meaningful push back.
The Humanities are in unmanaged freefall. Discuss
An important and infuriating precis of an article in the Times HE (£).
All the classics are here, "difficult decisions", declining demand, no consultation, refusing to share metrics and the no meaningful push back.
The Humanities are in unmanaged freefall. Discuss
The #BonfireOfTheHumanities is not just taking place in Britain and the USA.
#Archaeology is under threat at Humboldt University Berlin.
#Archaeology is under threat at Humboldt University Berlin.
Please support the petition against the planned #closure of #Archaeology at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Archaeology has been a part of Humboldt-Universität academic tradition for almost 200 years, so closing it would break a long-standing research tradition
weact.campact.de/petitions/sc...
Archaeology has been a part of Humboldt-Universität academic tradition for almost 200 years, so closing it would break a long-standing research tradition
weact.campact.de/petitions/sc...
Schließung des Instituts für Archäologie an der HU-Berlin
Die Archäologie gehört seit fast 200 Jahren zur wissenschaftlichen Tradition der Humboldt-Universität. Ihre Schließung bedeutet den Abbruch einer gewachsenen Forschungstradition und eine dauerhafte Sc...
weact.campact.de
February 21, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The #BonfireOfTheHumanities is not just taking place in Britain and the USA.
#Archaeology is under threat at Humboldt University Berlin.
#Archaeology is under threat at Humboldt University Berlin.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities News
Leicester University consults on redundancies to academics and professional services in chemistry, film studies, geography, geology & the environment, history, modern languages and operations, with the closure of modern languages and film studies from 2026/2027.
Leicester University consults on redundancies to academics and professional services in chemistry, film studies, geography, geology & the environment, history, modern languages and operations, with the closure of modern languages and film studies from 2026/2027.
University of Leicester to consult on redundancies - BBC News
University bosses are also planning to stop a number of courses.
share.google
November 8, 2025 at 12:12 AM
#BonfireOfTheHumanities News
Leicester University consults on redundancies to academics and professional services in chemistry, film studies, geography, geology & the environment, history, modern languages and operations, with the closure of modern languages and film studies from 2026/2027.
Leicester University consults on redundancies to academics and professional services in chemistry, film studies, geography, geology & the environment, history, modern languages and operations, with the closure of modern languages and film studies from 2026/2027.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities "they're turning it into the University of Little England." News
Nottingham University UCU says redundancies are clearly on the agenda as the University SMT suspends recruitment to all modern language and music courses.
Nottingham University UCU says redundancies are clearly on the agenda as the University SMT suspends recruitment to all modern language and music courses.
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 12:53 PM
#BonfireOfTheHumanities "they're turning it into the University of Little England." News
Nottingham University UCU says redundancies are clearly on the agenda as the University SMT suspends recruitment to all modern language and music courses.
Nottingham University UCU says redundancies are clearly on the agenda as the University SMT suspends recruitment to all modern language and music courses.
The British Academy Mapping SHAPE project has found opportunities for students to study various Humanities subjects are diminishing in the regions, especially at HE institutions which make offers on lower exam grades thus attracting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
Humanities, arts and social sciences degrees are disappearing in many UK regions.
With more young people than ever studying close to home, course cuts are narrowing their choices at university.
@timeshighered.bsky.social covers our 'Cold Spots' report today. Read more at https://bit.ly/46e3wOy
With more young people than ever studying close to home, course cuts are narrowing their choices at university.
@timeshighered.bsky.social covers our 'Cold Spots' report today. Read more at https://bit.ly/46e3wOy
Humanities and arts degrees disappearing in parts of UK
Students from rural and disadvantaged areas disproportionally affected by subject cuts, British Academy warns
bit.ly
September 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The British Academy Mapping SHAPE project has found opportunities for students to study various Humanities subjects are diminishing in the regions, especially at HE institutions which make offers on lower exam grades thus attracting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
#BonfireOfTheHumanities
#BonfireOfTheHumanities