Newsroom University of 51��

UK expert in energy and climate governance joins 51��

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:04:51 +0000

51�� has appointed Professor Rebecca Willis as Chair of Energy and Climate Governance – a role which bridges the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science and Engineering through the and the for Climate Change.

A leading academic and thought leader in environment, climate, energy policy and politics, Rebecca will also bring a team of highly regarded researchers and academics to join her at the University. Rebecca leads the Climate Citizens research group, which investigates public engagement and citizenship. She is a co-investigator for the Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transitions (JUST), the Energy Demand Research Centre, and a new initiative, PACT (Production and Consumption Transformations) which provides decision support to government departments.

Rebecca Willis has previously been a professor at Lancaster University and is an expert advisor to the Climate Change Committee and Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Initiative.

Speaking on her appointment, Rebecca said: “The wealth of expertise based here at 51�� is highly valued around the world. I am excited to be part of a community working on global challenges with practical outcomes for people, planet and society.

Professor Claire Alexander, Head of the School of Social Sciences added: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome Rebecca and her team to the University of 51��. Rebecca brings significant insight and expertise in terms of applying policy to innovation in the challenging fields of energy and climate governance. She will be working closely with colleagues in the Sustainable Consumption Institute, a collaboration between the School of Social Sciences and Alliance 51�� Business School, who are leading the way in terms of the economic and social and policy dimensions of climate justice and environmental sustainability.”

Professor Sarah Cartmell, Head of the School of Engineering said: “Through the Tyndall Centre, Rebecca will strengthen our capacity to link cutting-edge engineering, climate science, social science and governance insights with policy that works in practice. Her expertise will help accelerate the impact of our work, deepen our partnerships and enhance 51��’s role as a leading contributor to the UK and global climate policy landscape.”

Radical measures needed to close arts class gap in Greater 51��, inquiry finds

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Working class creatives are struggling to break into and are leaving the arts, a new inquiry has warned.

, led by Chancellor of 51�� Nazir Afzal OBE and Avis Gilmore, former Deputy General Secretary of one of Europe’s biggest trade unions, found that barriers preventing working class talent from succeeding included class-based discrimination, low pay, a lack of connections and exploitative practices.

Less than half of creatives surveyed (44%) said they earned enough to make a living, with many requiring second jobs; 51% of respondents said they had experienced bullying, harassment or bias based on their social class; just 18% of respondents said they saw their lived experiences widely represented in the art form they practice and only 22% said they personally knew anyone working in the arts when they were growing up.

Featuring over 150 hours of interviews with artists ranging from teenage musicians and mid-career arts workers to globally recognised playwrights and BAFTA and Emmy winning screenwriters, the Inquiry found anger, despair and seeds of hope in the voices they heard.

Co-Chair Nazir Afzal OBE, who is also the Chair of the Lowry theatre, said this was an opportunity for Greater 51�� to lead the way on a national challenge and build a better sector “where talent is discovered everywhere, nurtured properly, paid fairly and allowed to rise.”

Among the Inquiry’s 21 recommendations are measures to include class as a protected characteristic, the appointment of a Class Champion, a drive to increase apprenticeships, measures to decasualise labour and a co-ordinating body led by the GMCA to marshal resources, spot gaps and join up best practice.

Although the Equality Act does not recognise class as a protected characteristic, Afzal said that 51�� should look to unilaterally recognise people from working class backgrounds as having protected characteristics. “As a former prosecutor, I have seen our region do this before,” he said. “When Sophie Lancaster was killed, Greater 51�� Police broke new ground by offering people from alternative sub-cultures hate crime protection – and other police forces eventually followed suit. This was the right thing to do and we need to be equally bold. Because we are not going to break down barriers that are crushing creativity until we build an arts sector that treats class as a core inclusion issue.”

But as well as highlighting structural failings, the Inquiry also shines a light on many changemakers who are working hard to widen participation and make a difference. Co-chair Avis Gilmore said she was particularly inspired by institutions like the Co-op stepping up on the back of the report to campaign for more apprenticeships. “I’m thrilled that the Co-op has agreed to lead a campaign to significantly boost creative apprenticeships in our region,” she said.

Claire Costello, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Co-op explained: “Our Co-op believes everyone, whatever their background, should be able to access opportunities in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater 51��. Apprenticeships can provide a ‘stepping stone’ for future careers, that’s why Co-op is encouraging Greater 51�� employers to share unspent apprenticeship levy funds to raise £3 million over 3 years to support 200 new apprenticeships in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater 51��.”

The inquiry’s findings are being launched on January 26^th at an event at the Whitworth Art Gallery at The University of 51�� in collaboration with research platform Creative 51��, where the Mayor of Greater 51��, Andy Burnham, is due to speak.

The report can be downloaded .

New Funding to Catalyse Devolved Cultural Policy Making: The Mayoral Authorities Creative Health Network

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Working with the Mayoral Authorities Creative Health Network (MACHN), convened by Greater 51�� Combined Authority and Greater London Authority, the network will map policy alignment and challenges across mayoral areas and establish a first of its kind framework for embedding creative health for growth into devolved strategy. The project is titled ‘’.

2026 Co-Lab Policy Network Awards

The programme based at has today announced the results of the 2026 : an ambitious intervention to reorientate place-based cultural policy making in a new context of and the .

The awards mark a pivotal opportunity to deliver devolution and community-led innovation not just as buzzwords, but as practical tools for better place-based policymaking. Together, the four awards mark a timely shift in how we understand innovation, community, and collaboration across the UK.

The programme will fund 4 new to support innovative cross-sector cultural policy networks in devolved nations and regions of the UK.

Co-Lab Policy Network Awards 2026

The Co-Lab Policy Network Awards will create new spaces for deliberation on complex cultural challenges and opportunities—from culture-led regeneration to creative health—building devolved policy infrastructure that will enable better outcomes. The networks will work across sectors to ensure that people in devolved settings become not just participants in policy but the co-creators of it.

The AHRC Creative Communities programme will bring the four networks together to host a devolution and cultural policy summit in December 2026. The programme will publish a Policy Priority Paper from each network award in March 2027. The papers will make new policy recommendations direct to devolved administrations to strengthen delivery and create new capacity for devolved policy exchange within and between the nations and regions of the UK.

About Creative Communities

is a major multi-million pound research programme based at Northumbria University in Newcastle. The investment builds a new evidence base on how cultural devolution can enhance belonging, address regional inequality, deliver devolution, and break down barriers to opportunity for communities in devolved settings across all four nations of the UK.

Study finds strong link between teacher wellbeing and pupil achievement

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:34:55 +0000

A new study from 51�� has found that happier teachers help create happier pupils - and better learning - as ten schools across the UK embrace a groundbreaking approach to wellbeing.

The research, led by Dr Alexandra Hennessey and Dr Sarah MacQuarrie from the 51�� Institute of Education, explored how the schools adopted the Well Schools framework - a national movement run by the Youth Sport Trust that puts wellbeing at the heart of education.

The Well Schools project, which began in 2020, has grown into a thriving community of more than 2,000 schools across the UK. This focused on ten schools that took part in a detailed evaluation of how the framework supports wellbeing among both staff and pupils.

Their findings, published in , show that when schools focus on the health, happiness and connectedness of both pupils and staff, classrooms become more positive, productive places to learn and teach.

The report highlights inspiring examples from schools that have introduced everything from daily “active learning” sessions and outdoor lessons to staff recognition schemes, mental health first aid training and after-school wellbeing clubs. These initiatives, tailored to each school’s needs, are helping teachers feel valued and pupils more engaged.

One headteacher told the research team: “If staff are happy and relaxed, the lessons they teach are better. You can feel the buzz in the building - it just feels different.”

Schools involved ranged from small primaries to large secondaries and special schools across England, Scotland and Wales. Despite their differences, all shared a commitment to supporting wellbeing as part of their school culture - and saw real benefits in attendance, focus and morale.

The study found that wellbeing programmes worked best when led by senior school leaders but shaped collaboratively by staff and pupils. Initiatives such as ‘keep, tweak or ditch’ reviews helped teachers cut unnecessary workload, while pupil wellbeing ambassadors and parent workshops extended the benefits beyond the classroom.

“This research highlights the power of schools working as communities - not just institutions that deliver lessons, but places that nurture people,” added Dr MacQuarrie. “The schools we studied created a sense of belonging, where staff and pupils alike feel heard and supported.”

Dr Hennessey concluded: “Wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. Schools that invest in the health and happiness of their staff and students aren’t just improving education - they’re shaping stronger, kinder communities.”

Music Department hosts 'Re:locating the Arts' event with researchers and leading industry partners

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:43:24 +0000

On 4th November, the University’s Music Department hosted Re:locating the Arts, a symposium which explored research and current practice on themes of location in the output of arts organisations, co-organised with partner organisation 51�� Camerata. With contributions from academia, postgraduate researchers, and professionals working in industry, the event provided an opportunity for a disciplinary diverse range of voices to interrogate current thinking around the role of geographical location in designing and delivering effective arts programmes.

With representatives from theatre, music, orchestral production, and music education, the event began with a roundtable discussion that examined routes to finding a home within a community. Presentations covered a breadth of topics spotlighting current initiatives and relocations in arts organisations; experimental AI in collective practice; festival partnerships; the positioning of the arts within (and by) universities; civic capital in classical music outreach projects; ethics, rights, and regulations in the University of Sheffield’s Access Folk’s participant-led research; and preliminary findings from the University’s research partnership with English National Opera.

This symposium was the third in an ongoing series of Think Tank events, in which themes emerging from a collaborative PhD project are discussed and interrogated by a diverse range of voices and disciplines. The Think Tank series will continue in 2026 with an event focusing on the theme which was considered the most urgent for further interrogation: community.

This event was funded by the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership, part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Thanks also to Creative 51�� for their generous support.

For more information on the Think Tank series, please email Rebecca.parnell@manchester.ac.uk

When Power Replaces Law: Venezuela, the United States, and the Fragility of the International Legal Order

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

This intervention is not merely controversial or politically debatable; it is unlawful under the core rules governing the international use of force. That conclusion holds regardless of arguments based on U.S. domestic law, moral claims about Maduro’s governance, or strategic interests in the region. If international law is to retain any meaning, it must be applied consistently — even, and especially, when doing so is politically inconvenient.

I. The Illegality of the Use of Force Against Venezuela

The prohibition on the use of force is one of the foundational principles of modern international law. Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter forbids states from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Only two narrow exceptions exist: self-defence under Article 51, and authorisation by the UN Security Council.

Neither applies in the case of Venezuela. Venezuela did not attack the United States, nor was there an imminent armed attack that could justify anticipatory self-defence. Likewise, there is no Security Council mandate authorising military action. On that basis alone, U.S. strikes on Venezuelan territory constitute an unlawful use of force.

The same conclusion applies to the goal of removing Nicolás Maduro from power. International law explicitly prohibits intervention in the internal affairs of another state, including the forcible determination of its political leadership. Whether a government is unpopular, authoritarian, or widely regarded as illegitimate does not grant other states a legal right to impose regime change through military means.

The capture of Maduro and his wife therefore compounds these violations. Conducting arrests on foreign soil without the consent of the territorial state or authorisation by the Security Council constitutes an unlawful extraterritorial exercise of enforcement jurisdiction. Such actions also breach international human rights law, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires adherence to established legal procedures. Kidnapping individuals across borders does not become lawful simply because it is carried out by a powerful state.

