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Professor Colin McCaig

@colinmccaig.bsky.social
62 followers 87 following 24 posts

Professor of Higher Education Policy at Sheffield Hallam University. Interested in widening access and participation in HE; social justice; UK and European politics.

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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/o...
ingentaconnect.com
The changing policy language of widening participation in the Eng...: Ingenta Connect
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Trisha Elliott @trishaelliott.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
From this month’s @bmj.com. Sometimes I read things that surprise me. This one did not. #MedSky #MedicalSchoolApplications #SocialInequalities
Medical students
Few students are from working class families
Research by the Sutton Trust showed that just 5% of medical students were from working class backgrounds, while 75% were from high socioeconomic groups. Data on nearly 94 000 applicants to UK medical schools between 2012 and 2022 showed that a very high numberof medical students came from a relatively small number of secondary schools. Applicants from independent schools were 1.5 times as likely to receive an offer to study medicine as those from non-selective state schools, even after adjustment for exam grades, socioeconomic status, and other demographic factors.
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Matt Green @mattgreencomedy.com · 11/03/2025
Inside the PR campaign for private schools!
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Eh? Get Trump to pay for it, surely
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Martha Albertson Fineman @mlafineman.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
'The findings potentially have significant implications for universities, which are often assessed by policymakers and regulators on the proportion of graduates finding work, particularly in professional roles.' 3/3 More details: empower-up.com/2025/03/ucl-...
empower-up.com
UCL research indicates UK employers less likely to recruit disadvantaged ethnic minority graduates - Empower Up
Ethnic minority graduates from a low socio-economic background are 45% less likely to be offered entry-level professional roles compared to more advantaged White applicants, finds a new report led by ...
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Patrick Stokes @patrickstokes.com · 06/03/2025
Having worked in philosophy at a post-92 university (Herts) when it was one of the higher ranked philosophy departments in the country, it's tragic to see how things have contracted in UK Higher Ed now. A bizarre, short-sighted act of national self-sabotage.
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Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Looking forward to the launch of this report this morning, and hearing from the authors from @reescentre.bsky.social and a panel discussion including @becomecharity.org.uk
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
This sums the situation up perfectly. Trump and Vance say they want Europe to pick up the tab, but when we do they squeal because they want the credit (and profits) for peace. Time Europe got off the US teat so we can see how they get on without 400m customers.
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🔴EXCLUSIVE: Trump’s War on 'Woke’ and DEI: Incubated by a Nazi Eugenics Foundation Mainstream American conservative icons WHO inspired Trump’s assault on diversity were bankrolled by the funder of a Nazi eugenics foundation, reports @nafeez.bsky.social d bylinetimes.com/2025/02/27/t...
bylinetimes.com
Trump’s War on 'Woke’ and DEI: Incubated by a Nazi Eugenics Foundation
Mainstream American conservative icons Christopher Rufo, Peter Boghossian, and Richard Hanania – who inspired Trump’s assault on diversity – were bankrolled by the funder of a Nazi eugenics foundation
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Kate Kirkpatrick @philosofemme.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Excellent thread on the current crisis in UK Higher Education. 🧵
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Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
"The most striking aspect to Trump's crypto reserve and the scrapping of anti-money laundering rules, which together amount to a global charter for criminals, is that he's making no effort to dress them up. This pig has no lipstick." My column. on.ft.com/43kiBOu
on.ft.com
Trump’s heist in broad daylight
[FREE TO READ] Having previously declared bitcoin to be a ‘scam’, the US president now wants to add it to the Fed’s balance sheet
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Paul Krugman @pkrugman.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
So Musk’s people, who misread $8 million as $8 billion, who counted the same contracts multiple times and counted as savings programs that ended last year, claim that their AI is finding lots of Social Security fraud. Why should anyone worry?
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Rejoice, the silver lining for any dark cloud!
theguardian.com
Labour steps up attacks on Farage and Reform over pro-Russia stance
Government targets party’s ‘softness on standing up to Putin’ to show Reform is out of step with UK public
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Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Pass it on. #StandWithUkraine
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
"Never trust a man that doesn't drink...." That was what my old dad used to say anyway!
