Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceUniversity and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 29/09/2026“Hope and vibes are not enough.” UCU general secretary Jo Grady on why hope must be backed by serious investment. Our members are losing jobs, losing colleagues and seeing courses close. Post-16 education needs more than promises. It needs investment. 0138
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Members can also feed into this! Anyone interested in authoring a Brief for this series should contact: policy [at] ucu [dot] org [dot] uk 011
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceMargot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026“We want what we pay for - a good education at a prestigious university.” Be careful what you wish for. Do you want the education the Scottish government pays for? Or for international students to receive 3 times the tuition home students do? Like societies, universities just don't work that way.scotsman.com'We want what we pay for': Student fears as Edinburgh Uni strikes beginStudents say strikes will have a long term impact on their studies as the union calls for the university to meet its demands 32210
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceVelour Shirt @object.works · 29/09/2026This is a metaphor for so many things these days that I couldn't choose 682099688
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceDr Katie Twomey @k2mey.eurosky.social · 28/09/2026This is quite cool. My university is the first organisation in the world to force Microsoft to allow us to turn off copilot summaries in Word 365, after a backlash against it from staff (including, very vocally, me). That cannot have been easy for our heroic IT people so hats very much off to them! 895407928
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceNational Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 28/09/2026We have something very cute to share with you today 🦉 This summer, a pair of barn owls successfully reared four owlets at Kedleston Hall, marking Kedleston's first known breeding success in over two decades. 534077
Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmauricegav @gavinmit.bsky.social · 28/09/2026'i once got the president of the united states to congratulate us on the arrest of some doggers we found in a lane in gloucestershire' 016335
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceDr Jo Edge 🏴 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 24/09/2026This University has just shut down all undergraduate Humanities degrees, including History, where we had some amazing modules on Black and African History for first years. 🤡 86125
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceTom Hunter @onelifestand87.bsky.social · 28/09/2026“I’m hoping for 72 virgins” “You’ve not been dogging round here before have you” 23312
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceAlex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026My department - @ucdpolitics.bsky.social - is hiring two PERMANENT posts in any area of politics, international relations, theory, or development studies. Please apply if you are on the academic job market, and if you're not, please do us a solid & spread the word! Deadline NOV 9. 33845
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceAidan O’Brien @aidanobrien.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Yuge day for American Bluesky, as many are getting their first experience of the quaint and traditional British rural pursuits, "dogging" and "flytipping" 29787155
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 28/09/2026the first UCU Brief on the failing HE funding model, authored by UCU VP @markpendleton.bsky.social, is out! This is exactly the sort of evidence and analysis we need to get in front of MPs and policymakers #UCU #UKHE educationitsours.org.uk/ucu-briefs/educationitsours.org.ukEvidence and analysis - Education. It's oursUCU Briefs: the key evidence, analysis and policy proposals to make education truly ours. 0107
Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmauricelorem ipsum 🇧🇷🇺🇸 @whiskeynachos.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Shitpost stolen from TikTok: Gulls on film. 0134
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceDuncan Hothersall @dhothersall.bsky.social · 28/09/2026For all that it's been barely reported in the UK press, it's still hard to understate the importance of the stance @labourunionsuk.bsky.social has taken on trans and non-binary rights this week. Every single trade union affiliated to the party of government has stood up and said we will not comply. 121060388
Reposted by Dr Matilda Fitzmauricehannah @hannahkateboast.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I'm on strike for the next five weeks with @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social because management continues to threaten mass compulsory redundancies. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukEdinburgh University lecturers begin five-week strike over cutsMembers of the University and Colleges Union are walking out in part of a long-running dispute over job and course cuts. 711849
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceRobin Moira White @robinmoirawhite.bsky.social · 27/09/2026The Labour Party’s women’s conference on 26/9/26 was an embarrassing farce, with only 200 delegates of the 1,000 normal attendance (no major unions) in protest of the Labour Party’s shameful abandonment of trans people following the legally absurd ruling of the Supreme Court in FWS in April 2025. 121266281
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Does anyone have a (successful) British Academy Early Career Seed Fund application they'd be prepared to share with me? #academicsky 146
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceConcordia University Press @concordiapress.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Out now: 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘺: 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘐𝘤𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘦, 1550–1700, by Madeline Bassnett! www.concordia.ca/press/climat... 191
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceHappyToast @happytoast.co.uk · 24/09/2026Really stupid and inflammatory use of the word discrimination. Almost like it's to prick up the ears and win votes from the English uglies who 'want their country back' and think they're a minority now. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukBurnham brands ban on football fans drinking alcohol in stands as 'discrimination'The prime minister opposes the law - in place since 1985 - and believes there is a case to remove it. 1739967
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026And if you feel like you want to id as bisexual but wonder if you're 'enough': the term belongs to you too. Desire is important too! 180