Arguments invoking benevolent motives do not alter this legal assessment. Claims that intervention is justified by drug trafficking, human rights abuses, or economic mismanagement do not create exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force. There is no recognised doctrine of a transnational “war on drugs” that permits military attacks on other states, nor does international law generally accept unilateral humanitarian intervention as lawful. Strategic or economic interests — such as access to oil — are even more clearly excluded as legal justifications.

II. Domestic Law Is Not a Defence Under International Law

Much of the defence offered for U.S. actions rests on domestic legal arguments: U.S. criminal indictments against Maduro, executive authority memoranda permitting extraterritorial arrests, or precedents such as the 1989 invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega. These arguments misunderstand the relationship between domestic and international law.

International law is explicit on this point. A state may not invoke its internal law as justification for failing to comply with its international obligations. Even if U.S. courts permit prosecution following an unlawful apprehension, and even if U.S. executive branch lawyers conclude that such actions are permissible under domestic law, this does not erase the underlying violations of international law. The state remains internationally responsible for its conduct.

Historical precedent does not cure illegality either. The fact that the United States previously invaded Panama and prosecuted Noriega does not retroactively legalise that action, nor does it create a lawful template for future interventions. Repetition of unlawful conduct does not transform it into law.

III. Maduro, Accountability, and the Limits of Lawful Enforcement

None of this is a defence of Nicolás Maduro or his record in office. One may simultaneously believe that Maduro should not be governing Venezuela and recognise that foreign military intervention to remove him is illegal. His government has been credibly accused of serious human rights violations, repression, and corruption. These allegations matter and international law provides mechanisms to address them.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating crimes committed in Venezuela since 2018. Within the boundaries of international law, the ICC could have pursued accountability through arrest warrants, trials, and cooperation with states parties. Such processes are slow, imperfect, and politically constrained, but they are lawful. They preserve the distinction between justice and vengeance, between accountability and domination.

International law does not promise perfect outcomes. It does not guarantee that every abusive leader will be swiftly removed or punished. But its value lies precisely in its restraint: it channels power through rules, procedures, and institutions rather than raw force. Abandoning those constraints because they are frustrating or incomplete undermines the very conditions of international stability.

IV. The Cost of Disregarding International Law

The broader danger of the Venezuela intervention lies not only in its immediate consequences, but in the precedent it sets. If powerful states may unilaterally decide when international law applies and when it does not, the legal order collapses into selective enforcement and strategic convenience.

A world in which the use of force is justified by unilateral claims of necessity or moral superiority is a world of profound instability. If Venezuela can be attacked without condemnation nor consequence, there is no principled basis for objecting when other states do the same elsewhere—whether in Ukraine, Taiwan, Greenland, or beyond. Once “might makes right” replaces legal constraint, no state, however small or distant, is truly secure.

International silence or half-hearted responses exacerbate this risk. Vague expressions of “concern” or selective condemnation signal that violations will be tolerated when committed by allies or powerful actors. That erosion of consistency is itself corrosive to the rule of law.

V. Consistency as the Minimum Condition for Legitimacy

International law cannot survive as a menu of optional rules. Its legitimacy depends on consistent application without fear or favour. States cannot credibly condemn violations by adversaries while excusing or endorsing the same conduct by partners or themselves.

Respecting international law does not require believing it is flawless. It requires recognising that, despite its limits, it remains the only framework capable of restraining violence, protecting sovereignty, and reducing the risk of global anarchy. The alternative is not a more just world, but a more dangerous one.

The intervention in Venezuela is therefore not only about Venezuela. It is a test of whether international law remains a meaningful constraint on power, or whether it will be discarded whenever it becomes inconvenient. If the answer is the latter, the consequences will not be confined to one country or one region. They will shape the future of global order itself.

An earlier, simplified version of this analysis was published on the Substack

Lack of coordination is leaving modern slavery victims and survivors vulnerable, say experts

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Researchers at 51�� are calling for stronger, coordinated partnerships to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking, warning that gaps between organisations risk leaving victims and survivors without consistent protection and support.

Their appeal comes in a new review commissioned by , which examines how organisations across the city region work together to identify, safeguard and support people affected by modern slavery and human trafficking. The review focuses on partnerships involving local authorities, statutory services, law enforcement, housing providers and voluntary and community sector organisations.

The authors argue that tackling modern slavery depends on robust, long-term collaboration rather than ad hoc arrangements. While organisations across Greater 51�� have developed innovative partnership approaches, the review finds that these are not always embedded consistently across the system. Among the review’s key recommendations, the authors are calling for:

- Clearer strategic governance to strengthen modern slavery and human trafficking partnerships at a Greater 51��-wide level.
- More consistent roles and responsibilities across organisations, so victims/survivors do not fall through gaps between services.
- Improved information-sharing and referral pathways, ensuring concerns are acted on quickly and safely.
- Sustainable funding and resources to support partnership working, rather than reliance on short-term arrangements.
- Stronger links between safeguarding, housing, immigration advice and criminal justice responses, reflecting the needs of victims.

The review suggests that where partnerships are well established, outcomes for victims are more likely to be improved. Such embedded collaboration enables earlier identification of exploitation, better safeguarding responses and coordinated support to help individuals recover and rebuild their lives. Strong partnerships also support disruption of criminal activity by improving intelligence-sharing and joint working.

However, the authors highlight challenges which can weaken partnership arrangements including variations in local practice, capacity pressures and funding uncertainty. Frontline professionals reported that without clear structures and shared accountability, collaboration often relies on personal relationships, making it fragile and difficult to sustain.

The researchers also note that victims and survivors of modern slavery often face overlapping vulnerabilities including insecure housing, mental ill-health and immigration insecurity. Without joined-up working across sectors, these complexities can delay support and increase the risk of re-exploitation.

The authors stress that the findings have national relevance due to a relatively cohesive modern slavery partnership approach in Greater 51��. As awareness of modern slavery grows, public bodies across the UK face pressure to demonstrate good quality partnership responses. The review positions Greater 51�� as a potential leader, but cautions that this requires investment in governance, coordination and shared learning.

India shows how urban forests can help cool cities – as long as planners understand what nature and people need

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:48:24 +0000

For many years, I lived in the Indian city of Chennai where the summer temperatures can reach up to 44°C. With a population of 4.5 million, this coastal city is humid and hot.

Its suburbs are home to 600 Hindu temples and there’s a wildlife reserve called Guindy national park in the heart of the city. of the streets but green parks are few and far between – as is the shade.

As and the rest of , urban forests become more vital. These clusters of trees in parks, gardens, public spaces and along roads and rivers have multiple benefits – from cooling the surrounding air to providing homes for wildlife and creating space for people to enjoy nature. Yet they are often overlooked by city developers.

shows that, in Chennai, there are 26 square miles of tree and other vegetation cover, mainly accounted for by formal green spaces such as Guindy wildlife reserve. On the outskirts of this city, an area of nine square miles of unused land is ideally suited to creating more urban forest. Similarly, there is more potential space for urban forests in other fast urbanising Indian cities like Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli.

recommend having at least 30% tree cover in urban areas. suggests that cities should allow for nine square metres of urban tree cover per person. Most Indian cities .

Improving urban forests in India has been a challenge for many years due to high land prices, lack of urban planning and little public participation .

Policies introduced by the Indian government to “green” urban areas often equate tree planting with cooling cities and building climate resilience. But it’s not that simple. The success of urban forests depends on factors such as rainfall, understanding interactions with local wildlife and people’s needs.

A warns that in hot, dry cities with limited water availability like Chennai, trees slow the cooling process by water evaporation from leaves and instead contribute to urban heat. Urban heat comes from the reflection and absorption of sunlight by buildings and land surfaces. This is particularly high in smaller Indian cities with populations of 1 to 5 million.

Planting trees with the sole aim of cooling cities could negatively affect wildlife too. Not all birds, bugs and mammals depend on trees for food or shelter. A from researchers in Bengaluru, India, shows that non-native tree species contribute little to bird richness. Meanwhile, urban grasslands and marshlands that are often misclassified as “waste land” support wildlife and help regulate flooding.

In India, cities and villages have open “common” land where people graze their cattle or harvest fuelwood from trees that grow naturally there – tree-planting initiatives in these open land areas can displace poorer communities of people who rely on open lands for grazing and fuel wood collection.

Design with nature

Urban forests can be planned to meet the needs of people, birds and other wildlife.

In 1969, Ian McHarg, the late Scottish landscape architect and urban planner came up with the concept of “design with nature”, where development has a minimal negative effect on the environment. His idea was to preserve existing natural forests by proposing site suitability assessments. By analysing factors such as rivers and streams, soil type, slope and drainage, to identify which areas suit development and which are best preserved for nature.

This approach has advanced with new technology. Now, geographic information systems and satellite imagery help planners integrate environmental data and identify suitable areas for planting new trees or conserving urban forests.

Using the principles of landscape ecology, urban planners can design forest patches in a way that enhances the connectivity of green spaces in a city, rather than uniformly planting trees across all open spaces. By designing these “ecological corridors”, trees along roads or canals, for example, can help link fragmented green spaces.

Planting native tree species suited to dry and drought-prone environments is also crucial, as is assessing the local community’s needs for native fruit-bearing trees that provide food.

Growing urban forests

By 2030, one-third of India’s electricity demand is expected to come from cooling equipment such as . Increasing urban forests could help reduce this .

National-level policies could support urban forest expansion across India. In 2014, the government of India released its urban greenery and flagship urban renewal programmes such as the have tried to increase tree cover. But guidelines often overlook critical considerations like ecological connectivity, native species and local community needs.

In 2020, the government of India launched (a scheme to improve tree cover in cities) with a budget of around US$94 million (£70 million). It aims to create urban forests through active participation of citizens, government agencies and private companies. But there is little evidence that urban forest cover has improved.

Urbanisation reduced tree cover in most Indian cities, and much of it was rather . But by protecting and planting more trees, citizens can live in greener, cooler cities. By shifting urban forest policy from counting trees to designing landscapes, plans that enhance climate resilience, nature conservation and social equity can be put into practice.

, Postgraduate Researcher, Climate Adaptation,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Time spent on gaming and social media not to blame for teen mental health issues

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

A major new study from 51�� has found little evidence that social media use or video gaming are causing mental health problems in young teenagers, challenging one of the most widespread concerns among parents and teachers today.

The research - published in the - is based on the experiences of more than 25,000 pupils across Greater 51��, and is one of the largest and most detailed studies of its kind. The team followed young people aged 11-14 over three school years as part of the #BeeWell programme, which focuses on understanding and improving young people’s wellbeing.

For several years, headlines have warned that time spent on TikTok, Instagram or gaming platforms could be driving a rise in anxiety and depression among teenagers - but the 51�� researchers say their findings paint a much more nuanced picture.

“We know families are worried, but our results do not support the idea that simply spending time on social media or gaming leads to mental health problems - the story is far more complex than that,” said lead author .

The study tracked pupils’ self-reported social media habits, gaming frequency and emotional difficulties over three school years to find out whether technology use genuinely predicted later mental health difficulties. The researchers found no evidence that heavier social media use or more frequent gaming caused increases in symptoms of anxiety or depression over the following year - for boys or girls.

