iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Thinking today of John Iliffe. He was my external examiner for my PhD, and it was wonderful knowing he had read my work. In the Tanzania archives I would always come across files he had read. His work was inspirational to several generations: his magnificent Modern History of Tanganyika led me to..

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

We are two days into the new academic year. I am shattered already. Still the best time of year, though, with all the excitement of new students and those returning.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Minor grumble alert: I do love the @theguardian.com but it's still so London-centric. Yes lots of DFLs are now stuck on minor New Forest roads because of the fire but the closed A31 isn't mainly a tourist road but the key route for us living here. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.com

‘Real struggle’ to tame New Forest blaze as UK set for hottest summer on record

Key tourist route closed and residents rallying round as battle against wildfire expected to go on for several days

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Ok @theguardian.com - 2 areas of crossness. (1) Attenborough’s 100 greatest moments. No 9 claims that he resolved tension by a very British ‘good afternoon’ to charging armed tribesmen!? In the actual recording he clearly says this is a traditional greeting. So good story, but not true.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Scenes from a hotel: Hotel breakfast buffet. Woman pours glass of cranberry juice from the large jug. Has a drink. Decides does not like it. Lifts lid of jug and tips rest of glass back into it. Not acceptable.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Coming late to the new UK International Education Strategy, luckily this great blog from @drvickylewis.bsky.social' provides great reflection. Particular important reading for anyone interested / working on TNE; and on the wider politics of the IES. www.vickylewisconsulting.co.uk/new-uk-inter...

vickylewisconsulting.co.uk

New UK International Education Strategy

New UK International Education Strategy. Blog post by Vicky Lewis Consulting (https://www.vickylewisconsulting.co.uk/). Posted on 22 January 2026 at 10:38 by Vicky Lewis.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Christmas Eve meal prepped for the oven for later; and plan of action for tomorrow done and on the fridge waiting for the off. Christmas, bring it on!

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Overheard on a train, a continuing series. "We don’t need the females names, or east versus west, etc etc. Maybe as a PS? All I’m trying to say is that you have to have it written down. They’re just making it unnecessarily complicated because it's to their advantage. So we need to keep it simple."

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Overheard, on a train (No. Something of Many) “I’m a train driver. I’m not just going to ‘choo-choo’ every time I’m walking. Actually, I might do. That could be a thing. So why’s he rapping all the time? We know, you’re a rapper. You don’t have to do it all the time.”

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Commute soundtrack this morning Gavin Bryar’s Jesus’ love never failed me. A while since I last listened to it, but still can’t decide whether it’s heartbreaking, hopeful or both.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Thinking about the current crisis engulfing the BBC I was reminded of an email I sent a Radio 4 prog in 2016 suggesting a conversation on differing practices and ethics in the use of speech in 'direct quotations' between media and academic professions. Some thoughts here: medium.com/@mikejenning...

medium.com

The BBC in crisis, and the ethics of representing people’s words

Recently I spoke to a broadcaster about the Tanzanian election crisis. As usual, our ten minute conversation was reduced to an 8 second…

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Is aid dead? A few thoughts on my (much neglected) blog reflecting on conversations I'm sure we're all having with colleagues and & those engaged in global development. tl;dr - nope, it's not. But crisis may offer a moment for change. mikejennings101.wordpress.com/2025/11/05/t...

mikejennings101.wordpress.com

The end of aid? Are we really witnessing the death of aid in 2025?

‘An end to aid?’; ‘The end of aid: what the global South needs to do’; ‘Is this the end of aid as we know it?’; ‘The end of the global aid industry’. Have we seen the end of aid as a tool for devel…

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

In my somewhat tired state at this time in the morning, I just wrote out 'applehood and mother pie' in a lecture note. I think I prefer it.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

I rescued a goat today. Not saying I deserve a British Hero award, or a peerage or anything. But it did appear quite grateful and had a look that said it would have nominated me if it had been able to.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

I didn’t go to a listening party for yesterday’s big new album release, and haven’t been following the media frenzy. But having listened multiple times since Friday, and again this morning, I can confirm Ninebarrow’s new album is fantastic. No view on anything else that might have been released.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

In a good piece in @theguardian.com on autism/paracetamol bad science, the implicit criticism of RFK jr for saying 'epidemic' ("better reserved for infectious disease outbreaks") would have more bite if the paper didn't often use it itself. eg 'loneliness epidemic', 'vaping epidemic', etc

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Apple Maps has all the regional subtlety of an Andy Burnham speech. For the record, Apple Maps, the M3 is NOT in the “direction of the Midlands”. Harrumph.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

I'm fine with getting reminders to respond to journal review applications. But I got one on Friday , and then the reminder on Sunday! This doesn't make me more likely to agree to do the review. And don't send reminders on a weekend. I don't check emails anyway over weekends, but still...

