Experienced Higher Education professional, blogger and commentator. Personal views on higher ed stuff, rankings, regulation, #ncfc & True Crime on Campus. Also podcast: https://audioboom.com/channels/5093607-my-imaginary-universityhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3my7xc72cus26The disappointment at the results for Neapolitan HE is palpable. [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Oct 2026 10:52 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3my7xc72cus26https://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3my54xu44jp2jVery brief review of an excellent James Baldwin novel https://proleartthreat.wordpress.com/2026/10/18/a-room-with-views/18 Oct 2026 07:56 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3my54xu44jp2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3my36j7v7iq2hCollection of very, very short reviews of recent reads - trying to clear the backlog. https://proleartthreat.wordpress.com/2026/10/17/even-more-good-reads/17 Oct 2026 13:18 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3my36j7v7iq2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3my2ia3cntk2hNew @hepi-news.bsky.social blog from @smitajamdar.bsky.social and me on emeritus professors, free speech and other issues and why it might be time for institutions to rethink some historical practices [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Oct 2026 06:39 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3my2ia3cntk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxrf3rcqzs2dNew briefing note from Shakespeare Martineau on the duty to promote the importance of free speech in HE. This briefing focuses on the new promote duty which requires governing bodies to promote the importance of freedom of speech and comes into force on 1 April 2027. https://www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts/duty-promote-free-speech-academic-freedom-higher-education/13 Oct 2026 15:49 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxrf3rcqzs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxr5y37hck2dThe best kept (legal) secret in higher education? New Podcast is out. The latest episode of Extenuating Circumstances is now up and is all about the Association of University Legal Practitioners (AULP). In this ep I talk to AULP's Alex Hall and Samuel McGinty https://www.shma.co.uk/sectors/education/higher-education/#extenuatingCircumstances13 Oct 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxr5y37hck2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxp7ovyzp72jNew blog. There have been many stories over the years about the scurrilous business of fake degrees being offered for sale through dodgy degree mills. But even more ropey is the offer of fake honorary degrees. Yes, fake, fake degrees can be acquired. For a price. http://wonderfulhighered.com/2026/10/12/fake-honorary-degree-fakery/12 Oct 2026 19:07 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxp7ovyzp72jhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxp7ovyzp72jNew blog. There have been many stories over the years about the scurrilous business of fake degrees being offered for sale through dodgy degree mills. But even more ropey is the offer of fake honorary degrees. Yes, fake, fake degrees can be acquired. For a price. http://wonderfulhighered.com/2026/10/12/fake-honorary-degree-fakery/12 Oct 2026 19:07 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxp7ovyzp72jhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxnuhffuic25These make a bit of a change from your usual campus novel Former v-c aims to make academia accessible with time travel novel https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/former-v-c-aims-make-academia-accessible-time-travel-novel12 Oct 2026 06:14 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxnuhffuic25https://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxhac4qwz22iIn the light of the appalling decision in the US to broadcast an execution this letter about the awful impact of such an approach is worth reading. Charles Dickens, writing 175 years ago, knew what he was talking about. https://fs.blog/charles-dickens-to-the-times/09 Oct 2026 14:57 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxhac4qwz22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxdvxyzx2s2kThis truly is what TEF is all about. Painful. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Oct 2026 07:14 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxdvxyzx2s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mxdv4r6itk2kThere really is nothing positive to say about the TEF. The issue is not accountability. TEF is a costly and wasteful labelling exercise which does very little to improve the quality of education received by students. And yes, the idea that you would use the Olympic medal system to rate HE is absurd. