Because 'international student money machine go burrr' has been such an effective strategy for HE so far... Great to see the experts with lived experience delivering this negligent tinkering around the edges researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

A disappointing response to PGRs' disappointment in the HEPI/GW4 proposal from the director of Higher Education Policy Institute.

A reminder that the "Russell Group" has previously shown itself committed to keeping PGRs in student status and using that student status as a reason to offer us inadequate financial support. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-vie…

PGRs actually do have a campaign, the #PGRsAsStaff campaign founded by PandemicPGRs & UCU Postgrads in 2020, pushing for PGRs to have the pay, benefits, & job security that staff have. We invite stakeholders to work with us for what we need - nothing about us without us.

Great to see this being highlighted by Higher Education Policy Institute & GW4 Alliance but what PGR parents really want is parity with employees - 30 hours funded childcare & tax free top ups. In Wales Students are explicitly included in the eligibility criteria for 30 hours - why not the rest of UK?

Here's everything the paper says towards suggesting PGRs have parity with staff on "working parents" childcare funding. This is the basis of PGRs' criticisms of the Higher Education Policy Institute / GW4 Alliance proposal as counterproductive to the goal of PGRs receiving adequate childcare funding.

This is a response to constructive criticism of Nick Hillman's Higher Education Policy Institute report (from direct experience). I have now blocked Nick as he sent other PGR mothers and me dozens of unpleasant tweets that show he has a serious problem with women, women his report is supposed to help.

Appalling response from HEPI director Nick Hillman - shouting down the PGR parents who are supposed to be at the heart of the recent Higher Education Policy Institute and GW4 Alliance report on gaps in provision with Higher Education Policy Institute blocking those who have critiqued the report for not going far enough

Leah Edwards (she/her) Nick Hillman Higher Education Policy Institute GW4 Alliance Horrid. Apart from anything else It is not parents' and carers' job to do policy makers' work for them, and they're not listened to when they *do* do all that extra labour anyway. "Carping" is so telling isn't it.

By extreme contrast to the aforetweetedabout, it's great to see GW4 Alliance director Jo Jenkinson PhD MBE willing to listen & meet PGR parents who've been organising on this issue - hopefully we can make a meeting work & work together with/for PGR parents/carers to win needed funding.

Characteristically useful analysis by the 1752 Group on the OFS's new regulation on harassment & sexual misconduct in HE. We have to keep pushing for (well-defined) bans on staff-student relationships to keep PGRs & students safe - as encouraged but not required by OFS.

Safe Education, a campaign by Durham University students, have written an excellent letter calling for better policy, procedures, & culture for safety from harassment & sexual violence. Read and sign their open letter & follow them on Insta @safe_education_du docs.google.com/document/d/1Ds…

If you feel able, you may wish to join this counter-protest against possible fascist presence in Durham tonight called by Durham Trades Council, meeting 6pm outside the  Methodist Church at the top of North Road. facebook.com/events/1690645…

DUCU members - check your email for the below with hyperlinks. Please keep safe, look after each other, consider coming to a counterdemonstration (Durham tonight, Newcastle tonight/on Sat) if you feel safe to do so. Solidarity is stronger than racism, xenophobia, & Islamophobia.

Translation: The University is committed to protecting the rights of our students to protest, provided it is ineffective opium-of-the-people catharsis, not effective protest. The University is committed to neutralising the rights of students to protest. Despicable Newcastle University

A huge thank you to all the UCU branches and members who have been in touch to send solidarity. Our dispute is about the need for a safe, supportive and anti-racist workplace. These are ideals we hope every trade unionist can support. #ReclaimUCU