However, the study did uncover other interesting patterns. Girls who gamed more often went on to spend slightly less time on social media the following year, and boys who reported more emotional difficulties were more likely to cut back on gaming in the future - a pattern the researchers suggest could be linked to losing interest in hobbies when feeling low, or parents limiting screen time when they notice their child is struggling.

The research team also explored whether actively chatting on social media or just passively scrolling made a difference, but the overall picture remained the same - technology habits alone did not appear to drive mental health difficulties.

The authors emphasise that this does not mean online experiences are harmless. Hurtful messages, online pressures and extreme content can all have real impacts on wellbeing, but they argue that focusing simply on screen time misses the bigger picture.

DOI:

51�� research reveals how global laws can give workers real power

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A new study in the has revealed that European ‘due diligence’ laws designed to make multinational companies accountable for labour and environmental abuses are beginning to give a voice to some of the world’s most vulnerable workers.

Focusing on South Africa’s wine industry, the research - led by Professor Matthew Alford from 51��’s Alliance 51�� Business School, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Cape Town, University of Wurzburg and TIE Germany - found that farm workers and local unions are using Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act to push for better working conditions and corporate accountability.

The 2023 law requires German companies to ensure human rights are respected throughout their global supply chains - from vineyards in the Western Cape, to supermarket shelves in Berlin.

The research team discovered that South African trade unions and community organisations have started invoking this legislation to open direct talks with farm owners and European retailers. In one case, the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU) used the new law to press a local wine farm to address dangerous working conditions.

“Workers were suffering back injuries, lacked clean drinking water and were exposed to pesticides,” said Dr Alford. “By referencing the new German law, local organisers were able to secure regular meetings with management - something that hadn’t happened before - and win concrete improvements.”

These changes included safer equipment, better sanitation and running water for workers’ homes. According to one union organiser interviewed for the study, “For many of the workers, it is the first time ever that they sat at the table and had a discussion with a white person…in the beginning, the workers were a bit shy but once they saw that the management would actually listen to them and even respond to their demands, they got very confident.”

The research also highlights how South African campaigners are using the same laws to challenge European chemical companies which export pesticides to the country that are banned in the EU. The Women on Farms Project has joined forces with German partners, including Oxfam Germany, to explore using the legislation to seek compensation and push for stricter oversight.

The study demonstrates that the laws are opening up new possibilities for workers thousands of miles away from Europe to hold powerful companies to account, but it also shows how their effectiveness depends on awareness, solidarity and cross-border cooperation. It also warns that while Europe’s new regulations hold promise, they are still at an early stage and risk being weakened by political pushback.

Announcing the launch of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Alliance 51�� Business School (AMBS) is delighted to announce the launch of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Innovation (CTLI), a new hub dedicated to advancing educational excellence and innovation across our community.

Under the leadership of Professor Ali Owrak, the CTLI will serve as a catalyst for transformative education at AMBS, supporting both educators and learners through a wide range of services and opportunities. The Centre’s mission is to foster pedagogical excellence, drive innovation, and champion inclusive partnerships that empower our academic community.

Empowering Educators and Students

The CTLI offers practical support for academic staff seeking to enhance their teaching and student engagement. Services include tailored workshops, one-to-one consultations, and access to resources for course design, assessment strategies, and the effective use of digital tools in the classroom.

Educators can also benefit from interactive workshops, peer observation training, and the pedagogical innovation series. The voluntary peer observation scheme will provide a supportive environment for sharing feedback and learning from colleagues.

Values

At the heart of the CTLI are the values of Excellence, Partnership, Inclusivity, Curiosity, and Trustworthiness. The Centre is committed to developing equitable learning environments, accessible teaching practices, and forward-thinking approaches that support staff and students.

Professor Ali Owrak:

“This marks an exciting new chapter for AMBS. Our vision is to create a collaborative hub where colleagues can explore innovative approaches to teaching, share ideas, and engage in reflective practice. I look forward to welcoming colleagues and working together to shape the future of education at AMBS.”

Professor Ken McPhail:

“At a time of rapid change, it is vital that we continue to innovate in how we teach, learn, and collaborate. The Centre will embody our commitment to educational excellence, inclusivity, and partnership—ensuring that our staff and students are equipped to thrive.”

For more information, visit the CTLI page on the AMBS intranet or contact the team (based on the sixth floor at AMBS, room 6.030) or by emailing CTLI@manchester.ac.uk.

Iran protests have put the country’s political system on trial

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:51:01 +0000

Protests that began in late December over rising prices and a collapsing currency have now spread to most of Iran’s 31 provinces, with demonstrators taking aim at the country’s rulers. The demonstrations signal a deep challenge to a political order that many Iranians see as incapable of delivering stability, dignity or a viable future.

The unrest poses the most serious challenge to since 2022. That year, nationwide protests erupted over the death of 22-year-old in police custody after she was arrested for violating hijab rules. Those were ultimately suppressed through force.

Iran’s political establishment has for decades defined itself through permanent confrontation on multiple fronts: with , the and what it sees as global imperialism. This posture has reshaped domestic life by subordinating the economy, governance and social stability to ideological resistance.

What the latest protests reveal is not simply frustration with the hardship that has accompanied this political stance. They seem to reflect a growing consensus among Iranians that this order into something functional and must therefore be replaced.

This has been apparent in the language used by the protesters. Many demonstrators have linked their daily hardships to the regime’s foreign policy priorities, expressed perhaps most clearly that has echoed through the streets of various Iranian cities in recent days: “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”

The slogan is a rejection of the regime’s official stance that sacrifice at home is necessary to fulfil ideological goals of “resistance” abroad. Iran has long pursued a policy of supporting militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to counter the influence of the US and Israel in the Middle East.

Chants of – a reference to Iran’s ageing supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – are yet more evidence of the broad rejection of the political order among the Iranian population. They signal that many Iranians now view their economic survival as inseparable from fundamental political change.

The protests have spread across wide sections of Iranian society. What began as strikes by bazaar merchants and shopkeepers in Iran’s capital, Tehran, quickly drew in students, professionals and business owners elsewhere in the country. Protests have in Qom and Mashhad, cities whose populations have traditionally been loyal to the state.

The state’s initial response to the protests was muted. The government recognised the protests and to the “legitimate demands” of the demonstrators. However, despite a warning from US president Donald Trump of US intervention should security forces “kill peaceful protesters”, at least 36 people have . Over 2,000 more people have been detained.

Donald Trump posts on his Truth Social media platform in response to the protests in Iran.

Post-war paralysis

The protests come six months after Iran’s brief but destabilising war with Israel. This conflict severely strained the state’s capacity to govern, with Khamenei largely withdrawing from public view since then due to heightened fears over his safety. Major decisions in Iran require Khamenei’s approval, so his absence has slowed decision-making across the system.

The effects of this have been felt nationwide. Universities and schools have been hampered by repeated closures, shortened schedules and the sudden suspension of in-person classes. Transport networks have faced repeated disruption and economic planning has become nearly impossible.

Prices are . The official annual inflation rate stands at around 42%, with food inflation exceeding 70%. The prices of some basic goods have reportedly risen by more than 110% compared with a year ago, and are further in the coming weeks.

Iran’s authorities have also intermittently suspended routine daily and weekly activities since the end of the war, such as school days, public office hours, transport services and commercial operations. They , pollution or security concerns as the reasons for doing so.

Underlying these disruptions is a governing system braced for the possibility of renewed war, either with Israel or possibly the US. The regime is operating in a prolonged state of emergency, which has pushed Iranian society itself deeper into crisis.

Iran’s governing paralysis has been strained further by intensifying competition within the ruling elite. The war with Israel led to the deaths of several senior Iranian military and security figures, which has created gaps in networks of power.

With authority fragmented, rival political, military and security factions have sought to position themselves for influence in a post-Khamenei order. Networks associated with figures such as former president Hassan Rouhani, former foreign minister Javad Zarif and current president Masoud Pezeshkian are pursuing negotiations with western powers to address Iran’s foreign policy challenges.

But others appear to be engaging in talks aimed at securing backing from ideological allies such as Russia and China. These include people in security and intelligence circles, along with figures ideologically aligned with Khamenei like his second-eldest son Mojtaba, current speaker of parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and conservative clerics such as .

These rival strategies have not produced coherent governance. Instead, they have reinforced perceptions among the Iranian public that the system is preoccupied with survival rather than addressing everyday breakdowns in basic administration, public services and economic coordination.

Iran stands at a crossroads. One path leads toward deeper militarisation, elite infighting and prolonged paralysis. The other points towards a reckoning with a political order that large segments of Iranian society no longer believe can deliver stability or welfare.

The protests suggest that the central question for many Iranians is no longer whether the system can be repaired, but whether continuing to live under it is viable at all. What is clear is that Iran is at a critical political moment, with significant changes likely to unfold in the weeks and months ahead.

, Research Fellow at the Global Development Institute
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

British Ambassador to China Opens 51�� Photo Exhibition in Zhengzhou

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:11:03 +0000

The exhibition displayed the 30 finalists in the 7^th annual UK-China International Photography Competition, founded and run by the University of 51��’s 51�� China Institute.

Ambassador Wilson thanked the He’nan University of Technology for hosting the exhibition and spoke glowingly of the 51�� China Institute as a truly remarkable beacon of excellence for its work promoting China studies in the UK, and mutual understanding between the British and Chinese peoples. He also spoke highly of the exhibition, emphasizing its ability to showcase the universal values of sportsmanship and teamwork that resonate across cultures.

Joining the event virtually, Professor Peter Gries, Director of the 51�� China Institute, delivered a speech in Mandarin to introduce the exhibition and the Institute’s vision. He highlighted how photographs can promote perspective taking and empathy, bridging linguistic and cultural divides, to remind Chinese and British audiences alike of our common humanity.

Other distinguished guests present at the opening ceremony included Professor Wu Zhishen, President and Vice Chancellor of He’nan University of Technology, Mr Dominic McAllister, the British Consul General in Wuhan, senior officials from the He’nan provincial government and Zhengzhou municipal government, underscoring the significance of this cultural event.

“The Spirit of Sports” exhibition uses the universal language of sports to promote dialogue and understanding between the peoples of Britain and China. Through powerful imagery, the exhibition celebrates shared human experiences—competition, collaboration, and resilience—while deepening appreciation of each other’s perspectives.

This initiative reflects the 51�� China Institute’s commitment to building meaningful connections through cultural exchange. 51�� was the first - and remains the only - British university to set social responsibility as a core goal.

New book highlights human toll of the Kenyan property boom

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:28:37 +0000

As Nairobi’s skyline climbs ever higher, life for those living on the city’s edges is being transformed - and not always for the better.

In a powerful new book, , Dr Peter Lockwood of 51�� tells the human stories behind Kenya’s rapid urban expansion and the families being left behind.

Based on years of living and working alongside residents in Kiambu County - an area just north of Nairobi where farmland is giving way to housing estates and shopping malls - Lockwood’s book captures a quiet but profound social upheaval. It reveals how fathers, once proud smallholders, are selling off ancestral plots of land, leaving their sons landless and adrift in a volatile economy.

“Land in Kiambu has become unimaginably valuable,” says Lockwood. “For some families, it’s a ticket out of hardship. For others, selling land means losing not only their home but their history.”