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Oct 2026 06:59 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxdv4r6itk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mwnjb2xnls2uThe OfS is consulting on regulatory guidance on free speech and academic freedom in English higher ed In this new post @smitajamdar.bsky.social and I share our observations to help others shape their responses. https://www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts/ofs-consultation-free-speech-conditions-registration/29 Sep 2026 09:28 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwnjb2xnls2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mwncgtzv3k2rMany areas of higher ed are being affected and disrupted by Artificial Intelligence. But some areas seem immune to AI’s impact. Here is the new top 10 of HE things which are not going to be impacted. Top 10 Higher Ed Features Which Will Not Be Affected By AI https://wonderfulhighered.com/2026/09/28/top-10-higher-ed-features-which-will-not-be-affected-by-ai/29 Sep 2026 07:26 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwncgtzv3k2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mwlypbg33a2tNew blog. Many areas of higher education are being affected and disrupted by Artificial Intelligence. But some areas seem immune to AI's impact. Here is the all new top 10 of HE things which are not going to be impacted. Maybe. http://wonderfulhighered.com/2026/09/28/top-10-higher-ed-features-which-will-not-be-affected-by-ai/28 Sep 2026 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwlypbg33a2thttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mw2hacwu5n2qA collection of briefer than brief reviews of a selection of recent reads. https://proleartthreat.wordpress.com/2026/09/21/some-more-good-reads/21 Sep 2026 19:31 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw2hacwu5n2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mw23xjskv22xTurbulent times: challenges facing university leaders The latest episode of Extenuating Circumstances, the legal-oriented higher ed podcast, is now out. In this episode Ben Tucker and I explore the issues which emerge in his new report, Leading in Times of Turmoil. https://www.shma.co.uk/sectors/education/higher-education/#extenuatingCircumstances21 Sep 2026 16:09 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw23xjskv22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mvwmrckneh2jBrief review of another entertaining novel from R F Kuang https://proleartthreat.wordpress.com/2026/09/20/to-hell-and-back/20 Sep 2026 06:59 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvwmrckneh2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mvqdng22tk2hReally interesting conversation. Very much looking forward to reading what sounds like an excellent book. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Sep 2026 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvqdng22tk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mvnldvvps22yThe Office of the Independent Adjudicator has just published its comprehensive Good Practice Framework on Handling Reports About Harassment and Sexual Misconduct. As a starting point for those working through it we have summarised the key elements in this new blog. https://www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts/handling-reports-about-harassment/16 Sep 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnldvvps22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mvnldvvps22yThe Office of the Independent Adjudicator has just published its comprehensive Good Practice Framework on Handling Reports About Harassment and Sexual Misconduct. As a starting point for those working through it we have summarised the key elements in this new blog. https://www.shma.co.uk/our-thoughts/handling-reports-about-harassment/16 Sep 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnldvvps22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mvmun277bc24Big thanks here for these public service efforts from @mike-rat.bsky.social - engaging with the OfS AI helper so we don't have to [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Sep 2026 09:54 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvmun277bc24https://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mviqgz6nms2hThey submitted 165 FOI requests and 105 universities responded. Not sure what to make of this but the 60 which came up with a reason not to seems like quite a high number to me (with no handy comparators). [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Sep 2026 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mviqgz6nms2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mviojdhwjk2hA mattress company conducted this 'research' by submitting FOI requests to 165 UK universities in order to compile a ranking of accommodation with the most cases of bedbugs. What an excellent use of scarce HE resources - thank goodness HE is not excluded from the FOIA https://thetab.com/2026/09/09/revealed-the-10-uk-universities-with-the-most-bed-bugs-crawling-around-student-halls14 Sep 2026 17:54 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mviojdhwjk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3mukk5vpufu2oNew blog. A very good article by Roscoe Hastings has just been published which revisits an article I wrote 25 years ago on some big quality assurance problems. It turns out that many of the issues back then are still concerns now. http://wonderfulhighered.com/2026/09/02/quality-assurance-then-and-now-25-years-of-fun/02 Sep 2026 18:16 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukk5vpufu2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/registrarism.bsky.social/post/3muamdhk5i22wKeep seeing this advert. Really irritating in many ways "That’s why we won’t ever graduate Because we’ll never stop learning At the university of the streets” Am sure the regulator will be investigating shortly - both the use of the title and the appalling graduation rate https://youtu.be/Qp94v0lHa6s?si=nH305BBG-r6UhQ5o29 Aug 2026 19:28 +0000at://did:plc:cm7khevkufynxbsozi76o7ug/app.bsky.feed.post/3muamdhk5i22w