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Pravin Balakrishnan

@pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social
119 followers 143 following 47 posts

PhD student in the field of education research at King's College London!

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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 21/04/2026
Perplexity’s CEO is just the latest tech leader to tell the public their jobs will be sacrificed on the altar of the glorious AI future. It’s a compelling narrative, but it distracts us from the real impact of AI: not to take the human out of the loop, but to take away their power and cut their pay
disconnect.blog
Sacrifice your job for the glorious AI future
How tech CEOs use the threat of job loss to distract from how AI is really used against workers
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
"As researchers, we are trained to interpret, to theorize, and to draw connections... Yet, when I returned to Buntong and sat with my old life, it raised the question of what is lost when lived realities are subsumed under explanatory frameworks..." pravinbalakrishnan.substack.com/p/fieldwork-...
pravinbalakrishnan.substack.com
Fieldwork Fragments: When the Researcher Meets the Self
Doing a PhD in the social sciences means you’re spending most of your time in front of the screen.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Be like IOE and all the other universities, who will say we should stop rankings, but then will parade their rankings.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
These past 5 months, I’ve been working on my PhD. Mostly alone. Sketching, writing, revising, editing. Cutting things out, adding new ideas in. Deleting entire passages, only to rewrite a single sentence. Then sketching again.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
If there’s one conference I’ve been waiting to present, it’s the @civicsoftech.bsky.social Conference. Today, I’m both nervous and excited to share my work: ‼️ Resisting Creatively: A Card-Based Futures Workshop with Teacher Communities! Let’s see what futures we can (re)imagine!
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Wrapping up the 1st week of my fieldwork in Malaysia, I reflect on what is education in today's world, thinking as a gardener! "The time-honored processes of teaching and learning, which once took root and matured over seasons, now face pressure to produce results instantly." shorturl.at/rkdhi
shorturl.at
Reflections from the fieldwork: What is education?
As I wrap up the first week of my fieldwork in Malaysia, I reflect on what is education in today's world - trying to think from the lens of a gardener.
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Iveta Silova @isilova.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought that complying with authoritarian demands would protect their independence. It didn’t—and history is warning us again. 🔗 theconversation.com/universities... #AcademicFreedom #HigherEd #Authoritarianism #DEI #TheConversation
theconversation.com
Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence
Before the Nazis, German universities were among the best in the world. Step by step, the universities gave up their independence until they were instruments of the state.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
shorturl.at/VIgS0 A must read article by @isilova.bsky.social! "When universities start regulating not just what they say but what they teach, support and stand for – driven by fear rather than principle – they are no longer just reacting to political threats, they are internalizing them."
theconversation.com
Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence
Before the Nazis, German universities were among the best in the world. Step by step, the universities gave up their independence until they were instruments of the state.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Education is powerful. The same education that craft narratives to colonize minds by designating humans into hierarchies of superiority and inferiority, has the potential to unravel the shackles of imposed identities. Education is a delicate dance of knowledge & power.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
New book chapter out on Educational Cooperation in an Era of Deglobalization with tavis jules, Aleta Garrett and Abigail Smith! The chapter explored reimagining educational cooperation in the Caribbean and I provided input on the theoretical aspects for this chapter!
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
After 2 years serving as the Communications Chair at @gesigcies.bsky.social, it is finally time to say goodbye! I learned so much from this opportunity and quite happy with how we did! Here are some milestones I will hold close to my heart as someone who worked behind in the shadows:
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Growing up here in Buntong, we had very little, but I know my parents did everything that they could so we could uplift ourselves from poverty and the streets. The days of unknowingly running drugs as kids, scavenging from garbage, and doing odd jobs, it all feels like a dream.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Past 2 weeks have been very tough, particularly with my father's death on 26 Feb. Even contemplated to drop out of the PhD. Thanks for all supportive messages, though none I've replied. But then, here comes this email, reminding me that I still have a purpose to fulfil.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
In what should have been the most intellectually stimulating time of my life, this PhD journey has become the most painful. Loss after loss—my cousin, my niece, my aunt, my brother, and now my father—has left me drowning in grief. I've lost my interest, my spirit, and my light.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Organizing my first ever online conference, please consider registering for the conference!