Through vivid portraits of everyday lives - farmers, young jobseekers, mothers struggling to make ends meet - Peasants to Paupers explores what happens when the dream of a stable, middle-class future collides with the harsh realities of unemployment, soaring land prices and changing family values.

The book opens with Mwaura, a young man watching his father sell their family’s land to a private developer. What follows is both a personal tragedy and a reflection of a wider trend: as land becomes a commodity, generations of Kenyans are being cut off from the security that once defined rural life.

The book tells a deeply human story of hope and heartbreak. It shows how moral ideas about family, work and responsibility are being tested as young people face shrinking opportunities and elders grapple with impossible choices between survival and legacy.

Lockwood, a Hallsworth Research Fellow in Political Economy at 51��, brings a journalist’s eye for storytelling to his anthropological research. His work has previously been published in leading journals, and he co-curated Nairobi Becoming (2024), an ethnographic portrait of the Kenyan capital.

Peasants to Paupers is published by Cambridge University Press as part of the prestigious International African Library series and is freely available online under open access, ensuring that readers in Kenya and around the world can engage with its findings.

Konger FC: How Football Is Helping 51��’s Hong Kong Community Find Home and Voice

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:17:25 +0000

A Saturday morning football club in 51�� is doing more than just scoring goals - it’s helping a community rebuild its identity.

Founded in 2021, Konger FC is a football team made up of Hong Kongers who have relocated to 51��, many on British National (Overseas) passports. Their move was prompted by increasing restrictions on activism and cultural expression in Hong Kong. Now, through football, they’re finding new ways to connect, integrate, and express themselves.

The club is at the heart of a new research project which received Community Partnership funding from the , led by University of 51�� academics, from the and from . The project, which includes short films and a multimedia documents the 2024/25 season of Konger FC and lays the foundation for a full documentary film.

But this is more than just a sports story. The researchers have embedded themselves in the club’s activities - attending matches, training sessions, and interviewing players, sponsors, and fans. Their goal is to amplify the voices of Hong Kongers in 51��, showcasing how they preserve their culture, build community networks, and contribute to civic life.

The project also taps into resources at the University of 51��’s , offering the Konger FC community tools and expertise to share their story with wider audiences.

Through everyday activities like football, the Hong Kong diaspora in 51�� is practising a quiet form of activism - championing democratic values and human rights while resisting the pressures of political repression back home. The upcoming documentary and website aim to shine a light on their journey, highlighting both the challenges and triumphs of starting anew in Britain.

Konger FC is proving that football can be more than a game—it can be a lifeline, a platform, and a powerful way to say, “We’re still here.”

Inspiring global careers in international politics

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:29:11 +0000

The Politics Department is excited to share the success of their inaugural event on careers in international politics, which attracted an impressive student turnout, highlighting the growing interest in global career opportunities among our students.

The event featured inspiring speakers from the United Nations, Amnesty International, the FCDO, Chatham House, Global Weekly, EY, and the Department for Education. Most of these speakers are proud 51�� alumni, a testament to the quality of education they received here, which helped them thrive in competitive international roles.

This initiative reflects the University’s commitment to having a global impact as part of its 2035 strategy. Dr Jasmin Ramovic, organiser of the event, said:

Given the overwhelming response, the Politics Department will be making this an annual event and looks forward to expanding it even further in the future.

International Recognition for Innovative Assessment Research

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:20:57 +0000

Dr Miri Firth’s pioneering work on rethinking assessment through choice and purpose continues to shape national and international conversations on assessment design. On 22 October, Higher Education Digest featured her research on optionality in assessment, exploring how flexibility and purpose-driven assessment can improve student engagement, wellbeing, and achievement.

In November, Dr Firth will share this work across a series of prestigious events: as a keynote speaker at the Advance HE Assessment and Feedback Symposium (4 November); a keynote at the World Conference on Research in Teaching & Education (16 November); and as an invited panel member for Universities UK’s national event on Access, Participation and Student Success (20 November).

Together, these invitations highlight both the relevance and the impact of her research, which has already influenced assessment practice in more than a dozen universities. Her continued leadership demonstrates the Faculty of Humanities’ contribution to transforming assessment and enhancing the student learning experience across the higher education sector.

Evidence of sector use of this work to date :

University of Liverpool&�Բ��;—&�Բ��;Formal Flexible Assessment Guidance and Code of Practice define flexible assessment and parity/equivalency expectations.
Sheffield Hallam University — Public guidance on Assessment Choice (students choose questions/methods; emphasis on inclusivity and parity).
University of Glasgow&�Բ��;—&�Բ��;Flexible Submission Guidance adopted institutionally; reported reductions in extensionsand improved manageability.
Teesside University — LTE guidance on Flexible / Hybrid Assessment (choice and authentic formats aligned to hybrid delivery).
Loughborough University — Case study on student choice of assessment format (poster, vlog, infographic, etc.) to remove barriers.
University of Sussex — Case study on introducing optionality for accessibility and inclusion (student reflections).
University of Northampton&�Բ��;—&�Բ��;Assessment snapshot: optionality embedded and signposted across a programme to build assessment literacy.
University of York — Institutional workstream on assessment optionality; staff resources and funded projects exploring subject-specific cases.
UCL — Digital Assessment Team blog series on optionality, reflecting work with 51��, York and Imperial in the QAA project.
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) — Policy/guidance updates and staff hub referencing flexible assessment practice (plus public comms on assessment reform).
Newcastle University — Curriculum framework and learning-and-teaching resources highlight programme-level assessment design aligned with inclusive/flexible practice.

Sector-level foundation / cross-institutional reference

QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project – Optionality in Assessment (Firth et al., 2023): report and resources underpinning many of the above adoptions.

2025's news highlights from the Faculty of Humanities

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:10:00 +0000

2025 has been another great year for 51��'s Faculty of Humanities, and has again seen some significant achievements and initiatives. Here are some of the key highlights:

January

The year started with research from Professor Jamie Woodward which revealed that England’s major water and sewage companies are misleading the public and Government by using strategies which mirror those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. His study uncovered widespread use of greenwashing and disinformation tactics by England’s nine major water and sewage companies, and was covered extensively in the national media.

January also saw the launch of a major new study to assess the impact of smartphones and social media on young people, and research which found that vast areas of the UK’s peatlands are under threat due to climate change. It also brought the news that 51�� ranks in the top 50 globally for Social Sciences, Business Economics, Engineering, Arts & Humanities and Medical & Health.

February

In February, one of the world’s largest school-based trials found that an intervention to help students normalise their everyday emotions is the ‘most promising’ of several approaches for supporting mental health in children and young people. The Education for Wellbeing trial involved 32,655 students in 513 English primary and secondary schools, testing five interventions.

Research launched in February also found that polling in Ukraine contradicted Donald Trump, who claimed that Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating stood at 4% - the study put his approval rating at 63%, making him the most popular politician in the country. This story received widespread media coverage.

March

Internationally acclaimed novelist and short story writer Sarah Hall joined 51�� in March as a Professor of Creative Writing. Sarah joined a prestigious teaching team at the University’s Centre for New Writing made up of novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights and non-fiction writers, including Jeanette Winterson, Ian McGuire, Jason Allen-Paisant, Beth Underdown, Horatio Clare, Tim Price and John McAuliffe.

Also during this month, experts called on the government to make urgent changes to the UK’s bus network in an appearance at a Transport Select Committee inquiry. The group – including Professor Karen Lucas, Head of the Transport and Mobilities Group at 51�� – spoke about the detrimental impact of poor bus connectivity and the need for immediate government action. A new research centre was also launched to promote socially just, people-centred sustainability transformations by collaborating with communities, governments and businesses to develop low-carbon living initiatives.

April

In April, The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science - appointed 51��’s Professor Cecilia Wong as a member of its Council. Professor Wong brought a wealth of expertise and an exceptional track record to her role - her extensive research encompasses strategic spatial planning, policy monitoring & analysis, urban & regional development and housing & infrastructure planning.

The month also saw the launch of a new report from , which has surveyed 130,000 young people since 2021, which highlighted the experiences of pupils in mainstream schools with Special Educational Needs (SEN). The study found that across a range of headline metrics – mental wellbeing, life satisfaction, self-esteem and emotional difficulties – young people with SEN experience worse outcomes.

May

May saw the launch of a major new partnership with the Bank of England which will see existing teachers offered free training to deliver A Level economics alongside their core subject. The three-year programme, which will be piloted in the North West before eventually being rolled out across the UK, aims to make the subject more accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds.

Also in May, the Government announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payment after being presented with research from 51�� which found that their plans were going to leave many more older people in poverty, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. The month also saw 51�� being officially recognised as one of the UK’s new Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (PACE), as part of a national initiative to embed world-class research into frontline policing and community safety.

June

June brought two major archaeology stories - firstly, experts from 51�� played a leading role in the rediscovery of the ancient city of Imet in Egypt’s eastern Nile Delta, uncovering multi-storey dwellings, granaries and a ceremonial road tied to the worship of the cobra goddess Wadjet. This story received widespread coverage. The month brought news of a new project to explore the discovery of Wales’ first complete ancient chariot.

The same month also saw the launch of two reports into children's mental health - one found that while teens from disadvantaged neighbourhoods do face lower life satisfaction, they don't actually face more emotional problems. The other found that physical activity is critical for children's happiness.

July

July brought the extremely sad news that Lord David Alliance CBE had passed away. Lord Alliance’s belief in the power of philanthropy, education and research to drive positive change inspired generations of students, staff, alumni and partners. The renaming of 51�� Business School to Alliance 51�� Business School in 2015 stands as a testament to Lord Alliance’s transformative impact and support for 51�� and its students over many years.

The month also saw Alliance 51�� Business School's Professor Timothy Michael Devinney being elected as a Fellow of the British Academy, the UK’s leading national body for the humanities and social sciences.

Also during this month, several Humanities academics were leading policy conversations about major issues - including Professor Jamie Woodward who spoke at Westminster about the impact of microplastic pollution on our environment, and Professor Pamela Qualter who co-authored a World Health Organization (WHO) report calling for urgent action to tackle loneliness and social disconnection around the world.

August

During August, an historian from 51�� was named as one of six authors shortlisted for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe. Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Professor Sadiah Qureshi was named as one of the finalists at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Two leading criminologists from 51�� also joined a groundbreaking national research project designed to tackle fraud in the NHS, which costs the UK taxpayer an estimated £1.3 billion each year.

There was also media interest in a study which found that a single sheet of 1,100-year-old parchment may have been used to heal a dangerous royal rift in Ancient England.

September

The start of the new academic year was marked by the appointment of three academics from 51�� as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Liz Richardson, Professor David Richards and Professor Anupam Nanda were named in recognition of their excellence and impact, and their advancement of social sciences for the public good.

The month also saw 51�� being appointed as the UN's Academic Impact Vice-Chair for SDG10 research, meaning the University will play an essential role in advancing the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Some major research was also launched in August which found that ‘Levelling Up’ left many southern areas behind, a mentoring programme was giving a big mental health boost to LGBTQIA+ teens, and cities needing to do more to support older people who want to stay in their own homes as they age.

October

October saw three major pieces of research into schools - studies were published into school isolation rooms damaging pupil wellbeing, a third of new teachers quitting within five years of qualifying and the discovery of a significant and lasting link between the subjects young people study in school and their political preferences.