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Dana Milbank @danamilbank.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
I don't know what Jeff Bezos means by "personal liberties and free markets." But I do know this: The biggest threat to personal liberties and free markets in America today is Donald Trump. My @postopinions.bsky.social column on this week's trauma at the Post. wapo.st/3DaSKxX
wapo.st
Opinion | Here’s the real threat to ‘personal liberties and free markets’
The rapidly spreading authoritarianism coming from this administration threatens all of our freedoms.
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Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
As with other social policy areas & institutions, where universities are under financial or general strain, it becomes more difficult to address existing inequalities. There's a greater risk that inequalities will instead increase, eg that fewer rather than more disadvantaged children will attend
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
www.gov.uk/government/n... Can only be a good thing to have a former post92 VC heading up OfS at this time
gov.uk
Preferred candidate to lead Office for Students confirmed
Professor Edward Peck CBE named as preferred candidate to be the next Chair of the Office for Students by Education Secretary
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California Dreamin’… 😎 @jerasikehorn.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
REMEMBER FEB 28th: 👇 NO INVESTING! NO SHOPPING! NO SOCIAL MEDIA! PASS. IT. ON. ✨
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Kara Swisher @karaswisher.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Here is a 2018 conversation between Jeff Bezos and German publisher Matthias Döpfner at a Business Insider event. Presumably, he is as crimson as a Washington State cherry today:
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f... Can't help thinking that If Trump wants US to make money from Ukrainian minerals and wants US contractors to win rebuilding gigs, he isn't going to want the risk of further Russian invasion. With Trump you have to ignore what he says and judge him by actions.
theguardian.com
Russia could reinvade Ukraine without US security guarantees, Starmer warns
UK prime minister faces major diplomatic effort to get president on board after he said no plans for US ‘backstop’
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Gr8ful Mamaof2 @gratefulmamaof2.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Birds of a feather
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Didn't a certain Presidential candidate have something to say recently about every country dumping their rapist criminals on the US? I am sure said he was gonna do something about it...... I heard the Tates eat pets too, don't they?
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
'The research, conducted by the Sutton Trust and University College London (UCL), looked at almost 94,000 applicants to UK medical schools between 2012 and 2022, which represent almost half of all UK medical applicants.' 1/2
theguardian.com
Only 5% of UK medical school entrants are working class, data shows
Sutton Trust says underrepresentation of poorer students is ‘outrageous’ but number has doubled in 10 years to 2022
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
The perfect description of Higher Ed management behaviour at the moment.
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Condolences to all my friends at our near neighbour BCU. Another management much-esteemed by our own asset-strippers crashes their institution. Turned out treating your staff like crap won’t save you.
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
So this guy's new management vision doesn't include those currently doing the teach and research that funds his institution. Sadly common view among HE managers in my experience. They don't even know what their staff do, just that if they had less staff it would be easier to manage the place.
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Rita Hordósy @rhordosy.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
📅Next up in our series: Integrating research and teaching – opportunities and pitfalls, as seen by students and staff March 7th, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Online seminar Do join us! srhe.ac.uk/civicrm/?civ...
srhe.ac.uk
CiviCRM | Society for Research into Higher Education
Do not delete this page. Page content is generated by CiviCRM.
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Richard Hall @hallymk1.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Report of Yorkshire Consortium for Excellence in Doctoral Education and Aziz Foundation ‘Muslim Friendly Universities Conference’ | 23rd Jan 2025 ycede.ac.uk/ycede-and-az...
ycede.ac.uk
YCEDE and Aziz Foundation Host First 'Muslim Friendly Universities Conference' | 23rd Jan 2025 - Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education
Report by Amira Samatar (YCEDE Scholars Board) and Jack Harris (YCEDE Project Assistant) On Thursday 23rd January, YCEDE and the University of York were delighted to host the Aziz Foundation’s first “...
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HIGNFY @hignfy.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Britain is putting sanctions on the Russian elite to make it harder for them to travel to the UK, and even if they do make it here they'll face even tougher travel sanctions imposed by train operators and National Highways
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Another one, like Trump, who doesn't even know what he doesn't even know.