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Very happy to have joined the Bristol edition of the Critical Studies of Education and Technology (CSET)! Loads of generative discussions and things to think about. I like the fact EdTech wasn't immediately discarded as 'evil', rather how can we envision an EdTech for good!
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
In 2024, I attended three physical conferences: CESE, ECER, & BAICE. These spaces and the experiences shaped me—not just as an emerging scholar, but as a person. Read my 1st reflection from CESE titled 'Academic Acrobatics & Scholarly Shadows' Link: shorturl.at/Prl8M
shorturl.at
Academic Acrobatics and Scholarly Shadows: Weaving reflections from CESE 2024
In the summer of 2024, I participated in the CESE 2024 conference in Thessaloniki and was immediately fascinated by the community and the generative discussions. Attending my first CESE conference …
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
If you know any ECRs who would benefit from this event, please share this with them! This webinar is open for all!
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Jelena Brankovic @jelena3121.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Students from Belgrade now marching to Novi Sad (about 100 kilometers by foot), where they will arrive before February 1, to mark the three-month anniversary of the canopy collapse. #students #serbia
youtube.com
Studenti iz Beograda upravo kreću peške za Novi Sad! Prenos uživo! Podelite
YouTube video by Politicki Globus Srbije
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Globalization & Education SIG of CIES @gesigcies.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
🚨Major Announcement! Pls circulate! 📢 Calling all early career scholars (also MA & PhD)! Submit your 300-word abstract for The Globalization & Education Online Conference 2025! 🌍💡 📝 Abstract Deadline: Jan 18, 2025 🔗 Submit here: forms.office.com/e/npe9pTB7au Conference Date: 4th of March 2025
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Got a signed copy of this amazing book from @madianou.bsky.social! With the current age we are in, this is a must read for everyone doing work in tech!
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Thanks to NORRAG for publishing my latest blog! Drawing on Margaret Atwood’s notion of Ustopia, I argue that grassroot movements offer rich and insightful alternatives to the utopian visions promoted by IOs! Big thanks to Maren Elfert for making this happen! www.norrag.org/towards-usto...
norrag.org
Towards Ustopia - NORRAG -
In this blogpost, Pravin Balakrishnan, drawing on Margaret Atwood’s notion of Ustopia, argues that grassroot movements offer rich and insightful alternatives to the utopian visions promoted by interna...
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Centre for Higher Education Transformations - CHET @chet-bristol.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
⏰Get your tickets today! Join @davidstaley8.bsky.social @tanner-mirrlees.bsky.social Darren Moon and @jkom.bsky.social on Dec 11th at 1:00 p.m. (GMT) for our next online seminar “The reshaping of #HigherEd by #DigitalTech”. 🔗Register here ▶ shorturl.at/ifwnA #HigherEducation #Digitalisation #AI
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Globalization & Education SIG of CIES @gesigcies.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
We are at this event today - Responding to ‘Scholasticide’ in #Gaza: The Role of the UK International Education and Training Community! What a great way to start our Bluesky postings. Let's go!
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Lizzi O. Milligan @lizziom.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
This is a fantastic initiative that has been set up by Taawon to help University students in Gaza to complete their degrees through distance learning. 🇵🇸 💚 Please share and donate if you can: taawon.org/en/isnad
taawon.org
ISNAD - helping university students in Gaza to resume their education | Taawon
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
czernie @czernie.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
Fantastic that a larger convivial community is growing here. Still seeking more skyers from Majority countries, interested in resistance to big tech in HE, digital inequality everywhere, public good, HE for good.....
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
ICYMI - Feel free to join us this 13th of November for an hybrid symposium on global governance of education with emerging scholars! Link to register: shorturl.at/9CTNO
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
UofG GLACIER Network @uofg-glacier.bsky.social · 04/11/2024
📢 HELLO! We're thrilled to launch the Glasgow Comparative and International Education Research (GLACIER) Network here on LinkedIn! 📺 We have a range of external and internal activities planned for 2024-2025, so stay tuned for more! #GlasgowIntCompEd
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 01/11/2024
Doing critical research on edtech, one of the major influences on our education systems? Wondering where to present it and help build a research community? Maybe this new critical edtech studies conference is for you www.de.ed.ac.uk/news/call-ab...