Also during October, a study was launched by Dr Louise Thompson which found that outdated rules in the House of Commons shut smaller parties out of key decisions, leaving millions of voters effectively unheard. This led to several of those parties - including the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Reform - raising the issue, as well as media coverage across the UK.

November

The University’s Professor Hilary Pilkington was one of the authors of the final report of the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which in November called for a comprehensive overhaul of the UK's counter-terrorism policies. This received widespread media coverage across the country.

The University also launched new research as part of the N8 Child of the North campaign in November, which found that the post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest - the story led to regional and national media coverage.

The month also saw studies into Buddhism in mental health care, stronger communities being linked to better health, and the rise of ‘authoritarian peacemaking’ and its implications for Ukraine.

December

The final month of the year saw the launch of a major new collaboration with the University of Oxford which will bring together an expert team of textual scholars, book historians, computer scientists, library data experts and research software engineers to explore whether computers ‘see’ books and prints the same way as people do, and asks whether the AI algorithm can be made to see in the same way as humans.

A major global study led by Dr Francesco Rampazzo also found that younger generations around the world are embracing a more diverse and fluid understanding of sexual identity than ever before. The research - which analysed data from over 900,000 users of the queer women’s and nonbinary dating app Zoe - offered one of the first truly global pictures of how people identify their sexuality in 122 countries, from the UK and the US to Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan.

These stories reflect the Faculty's commitment to addressing global challenges through its research, education and social responsibility.

Justice Hub wins ‘Educational Institution of the Year’ award

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:08:48 +0000

The at the has won ‘Educational Institution of the Year 2025’ at the recent Greater 51�� Pro Bono Awards. Through partnerships with students from across the , academics, lawyers and local charities, the Hub delivers free legal support to those most in need.

Around 650,000 people in the region fall into the ‘justice gap’ because they cannot access legal aid or afford private representation.

The Justice Hub’s important work exposes lawyers of the future to the injustices faced by many and the importance of access to justice and helps to transform lives across Greater 51��.

The Awards, now in their second year, celebrate the regions’ lawyers, law students and legal professionals who are transforming lives through free legal advice and representation.

Hidden bias gives ‘swing state’ voters more influence over US trade policy

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:08:02 +0000

Americans living in political “swing states” have a significantly louder voice in national trade policy - effectively making their votes worth more than others - according to a new study published in the .

Professor Karim Chalak from 51��, Professor John McLaren from the University of Virginia and Professor Xiangjun Ma from Liaoning University found that US governments of both parties tend to shape their trade policies to favour industries based in states that could decide presidential elections.

Using decades of economic and political data - from the Clinton years through to the Trump trade wars - the team found that US tariffs are consistently biased toward industries located in swing states such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

According to their estimates, the welfare of a voter in a non-swing state is treated as being worth just 82 percent of that of a voter in a swing state when national trade decisions are made.

“Our research reveals the extent to which US policymakers cater to the welfare of swing-state workers relative to others with similar jobs elsewhere,” explains Professor Chalak. “This bias is a byproduct of the US’s electoral system - economic policies are shaped partly by political geography.”

The researchers describe how this pattern was illustrated clearly in the 1990s, when the Clinton administration negotiated special tomato trade protections for Florida ahead of a tight election. Similar patterns reappeared during later trade disputes involving steel and manufacturing tariffs.

“People often claim that the Electoral College protects small states, but the evidence is that it just penalizes people for not living in a swing state,” said Professor McLaren, “and even for swing states, the best evidence is that small states do not benefit from the bias.”

By combining theoretical modelling with real-world data on tariffs, industries, and voting patterns, the team developed what they call the “Swing-State Theorem.” The theorem predicts that in majoritarian systems like the US, policy naturally tilts toward the interests of swing regions - even without explicit lobbying.

The findings shed light on how political incentives can distort economic policy in ways that are both inefficient and hard to justify as fair, and they may help to explain why trade wars and protectionist measures often appear inconsistent with broader national welfare. The authors suggest the same logic could apply to other areas of policy, from infrastructure spending to defence contracts.

Exhibition celebrates works of 51�� City Architect’s Department

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:17:36 +0000

A new landmark exhibition has opened in the first floor gallery of 51�� Central Library which celebrates the contribution that the City Architects made to 51�� and its citizens over the 101 years of the Department.

The first City Architect, Henry Price, was appointed in 1902 – between then and 2003, only six others held the prestigious post. Price oversaw the design and construction of many of the city’s wash houses and baths, including the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths of 1906 on Hathersage Road.

It is worth remembering how much of the city’s operations were governed from the town hall. 51�� Corporation once controlled gas and electricity undertakings, tramways and trolleybuses, schools, police, fire and ambulance services, waste collection, parks and recreation, housing, libraries and more. The City Architect’s Department designed for all of these.

Over 350 images of plans, adverts, brochures, press clippings official and amateur photography, are on display and show the incredible breadth of the Departments influence, as well as their geographic reach. The exhibition focuses on the city and its suburbs, not just the centre.

Much of the show features buildings constructed between 1945 and 1974 – the end of the Second World War and the creation of Greater 51�� Council – and illustrates the incredible transformation of the city in that period.

Celebrated schemes, like the restoration of the Free Trade Hall in the 1950s, sit alongside more macabre utilitarian buildings, such as the City Mortuary, reminding us of the things a city needs to function.

The latter days of the Department were characterised by the upkeep of existing estate, libraries, schools and housing, and renewed attention on the public realm – the creation of Castlefield Urban Heritage Park, the pedestrianisation of Market Street, pocket parks along the River Irwell and in China Town.

Finally, as commissions increasingly fell to the private sector, the City Architect became an instrumental figure in the stewarding of large investments that saw Olympic bids and the delivery of the Commonwealth Games.

"This exhibition celebrates the work of City Architects who made their mark on the city skyscape and its suburbs from 1903," said Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure. “It is a fascinating look back at how instrumental they were in shaping the city and showcases their vision in making 51�� the city that we live in today.”

“It is easy to forget the wonderful, weird and sometimes straightforward contributions that local authority architects made to the city and the lives they shaped,” said Professor Richard Brook from Lancaster University. "To get this research out in public and in partnership with Archives+ hopefully casts new light on the city and the collections.”

The exhibition runs until 28 February 2026. The curators, Dr Martin Dodge and Professor Richard Brook, have created a dynamic composition to which they will continually add material during its run.

Researchers awarded funding from Schmidt Sciences for 'Envisioning Print with AI Computer Vision' project

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:06:03 +0000

The project aims to teach computers to identify differences between examples of early printed documents and artworks, that is, to be able to discover minute instances of difference in otherwise-identical prints from the same printing surface. It explores whether computers ‘see’ books and prints the same way as people do, and asks whether the algorithm sees (or indeed, can see, or can be made to see) the same way as humans.

The researchers aim to develop AI tools that can understand the differences between multiple versions of prints throughout history, allowing scholars to understand how early imagery was made and circulated, along with the practices of printers and their workshops.

The team consists of (Professor of Italian and Director of the John Rylands Research Institute at the University of 51��); (Professor of Computer Science and Head of Engineering Research at the University of 51��); (Head of the Digital Development Team at the University of 51�� Library); (Senior Software Developer in the University of 51�� Library’s Digital Development Team); (Senior Researcher in Digital Humanities at the University of Oxford); (Royal Society Research Professor and Professor of Computer Vision Engineering at the University of Oxford); and (Software Engineer at the University of Oxford).

Professor Richard Curry, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation in the University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: "It's fantastic news that the 51��-led project Envisioning Print with AI Computer Vision, has been selected for this Schmidt Sciences award. This project is an exemplary, highly interdisciplinary collaboration between humanities researchers and computational experts, and its cutting-edge mixed methodologies will shape future innovation with real-world impacts in line with the University's 51�� 2035 ambitions."

Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences, added: “Our newest technologies may shed light on our oldest truths, on all that makes us human – from the origins of civilization to the peaks of philosophical thought to contemporary art and film, Schmidt Sciences’ Humanities and AI Virtual Institute (HAVI) is poised to change not only the course of scholarship, but also the way we see ourselves and our role in the world.”

Schmidt Sciences has awarded $11 million to 23 research teams around the world who are exploring new ways to bring artificial intelligence into dialogue with the humanities, from archaeology and art history to literature, linguistics, film studies, and beyond. As part of the Humanities and AI Virtual Institute (HAVI), these interdisciplinary teams will both apply AI to illuminate the human record and draw on humanistic questions, methods, and values to advance how AI itself is designed and used.

Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organisation founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organisation prioritises research in areas poised for impact, including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space – as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.

First global study finds young people redefining sexuality around the world

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:24:58 +0000

A major new global study led by a researcher at 51�� has found that younger generations around the world are embracing a more diverse and fluid understanding of sexual identity than ever before.

The research - which analysed data from over 900,000 users of the queer women’s and nonbinary dating app Zoe - offers one of the first truly global pictures of how people identify their sexuality in 122 countries, from the UK and the US to Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan.

The study, published in , found that lesbian and bisexual are the most common identities - but it also shows that younger users are far more likely to describe themselves using newer or broader terms such as queer, pansexual or asexual, suggesting that traditional labels are evolving rapidly.

“Younger generations are showing us that sexuality is not a fixed category - it’s a spectrum,” said Dr Francesco Rampazzo, lead author and Lecturer in Social Statistics at 51��. “Across the world, more young people are comfortable describing their identities in diverse and fluid ways.”

The research highlights how openness about sexuality often depends on cultural and social context. Countries in Europe, North America and Oceania show the greatest diversity of identities, while users in some parts of Africa and Asia were less likely to share information about their sexuality - likely reflecting differences in social acceptance or legal protection.

“Where people feel safe, they are more likely to express who they really are,” said Dr Canton Winer, co-author from the Northern Illinois University. “In places where LGBTQ+ identities remain stigmatised or even criminalised, that freedom is much narrower.”

The team emphasises that the study is not just about numbers - it’s about visibility. Behind each data point is a real person choosing to be seen.

The findings also show a small but visible proportion of users identifying as asexual, an often-overlooked orientation that’s now appearing beyond Western contexts. This hints at a growing global recognition of lesser-known identities.

By working directly with Zoe, which shared anonymised, aggregated data for research, the study marks a new frontier in demographic research. Rather than relying only on national surveys - which often miss sexual minorities - digital data from dating apps can help paint a more inclusive global picture.

“At Zoe, we have always believed that responsible collaboration between industry and academia can produce insights that genuinely benefit LGBTQ+ communities,” said Milan Kovacic, the former CEO of Zoe. “Studies like this show how data, when handled with care and respect, can deepen our understanding of people’s experiences and help create safer, more inclusive digital spaces. We are proud to support research that contributes to that goal.”

The study was conducted by researchers from 51��, Northern Illinois University and the Zoe App, and is part of ongoing efforts to build a more global understanding of LGBTQ+ identities.

Humanities Academics Celebrate Business Engagement Success at inaugural event

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:09:18 +0000

Opening the event was Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange for the University of 51�� who highlighted the depth and breadth of the collaborative partnership work undertaken by academics from across the University and how her team supports academic colleagues in establishing such partnerships. Vice Dean for Research, Professor Maggie Gale welcomed guests and highlighted the breadth of expertise and collaborative innovation taking place across the faculty within key areas including AI, climate resilience and sustainability, legal and social justice including investigating racial bias on the bench, age-friendly communities, and supply chain innovation.

