Episode 22: Is UK Academia in Crisis?

In this episode, Charlie and Rosie are joined by special guest Ben Jones, Lecturer at the University of East Anglia and long-term representative of the University and Colleges Union (UCU). We embark on a detailed discussion of the financial crisis that has been affecting academia in the UK over the past few years (and which has hit the humanities hard). We discuss: the causes of the crisis, current responses by Universities and UK Government, and possible long-term solutions, and then, what Early Career Researchers can be doing to help navigate our own position in the midst of this mess! Please do follow us on social media (Twitter/X and BlueSky: @ECRPodcasters) and leave us a review after listening! Links to information mentioned in the show: University and Colleges Union: https://www.ucu.org.uk Article on UK academia in The Week: https://theweek.com/education/uk-universities-why-higher-education-is-in-crisis# Article on the crisis in the Guardian newspaper: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/11/the-guardian-view-on-campus-cuts-academics-pay-a-high-price-for-westminsters-mistakes