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Mary Stachyra Lopez @marystachyra.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
"It is a basic fact of American life, so widely known that it hardly needs to be said: College is getting ever more unaffordable...But this basic fact of life is not a fact at all. In reality, Americans are paying less for college, on average, than they were a decade ago." From Rose Horowitch:
theatlantic.com
The Secret That Colleges Should Stop Keeping
Despite ever-higher sticker prices, the real cost of getting a degree has been going down.
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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 24/02/2025
Big news for anyone with federal student loans: after we rang the alarm, a judge stopped Elon Musk and his team from seizing your personal data. This is why we get in the fight.
politico.com
Judge blocks OPM, Education Department from sharing personal info with DOGE
The order is the most wide-ranging block on DOGE’s activities to date.
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Starmer has got to hold this line on Thursday. Of course there will be some soft-soap but he has to make clear Europe including UK is more than willing to face down Russia even if Trump is too chicken. Like with UK after Brexit, Trump won't hold cards with Europe if he withdraws military support.
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
He don't even know what he don't even know. Bless!
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 24/02/2025
“The future of freedom in America is uncertain when the president lavishly praises dictators and fulminates against legitimately elected leaders. Europe can show the world that democratic states can rally to protect themselves,” Phillips Payson O’Brien writes:
theatlantic.com
Trump Sided With Putin. What Should Europe Do Now?
European democracies must stop infantilizing themselves.
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Hilarious that Trump thought the fascists (with their usual 15-18% of the vote) were going to be invited into power by CDU/CSU. Was always going to be the usual grand coalition. Wait till Musk gets to hear! European Politics 101. Things don't just happen cos you think they will, Donny boy.
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
#research #wideningparticipation #timeshighereducation #wonkhe #researchprofessional
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
How about we generalise the model of research where Research Centres employ permanent research staff, as we do at Sheffield Hallam? wonkhe.com/blogs/resear...
wonkhe.com
Research flexibility doesn't have to mean researcher precarity
James Coe and David Kernohan look for the balance between flexibility and predictability that can allow researchers, research, and the wider economy to thrive
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Professor Colin McCaig @colinmccaig.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
How about we generalise the model of research where Research Centres employ permanent research staff, as we do at Sheffield Hallam? wonkhe.com/blogs/resear...
wonkhe.com
Research flexibility doesn't have to mean researcher precarity
James Coe and David Kernohan look for the balance between flexibility and predictability that can allow researchers, research, and the wider economy to thrive
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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 21/02/2025
Of all the things Elon Musk has said, this is the worst. We cannot rely on Trump and his shadow president Musk. The UK must boost defence spending and take the lead in Europe.
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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 20/02/2025
So Nigel Farage has chosen to explain away Trump’s outrageous remarks about President Zelensky instead of doing the right thing and condemning them. Deeply disappointing but not at all surprising. He sounds like a spokesman for Trump. He certainly doesn’t speak for Britain.
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Stuart Shields @docstushi.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Up to 14 Simon/Hallsworth post-docs. Focus is Political Economy (broadly conceived) and also some funding specifically directed towards research on Chinese political economy and collaboration with non-academic partners. Closing date is 7 March 2025. www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/research/fun...
humanities.manchester.ac.uk
Simon and Hallsworth Fellowships | Faculty of Humanities | The University of Manchester
Find out the Simon and Hallsworth Fellowships at Manchester, our Faculty of Humanities funding scheme for early career researchers with a doctoral degree.
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Becca Harrison @beccaeharrison.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
On ‘campus free speech’ I’m less concerned about students’ views and more worried about senior managers dictating what academics can and can’t teach. To address the academic freedom problem, we need collaborative and subject-specific pedagogy, critical thinking, creativity and job security
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Richard Budd @ddubdrahcir.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
A (hundred) thousand Oxbridge-related lols on this one... 😅
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
'The chair of the All-Party Parliamentary University Group has expressed worries about a possible “doom loop” for universities unless the current funding crisis can be resolved—saying any decline in R&D output could significantly damage the reputation of UK higher education.' 1/2
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