Sign in

Matthew Barr

@matthewbarr.co.uk
837 followers 1.5K following 45 posts

Professor and Head of Education & Practice, School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow. Co-director, Games & Gaming Lab. Director, Ada Scotland Festival.

PostsRepliesMedia
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 25/08/2026
Register for PlayAway for a Day - a one day conference and exhibition exploring the crossovers with creative technology and arts, game design, education, community & wellbeing work on Sat 24 October in Edinburgh. tinderboxcollective.org/playaway26/
tinderboxcollective.org
Play Away 2026
Saturday 24th October 2026Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh PLAYAWAY 2026 – One Day Conference & Exhibition Sat 24th October 2026 | Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh | 10am-…
100
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 19/08/2026
These data are for England only, but while more young people are looking for apprenticeships, the number of positions available fell by nearly half in the same period. That's the important (and concerning) headline, I think. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Competition for degree apprenticeships quadruples in three years
The popularity of degree apprenticeships has grown as the cost of university has come under increased scrutiny.
132
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 26/06/2026
Since everyone else is doing it and it's too hot to work on the train...
Political compass quiz results - Zohran Mamdani
010
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 11/06/2026
It was a pleasure giving a keynote ('When Universities Value Play: Games, Graduate Skills, and the Conditions for Belonging') at 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 at the University of Melbourne (even if it was 2am here in Scotland!)
When Universities Value Play: Games, Graduate Skills, and the Conditions for Belonging - Dr Matthew Barr
011
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 21/05/2026
New post on the @advancehe.bsky.social blog, 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦: 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-vie... Talking about graduate skills, employability, reflective practice, and developing students' confidence on a work-based degree programme.
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
121
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 11/05/2026
“Maybe we should call it two-tier journalism. The harshest scrutiny for people we don’t approve of. A blind eye for the ones we don’t mind”, writes Alan Rusbridger
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Nigel Farage pocketing £5m from a donor shows he’s unfit for power
The British media is obsessed with Zack Polanski, but raises barely a squeak over huge donations to Reform
711956
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Tony Gowland @tonygowland.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Into the Slimy Mines is roguelike tower defense. Build paths enemies slither down, dig gold, squish slimes, and most important of all RESCUE YOUR CREW! Coming May 29th on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Epic and Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/3639440/...
44120
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 04/05/2026
If you are voting for Reform in Scotland, are you (a) stupid (falling for a couple of millionaires' con) or (b) racist (e.g. OK with concentration camps)? Very possible to be bothered. Depressing that these racist grifters are potentially in second place in Scotland.
100
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 28/01/2026
New journal paper published with @ellatasm.bsky.social and our colleages at Edinburgh Napier University: 'What training do workplace mentors receive to support degree apprentices? An activity theory analysis, focusing on inclusion' www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
032
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 28/11/2025
We just published our Ukranian special issue of @osotl.bsky.social: osotl.org/osotl/issue/... Subtitled 'Tempus fugit, Academia sempiterna' ('time passes, but the academy is eternal'), this was a collaboration with the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA).
osotl.org
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): The Ukraine special issue: ‘Tempus fugit, Academia sempiterna’ | Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
102
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 20/11/2025
I'm delighted to be chairing the Holyrood Insight Future of Apprenticeships Scotland Conference next week, with keynotes from Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Michelle Thomson MSP. www.holyroodinsight.com/conferences-...
holyroodinsight.com
The Future of Apprenticeships Scotland Conference - Holyrood Insight
Join our conference to keep up to date with the latest changes to apprenticeships policy and funding in Scotland.
100
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 23/09/2025
The Ada Scotland Festival is featured in today's Herald: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548659...
heraldscotland.com
Festival aims to attract more women and girls to computing
The Ada Scotland Festival, named after famous mathematician Ada Lovelace, runs from 29 September to 10 October.
030
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 18/09/2025
Just published a blog post on the Advance HE website, drawing on our research into how Graduate Apprentices develop an impressive range of professional skills. advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-vie...
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
121
Reposted by Matthew Barr
UofGNews @uofgnews.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
The Ada Scotland Festival, which aims to shift the gender balance of Scotland’s computing sector, is set to return with more than 20 events aimed at young women and non-binary people across the country from September 29. Read more here: www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
Dr Matthew Barr of the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science, director of the Ada Scotland Festival, meets young women at an event during the 2024 festival
035
Reposted by Matthew Barr
oSoTL Journal @osotl.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Our UofG Colleagues Peter Sneddon, Erin Ferguson, Eric Yao share: Why do students decide to stop studying physics? #oSoTLSummer #SoTL #AcWri #highered #Vol2No1_22 #physics #motivation osotl.org/osotl/articl...
osotl.org
View of Why do students decide to stop studying physics? | Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
043
Reposted by Matthew Barr
oSoTL Journal @osotl.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
We continue our oSoTL summer with Sarah Honeychurch's: Pragmatism in practice: Bricolage as a methodological framework for SoTL #oSoTLSummer #SoTL #AcWri #highered #Vol2No2_22 #SpecialEdition #bricolage osotl.org/osotl/articl...
osotl.org
View of Pragmatism in practice: Bricolage as a methodological framework for SoTL | Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
011
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 26/07/2025
An early start this morning to deliver my talk at the hybrid Computing Education Practice in Pakistan (PkCEP): 'Delivering a Work-Based Learning Degree Programme in Software Engineering: Lessons from Practice'. Thank you to the organsiers (including @waqarnabi.bsky.social) for the invitation!