Associate Dean for Business Engagement, Civic & Cultural Partnerships , Professor Richard Allmendinger introduced the nominees from each school.

The winners, announced by Maggie Gale, were:

Alliance 51�� Business School

Prof Jian-Bo Yang & Prof Dong‑Ling Xu, for their KTP with Kennedys to develop and embed an intelligent data driven fraud prevention and detection service for insurance claim handling, utilising modern machine learning, text analytics and semantic technologies.

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Prof Eithne Quinn, for work on racial bias in the judicial system enabled through a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship project undertaken by Keir Monteith KC, which has received significant media coverage and follow-on projects in related areas.

School of Social Sciences

Prof Emma Barrett for a Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship with Limina Immersive “Building a safer Metaverse: Exploring the challenges faced by industry in developing safe, secure and ethical immersive experiences”. The project supported a successful £80K SPRITE+ funding bid for a deep dive expected to result in a step change in our industry engagement around XR and fostered new cross-disciplinary and external collaborations.

School of Environment, Education & Development

Dr Emma Shuttleworth For collaborating with key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Greater 51��, to lead KTPs that have developed a data-driven framework for innovative sustainable water management in the Irwell catchment and optimised the long-term financial health of the Groundwork Trust.

At the end of the Awards ceremony Richard Allmendinger announced the launch of a seed-funding call for academics across the faculty to submit bids for up to £7k to support early-stage development of collaborative projects with partners. Full information on the call available .

The full list of nominated projects:

Alliance 51�� Business School

Dr Arijit De, Associate Professor in Management Science For his work in establishing Maritime Engineering and Management as a new cluster theme at UoM, including work with Port of Dover, DFDS, Ship & Bunker, Sealand and Smart Green Shipping building a substantial portfolio of research in maritime, port, and freight logistics with these partners, a REF Impact Case Study in freight and maritime logistics is in development.
Prof Yu-wang Chen, Professor of Decision Sciences and Business Analytics KTP – - the largest KTP awarded by Innovate UK.
Dr Pedro Sampaio, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems KTP – - to design, develop and embed an Industry 4.0 inspired data driven business model and management information framework which will support the company's strategic vision of expansion.
Prof David Hughes, Professor of Personality and Organisational Psychology & Nadia Papamichail, Professor of Decision Systems & Management Sciences KTP - to create sustainable growth and productivity improvement by combining behavioural psychology profiling and emotional regulation with advanced data science techniques to tackle complex work processes and transform the way JLG engages, supports its clients and staff through the legal frameworks. DH was shortlisted for Academic of the Year at the 2025 KTP Awards.
Prof Brian Nicholson, Professor of Business Information Systems & Dr Sung Hwan Chai, Lecturer in Accounting KTP: - To develop, embed and exploit advanced smart data driven technologies to deliver digital transformation within the audit function significantly increasing quality, productivity and capacity to deliver additional insight and value to clients.
Prof Judy Zolkiewski, Professor of Marketing KTP projects - . To create a smarter business that is both client-driven whilst also enhancing improved employee interactions, within a unified customer-centric framework that can support product and service innovation.
Prof Jian-Bo Yang, Professor of Decision and System Sciences & Prof Ling (Dong‑Ling) Xu, Chair Professor of Decision Science and Systems KTP - AMBS & Kennedys to develop and embed an i and detection service to support insurance claim handling utilising modern machine learning, text analytics techniques and semantic technologies, that can shape and add value to business.

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

Prof Eithne Quinn, Professor of Cultural and Socio‑legal Studies For work on racial bias in the judicial system enabled through a undertaken by Keir Monteith KC which has received significant media coverage and led to a follow-on project on mis-use of lyrics in rap music in criminal court cases.
Prof Steve Scott-Bottoms, Professor of Contemporary Theatre and Performance - Finding the Story ARC: Engaging businesses with climate resilience in Yorkshire’s Aire valley IAA 496 Advance - The Rivalry Project: Extending Stakeholder Engagement with Climate Resilience in the Catchment of the Aire
Dr Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology - Therapeutic Impact of Physical, Digital and Virtual Collections of Trauma.
Dr Kostas Arvanitis, Senior Lecturer in Museology & Dr Andy Hardman, Senior Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Practices KTP - SALC & Port Sunlight Village Trust - creating and embedding a framework and tool-kit underpinned by museological and critical heritage research to transform the ways in which PSVT manages and interprets its history, site and collections.
Prof Sasha Handley, Professor of Early Modern History Salford Community Leisure - - Sleeping Well Salford: Using Historic Sleep Practices to Support Health and Social Care Pathways.

School of Environment, Education & Development

Dr Emma Shuttleworth, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography Working collaboratively with a number of key stakeholders on environmental sustainability projects including Environment Agency, and leading on KTPs with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Groundwork Trust to create and embed a data driven catchment management framework that will drive innovative evidence-based sustainable water management within the Irwell catchment and optimise long-term financial health for Groundwork Greater 51��.
Dr Sophie van Huellen, Senior Lecturer in Development Economics - Why Ghanaian farmers have been unable to capitalise on record cocoa prices with Fuad Mohammed Abubakar, Managing Head of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company (UK) Ltd.
Dr Joanne Tippett, Lecturer in Spatial Planning 51�� UNESCO Creative City of Literature IAA 425 Secondment - Imagining sustainable futures: self-facilitated learning from heritage through art and play in UNESCO-designated sites. Shortlisted for ‘Transformative Social Venture of the Year’ award at the KEUK Awards 2024.

“The RoundView is a powerful way to activate and build capacity in UNESCO’s core competencies for sustainability leadership”. James Ömer Bridge, Secretary-General of UNESCO UK.

“The Secondment demonstrated that the RoundView learning toolkit offers great promise to address a key challenge we experience as UNESCO sites, of linking our work to sustainable development… and enabling us to translate SDG 13 Climate Action into an accessible activity. A key finding from the Secondment was that the ‘poetry as pedagogy’ incorporated into the toolkit helps encourage sustainability learning through literature, a key need for both us as Cities of Literature and our library partners.” Ivan Wadeson, Executive Director of 51�� UNESCO City of Literature.

Dr Nuno Pinto, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Urban Design For demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation through the establishment and continued development of the MSc Data Science student industry-project programme. His dedication has transformed the initiative into a thriving platform for student engagement and real-world impact, with its success growing year on year. Nuno’s commitment to expanding the programme is evident in his active collaboration with fellow academics, fostering the creation of similar opportunities across other schools. His work exemplifies the spirit of business engagement and makes him a worthy nominee for the Faculty of Humanities Business Engagement award.
Prof Sarah Marie Hall, Professor in Human Geography with 51�� Central Foodbank IAA 468 Relationship Development - Developing community-led, anti-poverty research capacity. IAA 503 Proof of Concept - Developing 51��’s Anti-Poverty Research Community: Co-Producing Grassroots Collaborations for Positive Social Change. Winner of UoM in the Outstanding public engagement initiative: Local/civic engagement category
Prof Nicola Banks, Professor of Global Development - Activating citizen philanthropy for community-centred social justice: piloting a One World Together Global Citizenship curriculum for secondary schools.
Prof Alison Browne, Professor of Geography - the project brings together data analytics and social science insights to develop a Water Practices Analytical Toolkit for use in the water industry, offering a unique approach for managing the sustainability of water and influencing the UK’s long-term usage, average and peak water demands.

School of Social Sciences

Prof Tine Buffel, Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology Age Friendly 51�� (51�� City Council) IAA 401 Secondment - Developing age-friendly communities to support healthy ageing: Exploring the potential of a policy innovation partnership between public agencies and faith-based organisations in Greater 51��.
Prof Emma Barrett, Professor of Psychology, Security and Trust Simon Industrial & Professional Fellowship with Limina Immersive “Building a safer Metaverse: Exploring the challenges faced by industry in developing safe, secure and ethical immersive experiences”. The SIF project supported a successful £80K SPRITE+ funding bid for a deep dive expected to result in a step change in our industry engagement around XR and fostered new cross-disciplinary and external collaborations. The work also informed EB’s presentation at the Home Office Digital Forensics Conference in June 2025, alongside Innovate UK.

You Ought To Know: Simon Industrial Fellow Karen Gabay releases podcast series about Black British music histories

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:44:05 +0000

From January to July 2025 broadcaster and producer carried out research as part of a Simon Industrial Fellowship with the and the at 51��.

As part of the fellowship Karen Gabay produced a podcast series entitled ‘You Ought To Know’ that will be published across various platforms. Each podcast captures a conversation with musicians that have had and continue to have a significant impact on British popular music. These conversations were recorded at public engagement events as well as in intimate one-on-one settings across 51��.

The podcast premiers in early 2026 on various platforms. To be notified of new episodes subscribe to Karen Gabay’s and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures’ channel.

The first podcast is a recording of Karen Gabay’s panel event on Reggae and Dub-Poetry in the UK with Lovers Rock legend , Dub Poetry great and Reggae and Hip Hop artist in the 51�� Museum in June 2025.

The second episode explores the history of Black British Gospel Music and was recorded in in Deansgate in May 2025. 51�� musician , gospel pioneer , Mancunian vocalist and Kingdom Choir member and founder of 51�� Inspirational Voices star in this episode.

The third podcast episode features a conversation with renowned Soul singer-songwriter and former Ikette known for her work with Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, and Jimmy Cliff. The recording took place across three sessions at 51�� and , the iconic home of Granada Television in July 2025.

The final episode of this series was recorded in July 2025 it explores how 51�� singer-songwriter alternative soul and R&B sound is influenced by Black British musicians and led him to pursue collaborations with soul great Jill Scott and UK artist Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.

These episodes form the beginning of a series of conversations around the unsung legends and influential artists in the UK music industry. Future episodes will be released on Karen Gabay’s channels in the coming months. This bonus content includes in-depth conversations with the Queen of Northern Soul (Tainted Love) and earlier podcast guests Sylvia Tella and Luke Smith on their lives and work in the Black British music industry. It also features an intimate one-on-one discussion with who is considered a musician’s favourite and trailblazer in redefining Soul for British audiences.

Throughout her fellowship, Karen was able to build on her interest in uncovering and showcasing forgotten artefacts of Black music history and gained access the in the for further archival research. This allowed her to amplify the voices of those working within the UK music sector, in particular Black vocalists, and industry professionals, who have heavily impacted popular music in the UK and globally. She explored how different cultural spaces in 51�� have played a significant role in the lives of these musicians and their path in the music industry over the decades.

Secondary outputs of the project include Karen Gabay’s reading list and a playlist providing the musical soundtrack for exploring the recent past and present of Black British music and its influences, which can be accessed .

This Simon Industrial Fellowship laid the foundations for documenting alternative music histories in the UK. It explored and applied ethical and collaborative methods of archiving personal stories of a demographic, who have suffered from experiences of institutional exclusion, absence of fair accreditation and missing commercial opportunities due to their race or geographical location. It is taking steps towards righting wrongs of the recent past and gives talented but previously overlooked creatives a platform to tell their stories on their own terms.

As such it reasserts the relevance and significance of the John Rylands’ British Pop Archive and is adding more diverse and nonetheless equally relevant archival artefacts to its catalogue. This work aligns with the University’s renewed strategic focus on archives and just archival practices to celebrate, document and bring to the fore the stories that make 51�� the city we know today.

