Reflecting on higher education through a psychological lens
[Addendum: 08.08.2025 - some NHS apprenticeships at Level 7 will now continue to be funded for a further 5 years - hooray! News story here] I’ve not covered a lot about education policy here recently but the recent announcement that the government levy for Level 7 (masters level) apprenticeships would be removed for apprentices aged… Continue reading Recent announcement on Level 7 apprenticeships
It was an absolute joy to record this Psychology in the Classroom podcast with Lucinda Powell of Changing States of Mind (September 2021). At what point do people accept the label 'Disabled'? What are the barriers to acceptance? Why do students fail to tell educational establishments about disabilities when it may be in their interests… Continue reading Social identity and disability in the classroom
Everyone talks about the student mental health crisis; however, there is much less attention paid to academic staff’s mental health and well-being. This study aims to improve our understanding of the mental health and well-being of academics and identify barriers to enhancing positive psychological health, to help contribute to a better work environment for academics. … Continue reading CLOSED: Bringing academic staff into the mental health narrative: Understanding factors affecting mental health and wellbeing in UK academics
***Update***Update***Update*** Participants are eligible to receive a £16 Amazon voucher for taking part in this study. Thanks to the Keele Psychology MSc research funding scheme for their support! Precarious contracts in academia are receiving a lot of media attention recently, especially in the light of ongoing UCU industrial action and the 'four fights', which protests… Continue reading CLOSED: From postdoc to professorship: mental health and wellbeing in academics on short-term contracts: Call for participants
Recently, I’ve celebrated the promotion success of a small number of well-deserving colleagues, who have been promoted to Senior Lecturer from Lecturer, or to Reader from Senior Lecturer. It is always heart-warming to hear of their successes, and the sense of reward and acknowledgement that they feel on hearing the news. As a Reader myself,… Continue reading Sharing failure: success as the tip of the iceberg
Back in May, the world was a very different place, and having commented on mental health challenges in higher education, I decided to write a post to balance things up a bit, counting my academic blessings. Just a couple of weeks ago (11th March 2020), a catastrophe struck, affecting everyone, everywhere. The World Health Organisation… Continue reading Academic life in a crisis: Counting academic blessings part 2
Today is an important day for the higher education sector, with the publication of the long-awaited Augar report. My intention here is not to comment on the whole report. There is much that I could (and probably should) comment on, particularly around inclusive education, but I have a writing deadline approaching, so I’m trying to… Continue reading The value of higher education: psychology (and other stories)
Yesterday, I blogged about the apparent mental health crisis in higher education, affecting both students and staff. Given some of the comments in the media, and from academics on social media, you might be forgiven for thinking that no sane person would ever consider an academic career! Numerous current PhD students are hoping to achieve… Continue reading Counting my (academic) blessings
Much attention has (appropriately) been given to student mental health in higher education, while the wellbeing of those of us who work in universities has been less prominent in the news – with the exception of a few high profile, tragic cases of suicide. Back in February, The Duchess of Cambridge called for increased action… Continue reading Pressure vessels: comment on HEPI report on mental health trends in university staff
Last week, I had the privilege of attending an All Party Parliamentary Group on Psychology (#APPGPsychology) at Westminster. The group was chaired by Dr Lisa Cameron MP, and included a number of expert panellists, presenting psychological evidence that has value in terms of informing government policy on children and young people’s mental health in schools… Continue reading Psychology in action: influencing policy
HigherPsychEd 