Ben Davies

#EnglishCreates: Futures

Today, Dr JT Welsch (University of York) re-examines the so-called 'death of reading':

'Like most clickbait, these rants rest on a false opposition. There’s no real war between print and digital media.'

universityenglish.ac.uk/death-of-rea...

#EnglishStudies

This was fun to do with wonderful collaborators @jenniferacooke.bsky.social @bobeaglestone.bsky.social @gailmarshall.bsky.social CEO @englishassociation.bsky.social @jtwelsch.bsky.social #ReadingMatters @ies-sas.bsky.social

: Half of UK universities face a deficit next year. Up to 50 could close.

That is a sector in crisis. Simply blaming a tuition fee freeze and nudging fees up with inflation is not a plan. Where is the long-term strategy for higher education?

#Universities #HigherEducation

Wonderful post by @gailmarshall.bsky.social on books, reading, connection, and lifetimes of reading. @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social #EnglishCreates

The Price Lab’s Critical Approaches to AI Working Group has released a white paper in which we advocate for AI-free instruction in reading, writing, & research. These are fundamental skills in the humanities (& in general), & with decisive action we can keep teaching them well in the age of AI!

So happy to have our new issue up! So much brilliant stuff in there. Well done to our amazing editors. Check it out below 👇

Important post on the importance of reading by @jenniferacooke.bsky.social #EnglishCreates @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @lboroenglish.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social

#EnglishCreates: Futures

Today, Prof Jennifer Cooke (Loughborough University) discusses the profound value of reading in the age of social media:

'Just as smart phones and social media sites train us in one way, proper reading trains us in another...'

universityenglish.ac.uk/really-readi...

‘These days I snatch words whenever I can, grateful for the books that changed my life’. Wonderful post by @englishassociation.bsky.social CEO Dr Becky Fisher. @ies-sas.bsky.social @jennyrichards.bsky.social @gailmarshall.bsky.social #EnglishCreated

Stefan Collini · Sold Out: The Costs of University Privatisation Future historians will record that, alongside its many other achievements, the coalition government took the decisive...

Stefan Collini in 2013:

"Future historians ... will at least record that, alongside its many other achievements, the coalition government took the decisive steps in helping to turn some first-rate universities into third-rate companies."

#HigherEd
#UKHE

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v3...

'Corner first indicated that the funding formula was under review at the end of the three-month pause to the REF in December. She told RPN it was a “long process” that was “quite complex and there’s a lot of thought going into it”.' 1/3

The next instalment of #EnglishCreates is all about reading, beginning with @bobeaglestone.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social @rbtownsend.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social

#EnglishCreates: Futures

Thank you to Prof Ralph Pite and his team of collaborators for providing us with such wonderful content across the month. The posts make for an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and readers, and can be found here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

#EnglishCreates: Futures

Our month on 'Environments' concludes with a post from our curator, Prof Ralph Pite (Uni of Bristol), offering recommendations for readings and resources for lecturers, teachers, and general readers alike: universityenglish.ac.uk/what-next-wh...

#EnglishStudies

I think the greatest gift college professors in the humanities can give to students right now is a seminar room where, for 80 minutes twice a week, nothing that happens to them is a sales pitch for an AI product.

@thecockerill.bsky.social

And another petition, sadly 😪
You might be aware that the Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at Heriot-Watt University is under threat.

More information and to sign the petition: heriotwatt.web.ucu.org.uk/2026/02/05/s...

See here for all #EnglishCreates blog post and resources: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

@kovesi.bsky.social @ettingera.bsky.social @literacy-trust.bsky.social @readingagency.bsky.social

@gailmarshall.bsky.social @bobeaglestone.bsky.social @profsarahdillon.bsky.social @emilyjhogg.bsky.social

Another great instalment of #EnglishCreates from @univeng.bsky.social in the National Year of Reading. @ies-sas.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social @anthonycockrell.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social @royalhistsoc.org @engmediacentre.bsky.social

Events | The English Association We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.

Feb events ! 💫 Sign up! Join us!
Free. Online. 16.45-17.30
#Secondary English #curriculum across 4 UK nations ( 12th)
What will #Curriculum & #Assessment Review mean for you? (24th)
Spotlight on English ! #Teachmeet for #primary (26th)
#ThinkingForwards : (27th)
englishassociation.ac.uk/events/

Call for book review essays - book list C21 is inviting scholars and researchers to contribute book review essays for upcoming issues. We currently have a selection of titles published in 2025 available for review, spanning film and …

We are looking for review essays! You can see some of our selected titles at the post below. Get in contact with our review editors @heyitsdenisew.bsky.social and @olihaslam.bsky.social to request some or for further info

Humanities more important than ever in digital age The notion that "the humanities are useless" is not new, but it has gained renewed poignancy in today's artificial intelligence-driven world.

"AI still cannot adequately cover the unique domain of "critical thinking" that belongs to the humanities...the issue lies ... with whether humanists possess the courage and capability to shoulder the responsibilities of the era and confront its challenges." bit.ly/3Zvb3p8

We continue with Dr Michael Malay's (University of Bristol) superb blog, asking what it might mean when 'even the simple act of kite-flying' is 'haunted' by the question of the Anthropocene':

universityenglish.ac.uk/kite-flying-...

#EnglishStudies
#Ecocriticism
#Antropocene

@englishassociation.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social @rsliterature.bsky.social @engmediacentre.bsky.social #EnglishCreates

#EnglishCreates: Futures continues with this post by Francesca Mackenney and Jamie Castell (Cardiff University):

'How do representations of sound in literature shape our awareness of the natural world?'

Read the full post here: universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

#EnglishStudies
#Ecocriticism

#EnglishCreates: Futures

Today, Dr Jeremy Davies (University of Leeds) shows how English can help us to think about climate change:

'Literature of the first fossil-fuelled society can help us to imagine alternative futures...'

universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat... #EnglishStudies #Ecocriticism

#EnglishCreates: Futures!

Today's brilliant post is by Sarah Dukes, an English teacher at The Chase School in Worcestershire:

"English is a gift... key skills can be taught using the climate crisis and nature as the subject matter..."

universityenglish.ac.uk/teaching-it-...

#EnglishStudies

#EnglishCreates: Futures continues with a brilliant piece by Rachel Green (University of Bristol):

'When I tell people that my research is about farming and rewilding, the most common response I get is: "So… how is that an English PhD?"'

universityenglish.ac.uk/englishcreat...

#EnglishStudies