The Digital Environment Conference 2026: Open Call

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:38:26 +0000

is excited to announce that the presentation and poster submission is now live for !

Interested in presenting your work at The Digital Environment Conference 2026, hosted at SISTER on 1st April 2026? We are looking for individuals to present their research in 15 minute speakers slots, or present their work on a poster board at the event.

Please email Jade at digitalfutures@manchester.ac.uk with your presentation and/ or poster title, and topic or area of research.

Please note that the open call for presentation or poster submissions deadline is Friday 27th February 2026.

United Nations staff brief HCRI students on career-building in international institutions

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:53:55 +0000

This month, HCRI hosted a careers webinar with staff from UNICEF and UNDP Türkiye.

The speakers shared their personal experiences of joining the UN system, and gave practical advice on the job application process.

The guest speakers were:

Laura Sunnen, Global Humanitarian Access Adviser, UNICEF, HQ, New York
İpek Özel, Human Resources Administrator, UNDP Türkiye

The webinar also covered the volunteering route, through ‘’.

HCRI has produced two careers guides, which can be accessed via:

New study exposes how conspiracy theories go mainstream across Europe

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000

New pan-European research has shown that the spread of conspiracy theories across the continent is driven by a continuous feedback loop between media reporting, political rhetoric, protest movements and social media algorithms - not any single cause.

The involves 14 researchers from across Europe, and it has examined how conspiracy theories take shape differently in the UK, German-speaking countries, the Balkans, the Baltics, Slovakia and Poland. Their findings highlight that conspiracy narratives reflect the political cultures, histories and social tensions of each region, meaning that approaches to tackling them must be tailored rather than imported wholesale from elsewhere.

A key theme across the reports is the feedback loop that enables conspiracy narratives to circulate. Even when politicians or media outlets refer to a conspiracy theory to debunk it, the resulting attention helps it spread further via social media amplification and mainstream exposure. This blurring of online and offline spaces allows fringe ideas to influence political rhetoric, as seen in Europe-wide variations of the “Great Replacement” narrative.

The research also explores how conspiracies evolve in response to local concerns. In the UK, anxieties around Covid-19 restrictions fed into narratives about “15-minute cities”. In German-speaking countries, stigma around conspiracism has pushed much of it to the online sphere. In the Baltics and the Balkans, the legacy of foreign occupation, conflict and surveillance shapes suspicion of elites and fuels a sense of victimhood. Conspiracy theories in Poland and Slovakia frequently target gender and LGBTQ+ rights, often influenced by US culture-war narratives.

The reports identify a lack of evaluation of initiatives designed to counter disinformation. Some fact-checking and NGO efforts themselves become targets of conspiracist suspicion, undermining trust and the stability of their funding. Nevertheless, media literacy campaigns, debunking and fact-checking each have a role to play when adapted to national contexts.

In the UK, the REDACT team argues that the current Online Safety Act does not go far enough. Unlike the EU’s Digital Services Act, it does not explicitly address health misinformation, election-related disinformation or AI-generated content, leaving gaps in the regulation of systemic risks.

Ultimately, the project concludes that tackling conspiracy theories requires more than closing individual online channels. Efforts must address the structural political and social conditions that allow conspiracist narratives to flourish, as well as the business models that incentivise sensational content. The researchers urge a move away from simply asking why the public lacks trust, towards making institutions genuinely worthy of trust.

51�� is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university – ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings – with a diverse community of more than 44,300 students, 12,800 colleagues and 585,000 alumni. Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe.

Study highlights rise of ‘authoritarian peacemaking’ and its implications for Ukraine

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As Donald Trump’s White House places huge pressure on Ukraine to sign a peace deal, a team of experts has published a new study examining what they describe as a worldwide shift towards “authoritarian peacemaking” - a model of conflict resolution shaped not by international institutions or liberal democracies, but by authoritarian and semi-authoritarian states whose interests lie in control, influence and geopolitical advantage rather than long-term solutions.

The study, set to be published in journal Washington Quarterly, traces how traditional peacemaking - rooted in international law, rights and negotiated compromise - has been eroded over the last two decades. According to the authors, the Iraq War, the post-9/11 security paradigm and growing global competition have weakened the norms that once governed international conflict resolution. This has opened space for powerful states to broker deals that prioritise strategic gain over accountability or the wishes of the affected population, as seen in the Ukraine peace plan drawn up by the USA and Russia.

The research draws on the concept of “Revisionist Conflict Management,” a framework relying on transactional bargaining, economic incentives and top-down deals that freeze conflicts rather than resolving their causes. The authors argue that these patterns are increasingly visible in conflicts across the Middle East and Africa - and now in Europe too.

The findings have particular resonance for the current efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The proposals floated by the USA give greater weight to Russian territorial “realities on the ground”, and involve conversations where Ukraine’s role is more limited than expected for a state whose sovereignty is at stake. This reflects concerns highlighted in the research - that peace deals in the current climate risk being shaped by external actors, not those living with the consequences.

The study compares this dynamic to earlier conflicts where authoritarian or centralised governments acted as mediators while pursuing their own agendas. In the authors’ view, this risks creating “victor’s peace” arrangements that halt fighting but entrench dominant states’ interests, leaving questions of justice, accountability and democratic legitimacy unresolved.

The researchers note that public opinion in Ukraine remains strongly opposed to ceding territory, and that Ukrainian society continues to insist on a settlement that restores borders and addresses wartime abuses. The tension between these expectations and geopolitical pressure, they argue, is emblematic of the broader global transition their study describes.

“By examining the Ukraine case through this lens, our research offers a wider warning about the international system - as global power becomes more fragmented and traditional norms weaken, the nature of mediation itself is changing,” said Oliver Richmond, Professor in International Relations, Peace & Conflict Studies at 51��.

HCRI Anthropologist Recognised with Top Feminist Scholarship Award for Groundbreaking Work on Kashmir

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:49:38 +0000

, Lecturer in Disasters and Climate Crisis at the , has won the Gloria Anzaldúa Book Prize for his monograph,

Widely regarded as one of the highest honours in the field of feminist studies, the prize is named in tribute to renowned Chicana poet, feminist theorist, and writer Gloria Anzaldúa. It is awarded annually to groundbreaking monographs that significantly advance multicultural feminist research, particularly within Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

The National Women’s Studies Association announced the award at its annual conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.

The jury described the book’s contributions as follows:

“Atmospheric Violence: Disaster and Repair in Kashmir offers incredible insights and invitations as we take up [the author’s] question: ‘how we can operate in ways that warp the distance between the academy and community, expert and subject, story and theory, life and poetry’? [The] generous, incisive, beautifully written and visual work informs a lyrical and generative text that is disobedient to the colonial disciplines of extraction normalized in the infrastructure of knowledge production. Atmospheric Violence enriches the depth of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies in [its] offering of rich and complex ethnographic scholarship that continually asks readers pause and reframe the role of the researchers, modalities of living and erasure, and the ever-present question of the politics of our location before we can even fathom a response to ‘Who Can Stand with Kashmir?’ [We] thank [the author] for inviting us to pause and delve into these rich scenes of an otherwise.”

This is the fifth international award the monograph has won since its release last year.

Research calls for “sportswashing” rethink amid FIFA Peace Prize rumours

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

As global attention turns to rumours that FIFA may award a new “Peace Prize” to US President Donald Trump later next month, new research has argued that public debates about politics and sport need far more nuance than the familiar narratives of “sportswashing” allow.

Two new open-access journal articles by Dr Vitaly Kazakov have challenged popular assumptions about how political actors use sport to shape global opinion - and, crucially, how media and audiences participate in that process. Taken together, the studies offer a timely rethink at a moment when sport’s symbolic power is again colliding with international politics.

The first article, published in , revisits the now-ubiquitous term used to describe attempts by authoritarian governments or international organisations to launder their reputations through sport. Dr Kazakov argues that the concept is often taken for granted, treated as a straightforward description of elite and always effective narrative manipulation rather than a complex, contested and historically recurring phenomenon.

The research identifies what Dr Kazakov calls a “normative trap” - a tendency for public commentary, policy analysis and even some academic work to embed moral judgements into the concept of “sportswashing” omitting important aspects of analysis. This, he suggests, can obscure the very dynamics the term is meant to illuminate.

“As debates continue about how meaningful FIFA’s new Peace Prize will be, and who it might be awarded to, it’s more important than ever to understand how narratives about sport take shape and impact political and social life around the globe,” Dr Kazakov said. “If we treat ‘sportswashing’ as a fixed label rather than a process involving media coverage and audience interpretation, we risk misunderstanding why these stories resonate - and who they actually influence.”

His second article, published in the , goes further by examining how information is circulated, authenticated and emotionally charged through sport. Using Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup as a case study, the article applies a five-part “disinformation lifecycle” model developed by 51��’s Professors Vera Tolz and Stephen Hutchings alongside Dr Kazakov and Dr Sofia Tipaldou from Panteion University, Greece.

The model highlights how political messaging around sport evolves over time, crosses borders and adapts to different languages and cultural contexts. It also emphasises the active role played by journalists and global audiences, whose emotional investments in sport can amplify both criticism and celebration.

“These studies show that sport doesn’t just transmit political messages - it transforms them,” Dr Kazakov added. “Media organisations, fans, NGOs and policymakers all contribute to how ideas about politics, morality and identity circulate around major sporting events.”

The research offers a pointed reminder that, in an era where symbolic gestures from global sporting bodies can carry enormous political weight, understanding the mechanics of narrative formation is essential. Debates around sport, reputation and political power are set to continue - and this work provides a crucial framework for interpreting them.

Post-Covid school attendance crisis is hitting disadvantaged children hardest

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:00:01 +0000

Experts from 51�� are warning that school attendance across England still hasn’t recovered for many children since the pandemic - and the gap between rich and poor pupils is growing.

Their findings are the latest in the , which calls for urgent action to help every child stay in school and thrive.

The data shows that:

- Children with Education Health and Care Plans are seven times more likely to miss more than half their school sessions.
- Pupils on Free School Meals are four times more likely to have severe absence.
- Suspensions are nearly four times higher for pupils with special needs or living in poverty.

“Too many children are being failed by a system that doesn’t meet their needs,” said Professor Caroline Bond, who co-led the research alongside Dr Luke Munford.

The researchers say progress on attendance since the pandemic has been slow - and for some children, things are getting worse. They’re calling for a joined-up approach that brings together schools, families and community services. This could include:

- Family Hubs which offer early help, advice and activities to support school readiness
- More flexible routes through education, like apprenticeships and internships
- Enrichment activities, mental health and careers support to support pupil’s broader engagement with learning
- Stronger relationships between teachers, pupils and parents
- Involving young people in decisions to increase their sense of belonging and safety

“Every missed day of school means a missed opportunity,” said Baroness Anne Longfield, founder of the Centre for Young Lives. “This research shines a light on the urgent need to fix attendance and make sure every child gets the education they deserve.”

The Child of the North campaign is a partnership between the N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North which brings together universities across the North of England - including 51��, Leeds, Durham, York, Lancaster, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle - to push for fairer futures for children across the North of England.