Hybrid talk at Computing Education Practice in Pakistan (PkCEP): 'Delivering a Work-Based Learning Degree Programme in Software Engineering: Lessons from Practice'
040
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 13/07/2025
New journal article: 'From disciplinary enthusiasm to soulless tasks: norms behind computing educators' emotion display' with @vgrande.bsky.social, Päivi Kinnunen, Anne-Kathrin Peters, @mihaelasabin.bsky.social, Matilde Sánchez-Peña, and Ethel Tshukudu: doi.org/10.1080/0304...
doi.org
From disciplinary enthusiasm to soulless tasks: norms behind computing educators' emotion display
Computing educators' emotion display is regulated by various norms and conventions. These (unwritten) rules affect which emotions educators feel comfortable expressing to different extents when stu...
160
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 12/07/2025
The Apple TV+ app for Android is the worst streaming app I've ever used. Shockingly poor piece of software that prevents me from watching the content I've paid for. All the hype around the return of #Foundation and I can't even watch it!
120
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Wales Interactive @walesinteractive.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
@ant-workshop.com have an incredible Ruin Remix Update for Into the Restless Ruins! Guided entirely by the amazing player feedback. ➕ New Remix Levels Unlocked 🐺 Harvest Maiden & Wulver Updates 📿 Brand new room cards, charms, boons & trinkets! store.steampowered.com/news/app/287...
0104
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 28/05/2025
Very much enjoying this on PS5! store.playstation.com/en-gb/concep...
store.playstation.com
Into the Restless RuinsAdd to WishlistAdd to WishlistAdd to WishlistAdd to WishlistAdd to WishlistAdd to WishlistPlayStationPlayStation
A roguelike deckbuilder where you create the dungeon you fight through.
030
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 15/05/2025
Thanks to the @advancehe.bsky.social team for the opportunity to speak at the Mental Health in Higher Education conference yesterday. I failed to take any photos so here's a peek at my slides, featuring a very flattering photo of me playing the original Zelda circa 1990.
Me playing Zelda circa 1990. I look very cool.
170
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Edinburgh Napier SCEBE @enuscebe.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Lovely people, inspiring speakers, and great ideas. Our students share their experience of this year's BCS Women Lovelace Colloquium. blogs.napier.ac.uk/womenintotec...
blogs.napier.ac.uk
BCS Women Lovelace Colloquium 2025 - Women into Tech
I strongly recommend to any women or gender minorities in computing or related at university to take advantage of this opportunity!
124
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 07/05/2025
Excellent article on this year's BCS Women Lovelace Colloquium @bcswomenlovelace.bsky.social in the latest issue of the BCS @wearebcs.bsky.social IT NOW magazine: www.bcs.org/articles-opi... Lovely to hear from Joanna Jardine, one of our @uofgcompsci.bsky.social Graduate Apprentices!
bcs.org
Dare, always dare: Lovelace Colloquium 2025
On 16 April 2025 the BCS Lovelace Colloquium celebrated its 18th birthday at the University of Glasgow Student’s Union (GUU), a building which forbade women until 1980. Georgia Smith reports.
054
Reposted by Matthew Barr
BCSWomen Lovelace @bcswomenlovelace.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
"All those people who look like they've got it sorted? They don't." We are all still inventing ourselves. Great start to the keynote from Sharon Moore.
133
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 15/04/2025
The @bcswomenlovelace.bsky.social colloquium finally comes to Glasgow! www.linkedin.com/posts/matthe...
linkedin.com
The BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium has finally made it to Glasgow! Amazing… | Matthew Barr
The BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium has finally made it to Glasgow! Amazing turnout tonight for the pre-conference social, with Colloquium founder Hannah Dee on quizmaster duties. Fantastic atmosphere in...
184
Reposted by Matthew Barr
BCSWomen Lovelace @bcswomenlovelace.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Our conference tomorrow - no tickets left, sorry, we're full - is in GUU. Attendees coming by public transport should go to KELVINBRIDGE subway and head up the Great Western Road, then turn left on to Bank Street. Detailed directions + pics follow...
a map showing the route from Kelvinbridge subway to the Glasgow University Union
123
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Ada Scotland Festival @adascot.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Hello Bluesky! Work is already underway on the 2025 Ada Scotland Festival, which will run from 29 September to 10 October. Stay tuned! ada.scot
ada.scot
Ada Scotland Festival
Gender diversity in computing and tech
024
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Lorna Slater @lornaslater.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Donald Trump is not welcome. The state visit must be cancelled.