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

I'm one of the guests talking about the impact of aid cuts on @bbcworldservice.bsky.social podcast The Inquiry (along with three other great guests: Harvard's CID Fatema Z Sumar, George Ingram from the Brookings Institution, & Edinburgh's Francisca Mutapi. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

The Inquiry - What is filling the USAID funding gap? - BBC Sounds

US President Donald Trump has cut spending to USAID. What happens next?

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Reposted by Mike Jennings

rogerhearing.bsky.social @rogerhearing.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

The aid tap is being turned off - USAID is suspended, and the UK is moving funds to defence. What happens to those who depend on this assistance? Phil Dobbie and I hear from @mikejennings101.bsky.social @soasuni.bsky.social whycurve.com/episode/aid-...

whycurve.com

Aid Emergency | The Why Curve

The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and...

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Thanks for inviting me on - it was an interesting (and important) conversation.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

I was invited by @phildobbie.bsky.social & Roger Hearing to chat about the state of development aid at a point of crisis on their The Why Curve podcast. Interesting conversation, and hopefully addressed a few issues of importance around aid in the episode out now. whycurve.com/episode/aid-...

whycurve.com

Aid Emergency | The Why Curve

The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and...

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Latest Why Curve podcast looks at dev aid in a Trumpian world with a guest appearance from me! Always fun to hear one's verbal tics. But I had fun recording & hopefully an interesting conversation on the state of development aid right now. You can judge for yourself. whycurve.com/episode/aid-...

whycurve.com

Aid Emergency | The Why Curve

The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and...

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I’ve been re-reading Pope Paul VI’s 1967 encyclical on development for a project, and reminded just how radical it has remained (or how far the world has moved in the opposite direction perhaps)?

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

I think it's a law now that all academics must pen at least one opinion piece on the latest Trumpian lunacy, & here's mine for @theconversation.com. I look at the cancellation of Pepfar programmes & the implications of destroying it. theconversation.com/trump-is-can...

theconversation.com

Trump is cancelling a Republican project to wipe out Aids – putting millions of lives at risk

Millions of people worldwide are likely to lose access to anti HIV drugs, and thousands more people could die, after the US cut project funding.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Ah, the 1st sign of spring: a newspaper article about hot cross buns going all fancy / awful with flavour additions. As reliable a sign of the new season as any daffs beginning to put their heads up.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Brilliant double-bill inaugural lectures tonight at SOAS from Profs @tommytanner.bsky.social and Uli Volz. the theme running through both was climate change, adaptation, resilience and climate finance. A great showcase for the work being done by these two, and at SOAS.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Having spent pre-Christmas seeing present ideas, and then ideas on new year resolutions, self-improvement and wellbeing activities afterwards, in @theguardian.com, it makes me chuckle when it has articles accusing other media of being overtly middle class fantasies!

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

My favourite list of the year: He’s making a list. He’s checking it twice He’s measured the oven To see if the space will suffice. Serving dishes chosen, Timings are set. The plan is made So no need to fret. We eat at 2 If all are here. But whether 2, 4 or 6 We’ll be of good cheer (and drunk!)

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Xmas stuffings, done; bread & cranberry sauces, done; gravy base, done; red cabbage, done and sitting in the freezer with the rest. Xmas pud, steamed and being regularly topped up with enough brandy to stun an elephant. Christmas prep is coming on strong. 🎄

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Reposted by Mike Jennings

Vicky Lewis @drvickylewis.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Blog drawing on an article I co-authored for the EAIE's Winter Forum magazine (issue on 'Building Back Better?'). Features @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social Q&A-style case study on integrating social purpose into post-pandemic global engagement strategy. www.vickylewisconsulting.co.uk/uk-universit...

vickylewisconsulting.co.uk

UK university strategy case study

UK university strategy case study. Blog post by Vicky Lewis Consulting (https://www.vickylewisconsulting.co.uk/). Posted on 6 December 2024 at 17:15 by Vicky Lewis.