Image of a crowd of people on steps with raised hand in foreground
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 01/11/2024
I wrote something and it got published on BAICE! baice.ac.uk/hub/towards-... I am playing with this idea of ustopia...
baice.ac.uk
Towards Ustopia
In her opening speech ‘The imperative of the future’ at the UKFIET 2023 Conference, two key arguments in relation to a just education stood out from Maria Balarin. First…
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 24/10/2024
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/emerg... Come and join us this 13th of November! The Emerging Scholars Global Governance of Education Symposium happening. 4 panel presentations, and 1 doctoral panel presentation; from 10.30 to 4.30pm :)
kcl.ac.uk
Emerging Scholars Global Governance of Education Seminar Series (GloGESS)
The Emerging Scholars Global Governance of Education Seminar Series (GloGESS) is the latest initiative by King's International Education Research Network (KIERN) to advance research on the global gove...
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
It's my first time organizing a hybrid symposium, so would be great to see some of you online or in-person! <3
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
📢 Exciting news! The Emerging Scholars Global Governance of Education Hybrid Symposium is happening on November 13th, from 10:15 AM to 4 PM! 🎓✨ We’re thrilled to reveal an incredible lineup of speakers and presentations. Register by October 27th at: shorturl.at/9CTNO
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 27/09/2024
AI tutors are imaginary tech built on pseudo-psychological simplifications of debunked psychological statistical effects, glossed with entrepreneurial confidence and masses of investor speculation 4/
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 27/09/2024
In our first class this week, I wanted all of us to rethink what we know about education and how we would explain it to, say, an alien who just crash landed on Earth...
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 27/09/2024
This week marks my 1st time being a teaching assistant in a university setting. I know it's really nothing for many but if you come from my background- growing up poor, stealing food from shops, and all the other stuff which I can't say - I am very, very lucky to be here today.
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Charles Logan @charleswlogan.bsky.social · 25/09/2024
Perhaps ed-tech companies must now show evidence of their transformative AI? "Claims around [AI] have become more prevalent in the marketplace, including frequent promises about the ways it could potentially enhance people’s lives through automation and problem solving." www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
ftc.gov
FTC Announces Crackdown on Deceptive AI Claims and Schemes
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 22/09/2024
If there's one memory I will hold on to in my 1st year of PhD is working and presenting together with my supervisor.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 22/09/2024
Please help repost! @simonaszakbehl.bsky.social @helenseitzer.bsky.social @prachisrivas.bsky.social Just realized CIES is not yet on Bluesky!
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 21/09/2024
Does what we pay teachers matter? A 🧵. Teachers once took home salaries in line with workers in similar professions. Through the 80s and into the 90s, they paid a small penalty for choosing to teach; in 1993 the average salary of teachers was about 5% lower than that of others with college degrees.
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Bevan Holloway @bevanholloway.com · 15/09/2024
The bigger play here is the de-professionalisation of teaching and the resulting redirection of public money into private profit.
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 15/09/2024
Reflecting 1st year in PhD - professionally - presented in conferences, published 2 blogs, won some bursaries and a small grant, did some cool work with GESIG & BAICE; but on a personal level, complete disaster. Losing 4 family members consecutively and it has not sunk in yet until I go back home.
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Dan McQuillan @danmcquillan.bsky.social · 07/09/2024
Any educator who embraces AI on the basis that students will need to engage with AI in the world of work has missed the point that AI is a fundamentally anti-worker technology which will immiserate students' prospects of getting work and their experience in workplace itself.
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Reposted by Pravin Balakrishnan
Prof Prachi Srivastava 🌈 @prachisrivas.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Thanks to @cmartinshields.bsky.social for this starter pack on researchers/academics working on development studies issues. go.bsky.app/CeDxRnA He was kind enough to add me. #EduSky #PoliSky #EconSky #AcademicChatter
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 02/09/2024
At the #BAICE2024 conference, getting ready for tomorrow's opening plenary!
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Pravin Balakrishnan @pravinbalakrishnan.bsky.social · 28/08/2024
At #ECER2024 and enjoying the rich discussions taking place in all the sessions we attend.
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