914829
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 24/02/2025
'Four things to look for when choosing your next Responsible AI training' - really useful blog post from @oanamandrei.bsky.social and colleagues, in response to the UK government's AI Opportunities Action Plan (via Responsible Ai UK). rai.ac.uk/four-things-...
rai.ac.uk
Four things to look for when choosing your next Responsible AI training – Responsible AI
041
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 19/02/2025
This @wearebcs.bsky.social Animation & Games 2025 competition “The Power of Connection - Design a game where the core idea is understanding, empathy, and unity among players from different cultures and backgrounds" is open to primary to postgrad students & BCS members: www.bcs.org/membership-a...
bcs.org
BCS AGD SG Artefact 2025 competition | BCS
The theme for the BCS Animation and Games Development SG’s Artefact 2025 competition is “The Power of Connection - Design a game where the core idea is understanding, empathy, and unity among players ...
035
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 15/02/2025
This was a really fun (& sometimes unexpected) conversation about academic leadership. Feels weird to share, but I'm glad to have been invited onto the podcast by @gerifitz.bsky.social (at the suggestion of the wonderful @oanamandrei.bsky.social). changingacademiclife.captivate.fm/episode/oana...
changingacademiclife.captivate.fm
Oana and Matt (Part 1) on leadership, belonging, and micro-actions making a difference (CAL118 S6E12) - Changing Academic Life
Good leadership that creates a sense of belonging and care through everyday micro actions that make a difference
160
Reposted by Matthew Barr
BCSWomen Lovelace @bcswomenlovelace.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The 2025 BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium will be on April 16th at the University of Glasgow! And our call for poster abstracts is open until Monday 3rd February. Find out more at bcswomenlovelace.bcs.org
Flyer advertising the 18th BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium. To enter see the details at https://bcswomenlovelace.bcs.org/
015
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 07/01/2025
@oanamandrei.bsky.social @ #CEP25 kicking off our RECAP (Research Evidence-based Collaborations for Advancement in Pedagogy) session on Integrating Socially Responsible Computing Competencies in Software Engineering Education (w/ @drolga.bsky.social & @waqarnabi.bsky.social) doi.org/10.1145/3702...
Oana Andrei at CEP '25
0103
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 17/12/2024
We are delighted to be hosting the @wearebcs.bsky.social Women Lovelace Colloquium in 2025! The call for abstracts is now open (just 250 words!): bcswomenlovelace.bcs.org?page_id=92 So, if you're a female or non-binary undergraduate or postgraduate taught student, get your abstract submitted!
The 18th BCSWomen Lovelace Colloquium is hosted by the University of Glasgow in 2025.
062
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 06/12/2024
I posted already about our new book, but I wanted to thank the colleagues who contributed to my own chapter, 'The Design and Delivery of Work-Based Degree Programmes: Challenges and Solutions': www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edi...
taylorfrancis.com
The Design and Delivery of Work-Based Degree Programmes | 2 | Challeng
The design and delivery of work-based degree programmes – also known as degree-level apprenticeships – presents a number of unique challenges. With students
121
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 30/11/2024
Thank you to Margaret Ross for the invitation to deliver a talk ('The positive effects of playing video games') at the BCS AGD SG AGM last night. I'm also pleased to be joining the SG committee! (The paper featured in Safia's screen grab is here: doi.org/10.1177/1555...)
doi.org
Playing Video Games During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Effects on Players’ Well-Being - Matthew Barr, Alicia Copeland-Stewart, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives in many ways, including how we choose to spend our time and deal with unprecedented circumstances. Anecdotal report...
082
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 29/11/2024
Our book, 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠-𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, is now available in electronic form, with the print version out on 16 December - just in time for Christmas! 😀 doi.org/10.4324/9781...
doi.org
Approaches to Work-Based Learning in Higher Education | Improving Grad
Approaches to Work-Based Learning in Higher Education provides a comprehensive introduction to the delivery of university-level work-based learning (WBL) for
2147
Reposted by Matthew Barr
Dr Oana Andrei @oanamandrei.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Looking forward to @suesentance.bsky.social’s talk today at @uofgcompsci.bsky.social about @rpcerc.bsky.social and their projects including broadening participation, AI education, programming education, and many timely and exciting topics!
1104
Matthew Barr @matthewbarr.co.uk · 22/11/2024
It was so much fun to judge the Kelvin Games Jam competition! Some brilliant ideas, and a fun, inventive winning entry (from a team that included at least one @uofgcompsci.bsky.social student that I recognised!)
041