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceMichael Bell @mbellcoop.bsky.social · 22/09/2026See also the huge wave of university redundancies recently 193
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceAcademic Audio Transcription Ltd @aat-transcribes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Clients love our transcripts for a lot of reasons, including the way we offer timestamped speaker changes as standard. Want to find out more? Visit academicaudiotranscription.com or visit the QR code below. 022
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceCharlotte Weatherill @ckweatherill.bsky.social · 23/09/2026A week today! The show must go on? Revisiting the script of international climate cooperation 10 years after Paris 30th Sep, 1-2.30pm BST. On zoom, free and open to all. Drawing on a new SI in GEP, and featuring the editors and six of the authors. Register here: www.bisa.ac.uk/members/work... 153
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceBrainmage.itch.io @brainmage.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Happy bi visibility day. Don't forget to wear your bi-viz vests. 722964
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceNatalya D @natalyad.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Happy Bi Visibility all. Some of us uncloak today, but not everyone wants or feels safe to, and they are just as valid. My favourite bisexuality resource is www.bisexualindex.org.uk run by a wordsmith friend of mine. Lots of mythbusting and facts about bisexuality there.bisexualindex.org.ukThe Bisexual Index | Welcome to the Index! Website of UK Bisexual Activist group The Bisexual Index 0103
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Happy bi visibility day to all those who have been told they're both 'not enough' and 'too much'. I see you all 🩷💜💙 1272
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Another one of our brilliant newsletters! Maddie Moore's election to NEC via a casual vacancy is a particular highlight. #UCU #UKHE 011
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceDr Jo Edge 🏴 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 23/09/2026UCU's Anticasualisation Committee's webinar on Equalities and Casualisation is TODAY, running twice at 12.30pm and 5pm. Details on this page (scroll down): do register for one of the two sessions if you can make it! #UCU www.ucu.org.uk/accucu.org.ukAnti-casualisation committeeRepresenting all casually employed staff and fighting the exploitation of casual contracts throughout FE, HE, ACE and prisons. 078
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceRoyal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 22/09/2026Join us online at 1pm on Thursday (24th Sept) for 'Historical Context: The Climate Crisis' bit.ly/3V4lgKf With panellists @dagomardegroot.bsky.social, @sadiahqureshi.bsky.social and @ellydezateux.bsky.social. How does historical expertise help us understand the world today? All welcome #Skystoriansbit.lyHistorical Context: The Climate CrisisA panel discussion, hosted by the Royal Historical Society, in which expert historical researchers provide context for current events. 02225
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceAndrew Defty @adefty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026University of Lincoln has disposed of over 500 staff since 2024. As we start a new academic year management have refused to rule out further compulsory redundancies. @uculincolnbranch.bsky.social is balloting its members on their willingness to take industrial action. If this is you please vote. 01518
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceGrumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 22/09/2026We've run a tea & cakes event to get to know our first years. The university provided just enough cake for each student to maybe get one piece but didn't count staff who might be present. Feels very on brand for all things management in the sector. 1242
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceUniversity and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 22/09/2026In our latest branch solidarity update video, UCU vice president Mark Pendleton hears about the latest at @exeterucu.bsky.social ehere members are organising and fighting back against job cuts, high workload and poor management 0148
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026This is a great listen. Excited to hear more. 001
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceUCU Commons @ucucommons.org · 22/09/2026The first episode of UCU's podcast has dropped! Featuring our very own @markpendleton.bsky.social ! Links to listen are in the original post. 045
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceUniversity and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 22/09/2026Dyfrig Jones UCU President talking about the #EducationItsOurs campaign in our new podcast - No Shortcuts 🎙️ 043
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026So it's 'I have no problem with bi people, I just don't want them anywhere near me', is it 140
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceCora Neas @corabora.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Finally, some good news: It's Fat Bear Weekkxan.comFat Bear Week 2026 begins: What to know, how to voteGet ready to cast your ballot. 19338
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026New Public Management sounds like a post-punk band 141
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceToby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 22/09/2026the libdems (after some equivocation) have just passed an explicitly pro-trans policy in conference, which condemns the EHRC’s code as “discriminatory & unworkable" www.libdems.org.uk/news/article...libdems.org.ukRestoring Trans RightsThe Liberal Democrats will continue to stand in solidarity with trans and non-binary communities, defending equal rights, personal dignity and safety for all. 112519
Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice @matildaf.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Amazing result! Congratulations Maddie! #UCU #UKHE 010
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceWillard Foxton @willardfoxton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026I think it's absolutely mad that today there's a *national news story* about 400 oil platform workers losing their jobs, and the government being blamed. 25% of the UK TV industry lost their jobs in the last 4 years and we never hear a peep about it! Some jobs are 'real jobs' I guess. 641820418
Reposted by Dr Matilda FitzmauriceStarfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy Podcast @irhottakes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Okay, so I have a plan to get everyone on our side. First, we be absolutely as viscerally unpleasant as possible. Next, we downplay any time we get what we want, say it's the bare minimum and so forth. Finally, if anyone gives up and says we win or apologizes, we belittle them. 471830300