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Reposted by Mike Jennings

Center for Global Development @cgdev.org · 04/12/2024

Many bilateral aid programs—characterized by small, overlapping, & uncoordinated contributions—are fragmented.🔀 To assess if #aid resources can drive real impact, @charlesjkenny.bsky.social proposes the 10th recipient test for the largest donors: www.cgdev.org/blog/tenth-r...

cgdev.org

The Tenth Recipient Test

One of the things that makes development assistance less effective than it might be is fragmentation: many donors providing small amount of assistance to a country, each mission head demanding their p...

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Reposted by Mike Jennings

Guardian NUJ @gonuj.org · 04/12/2024

Today Guardian and Observer journalists are on strike over plans to sell the Observer to a loss-making digital start up and put its journalism behind a paywall. 🧵 How can you support us? SHARE our posts WRITE to guardian.readers@theguardian.com JOIN US - there's cake!

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

If not showing Masterchef is unfair to the contestants, why not borrow from 80s news coverage of Irish nationalist politicians: don’t edit Greg out, but dub his voice. Either Jacob-Rees Mogg, or better, a ‘middle class woman of a certain age’.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

First comedy gig I’ve been to where they take a register rather than look at tickets!

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

On BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Luke Johnson said growth has never gone up with expanded public services or taxes. It’s not true: the rapid econ growth from 1950s in the UK came after half a century of building welfare services, expanding the state & increasing tax to pay for it.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

It’s taken me 6 hours but I have cleared the email mountain (not emptied the inbox, you understand, just got it down to manageable hill size). Please no more emails this afternoon! Let me start Monday feeling good.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Interesting blog from @drvickylewis.bsky.social looking at two UK university overseas campuses and asking what it means to be a global campus. Anyone interested in global education, partnerships, internationalisation, worth a look: www.vickylewisconsulting.co.uk/strengthenin...

vickylewisconsulting.co.uk

A tale of two firsts

A tale of two firsts. Blog post by Vicky Lewis Consulting (https://www.vickylewisconsulting.co.uk/). Posted on 18 November 2024 at 16:03 by Vicky Lewis.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I'm not a regular listener to BBC Radio 4's Farming Today programme, but they had the best explanation I've heard so far as to the huge discrepancy between Treasury and NUF figures on how many farms will be affected by new inheritance tax rules.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Interesting piece by Basile Boulay on the impact of English language hegemony for both native & non-native speakers. I wonder to what extent it's also about the ways in which publishing power has transformed over the past decades and where it now lies?

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Interesting piece on @devex.com's Michael Igoe on the GCD and the anti-abortion coalition preparing for Trump's return and the re-imposition of a (likely expanded) global gag. www.devex.com/news/inside-... (free registration required to read).

devex.com

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Great blog post from @drvickylewis.bsky.social on engaging more equitably in international education & collaboration. Must-read for anyone working on global education partnerships

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

In advance of previous Republican administrations taking office, donors like then-DFID announced increased spending to protect sexual & reprod health services. We know the global gag will be returning in January. FCDO & other donors need to announce now how they will protect women’s health.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

A revised version of my earlier blog post on the reimposition of the Global Gag we can expect when Trump takes office in Jan has just been published for The Conversation: theconversation.com/how-a-second... Bad news not just for abortion services & wider SRH, but global health more generally.

theconversation.com

How a second Trump presidency is likely to threaten abortion rights and women’s healthcare globally

Restrictions on US aid is likely to drive up illegal abortions and maternal deaths.

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Reposted by Mike Jennings

Center for Global Development @cgdev.org · 14/11/2024

The #UK aid budget was cut by £1.5 billion ✂ 💷. Where does that leave UK #development policy? Andy Sumner examines this cut within the context of the new government’s commitments and explores what to expect. ⬇ bit.ly/3UOP62n

bit.ly

Where is UK Development Policy Headed Under the New Government?

The UK's Autumn budget implemented a significant cut to the UK’s aid budget this year. What we might expect in the coming period?

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Very sad news about the death of Prof Richard Rathbone, a wonderfully kind man as well as exceptional scholar of African history. I got to know him in the Dept of History at SOAS in the 1990s. An amazing vibrant place to be researching African history at that time, and he was a great support.

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Mike Jennings @mikejennings101.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I find it annoying when it’s assumed we can just easily fit a 10 minute slot into a lecture for a non-subject chat (eg importance of NSS or module surveys). I get those things are important, but do they think I haven’t v carefully planned the session. I don’t have many spare 10 mins!

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