“If we want to give every child a fair start in life, we need to fix attendance - and that means fixing the barriers that stop children from feeling they belong in school,” said Professor Mark Mon-Williams, who leads the campaign.

University of 51�� hosts unveiling of 2026 BRIT Awards Trophy

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:28:59 +0000

51�� proudly hosted the unveiling of the official 2026 BRIT Awards trophy design at the University’s , marking a major cultural moment as the BRITs prepare to be hosted in 51�� for the first time in their history.

The trophy, designed by internationally acclaimed 51��-born designer was unveiled during a special event celebrating both the city’s creative heritage and the University’s role as a hub for arts, design, music and performance. 51��’s , home to the renowned - the UK’s first large-scale, dedicated collection for the preservation and study of popular, counter- and youth culture - helped frame the significance of the occasion.

At the event, attended by fashion, music and drama students from across the University, guests witnessed the first public reveal of the iconic trophy and took part in an in-depth Q&A with Williamson. The conversation, led by , Head of Collections, Teaching and Research at the John Rylands Library, offered students and attendees unique insight into the designer’s creative process, his career journey, and what it means to see the BRITs come to his home city.

Williamson’s design draws deeply from 51��’s identity. Crafted in amber-toned resin reminiscent of the golden honey of the worker bee, the city’s enduring symbol of resilience, the trophy sits atop a globe representing the global reach and influence of British music.

Heather Cole from the John Rylands Research Institute and Library added: “It was a privilege to host Matthew Williamson and introduce our students to the creative thinking behind this year’s BRITs trophy.

At the John Rylands Library, and through the British Pop Archive, we are committed to preserving and celebrating the cultural movements that shape British identity. Seeing a 51��-born designer lead this new chapter of the BRIT Awards resonates strongly with our mission, and it was inspiring to give students direct access to such an influential figure.”

, taking place on Saturday 28th February at 51��’s , marks the first time the ceremony will be hosted outside London. This year’s trophy places 51�� and the University, firmly at the centre of the BRITs’ new era.

Matthew Williamson joins a distinguished list of creatives who have shaped the BRITs trophy, including , , , , , , , . Each year, the BRITs commission a leading artist to reinterpret the iconic statue, ensuring it remains a dynamic symbol of British creativity.

As the BRIT Awards begin their first-ever chapter in 51��, the University’s involvement underscores its commitment to celebrating and fostering the city’s rich cultural landscape while offering transformative experiences for its students.

Scientists learn to see the hidden world beneath our feet - from the sky

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

A new study by Dr Angela Harris from 51�� and Professor Richard Bardgett from Lancaster University has revealed that scientists can now detect the hidden world of microbes living in the soil - from the air.

Published in , the research shows that detailed airborne images capturing many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used to predict the abundance and diversity of microbes that live in the soil beneath plant canopies. This offers a new way to monitor soil health and biodiversity.

Soil is the most biodiverse and complex habitat on Earth, and the microbes that live in it - tiny bacteria and fungi that recycle nutrients, store carbon, and keep ecosystems healthy - are fundamental to a healthy planet. Yet, because they live underground, they are notoriously difficult and expensive to measure across large areas.

Recent research shows that the types of plants growing in an area and their traits - such as how fast they grow or what their leaves are made of - can strongly influence soil microbes. What was not known until now was whether these relationships hold up to predict the abundance and diversity of microbes across different ecosystems.

In this study, researchers used airborne sensors that record light far beyond what the human eye can see. Because these sensors capture hundreds of narrow wavelength bands, they reveal fine details about plant leaves and canopies, such as their chemistry, structure, and overall health.

By combining this rich spectral information with field measurements of soil microbes and plant traits collected across the continental United States through the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the team found strong links between plant canopy reflectance and the types and diversity of microbes living in soil.

“The chemistry and structure of plant leaves, which determine how they reflect light, are tightly linked to the conditions of the soil they grow in,” said Dr Harris. “Because plants and microbes often respond to the same environmental factors - like soil nutrients or climate - we can use what’s happening above ground to predict what is happening below.”

Importantly, the study showed that full-spectrum hyperspectral data - which captures far more detail than traditional satellite imagery - performed far better than simpler vegetation indices such as NDVI. This suggests that upcoming hyperspectral satellites, including the European Space Agency’s CHIME and NASA’s Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) missions, could transform how we monitor soil health on a global scale.

Beyond advancing ecological science, the research could provide vital tools for tracking soil carbon storage, monitoring land degradation, and supporting sustainable land management in the face of climate change.

“This research opens up a powerful new window into Earth’s hidden biodiversity, providing a way to map and monitor soil biodiversity at large scales in a cost-effective way,” said Professor Bardgett.

New study questions the success of town’s billionaire-led revival

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:11:00 +0000

Once known to locals as “Bish Vegas” for its bustling pubs, bars and nightlife, Bishop Auckland in County Durham is now at the centre of a very different story.

New research from Dr Saskia Warren at 51�� has revealed how the town’s economic decline and cultural transformation have been shaped by an unusual form of philanthropy - and why this raises pressing questions about power, accountability and fairness.

Dr Warren’s study, published in the journal, investigates the multimillion-pound regeneration led by City of London financier Jonathan Ruffer. Through his charities The Auckland Project and 11 Arches, Ruffer has poured private wealth into the town, launching attractions including the Spanish Gallery, the Faith Museum and the large-scale historical pageant Kynren. His vision is to reinvent Bishop Auckland as a heritage-driven tourist destination.

But Dr Warren’s findings suggest this approach, while headline-grabbing, has not solved the deep problems faced by local people. Bishop Auckland’s town centre remains in visible decline, with shuttered shops and limited job opportunities.

Young residents told local consultations they wanted affordable restaurants, music festivals and free access to Auckland Castle. Instead, much of the investment has been directed into cultural assets that charge entry fees and appeal to visitors from outside the region.

The research highlights a critical tension - philanthropy can bring money and attention to struggling towns, but it also risks concentrating power in the hands of wealthy individuals whose interests may not align with community needs. In Bishop Auckland, Ruffer owns or controls many central buildings, from pubs to heritage sites, effectively reshaping not only the landscape but also the town’s identity.

This model - described by Dr Warren as “evangelical philanthrocapitalism” - mixes religious values with capitalist investment. While it promises moral renewal and economic revival, it echoes a Victorian-style paternalism where elites decide what is “good” for society.

Residents are encouraged to volunteer in cultural projects, but in an area facing poverty and unemployment, unpaid labour can deepen inequalities rather than resolve them.

Dr Warren also points to risks of instability. Disputes between Ruffer and Durham County Council over control of government “levelling up” funds have made headlines, with the philanthropist even threatening to withdraw his estimated £50,000 a day of financial support. This raises fears about what happens if such private investment is suddenly pulled from a town that has come to rely on it.

Her research challenges the idea that philanthrocapitalism alone can fix the social and economic damage caused by austerity and industrial decline. Instead, it calls for more democratic decision-making, fairer regional distribution of cultural funding, and careful scrutiny of how wealthy donors shape public life.

New commissioned report calls for national strategy for older prisoners as numbers reach record high

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

A major , in partnership with , is calling for an urgent national strategy to support the rapidly expanding population of older prisoners in England and Wales. With people aged 50 and over now representing 24% of the prison population according to the most recent report of the Chief Medical Officer (), and four times as many people over 60 in custody compared with 2002, the report highlights the vital need for age-responsive practice across the prison estate.

These findings come as growing evidence shows that older prisoners are often assigned unsuitable activities or excluded from them altogether, resulting in disengagement from the prison community and long periods spent in their cells. As sentencing patterns mean more people are ageing behind bars, the report emphasises that the structure and purpose of daily activities have become central to maintaining wellbeing, dignity, and a sense of meaning to the time spent in prison.

The report stresses that improved staff awareness and training with respect to older prisoners must underpin any system-wide response. With a greater understanding of age-related health conditions, mobility limitations, and psychosocial challenges, prison staff can play a crucial role in enabling access to what the report emphasises as ‘meaningful’ activities. The report includes a practical toolkit designed to support officers and managers in adapting to the distinct needs of an ageing population.

Drawing on diaries, interviews, and ethnographic research with prisoners aged 50 and over across Category A, C, and D prisons, report co-authors, , , and , of the , The University of 51��, explore what makes activities meaningful to older people in custody. The report sets out practical, evidence-based recommendations for prisons nationwide.

Across the study, participants highlighted that learning new skills and activities supporting autonomy would foster personal growth and a sense of control. Exercise, especially spaces dedicated to ages 50+, would benefit physical and emotional well-being. Being given responsibility through meaningful roles would add to a sense of value, and supportive peer conversations were seen to be crucial to countering isolation and maintaining community. Many participants also expressed concerns about reduced interaction with staff as a result of high turnover and increasing administrative pressures.

Building on these findings, the report outlines recommendations across five core principles:

Recognition: Develop regular forums for older prisoners to share insights, and create structured pathways, such as peer mentoring, skills banks, and volunteering programmes, allowing them to contribute to prison life in meaningful ways.
Responsibility: Expand opportunities that build autonomy and purpose, including gardening schemes, animal-assisted programmes, self-catering initiatives, and facilitated group cooking sessions.
Recreation: Reframe social and recreational engagement as essential to a healthy prison regime. This includes establishing designated age-friendly spaces, weekly clubs, shared memory activities, and carefully designed intergenerational events.
Stimulation: Provide more opportunities that foster curiosity and dialogue, such as guest speaker events, prisoner-led seminars, and reading groups.
“Staying in the Game”: Equip older prisoners to remain connected to the modern world through IT literacy training, budgeting workshops, and tailored exercise programmes that promote long-term wellbeing.

These findings make clear that meaningful activity is not a luxury for older prisoners; it is a lifeline and something essential for reintegration and resocialisation upon release. By embedding recognition, responsibility, recreation, stimulation, and connection at the heart of prison regimes and interactions, the system can ensure that growing old in custody does not mean growing invisible. These changes are essential because they offer not just a novel perspective on old age, that is not just linked to health and vulnerabilities, but also gives emphasis to the importance of nourishing those features which are so essential to reintegration into society, thus building continuity rather than rupture between the time spent in prison and release.

This study is part of funded by the .

Access the full report:

Remembering Dr Lee Kai Hung CBE DL 1935 – 2025

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:27:55 +0000

“If there is no dialogue, there is no understanding

If there is no understanding, there is no trust

If there is no trust, there is no harmony

If there is no harmony, there is no peace”

~Dr Lee Kai Hung~

It is with deep sadness that we have learnt about the passing of Dr Lee Kai Hung CBE DL, a close friend, wise advisor and Honorary Graduate of 51��. Dr Lee was an extraordinary person who strongly believed in the transformative power of friendship. His quiet determination and personal values focused on strengthening trust and understanding across cultures.

Dr Lee played a critical role in shaping two of the University’s most significant cultural and educational institutions – 51�� Museum’s Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery and the 51�� China Institute - hubs of connection and understanding on both local and global levels. His generosity and vision brought to life spaces that celebrate dialogue, curiosity and the rich stories that connect people.

What he created and inspired here has touched many hearts and will continue to elevate the experiences of students, staff and communities. His enduring legacy will spark ideas, build trust and encourage compassion for generations to come.

A member of the Langworthy Circle of Benefactors, Dr Lee was recognised as one of the University’s most visionary supporters. His unwavering values and remarkable generosity have left a lasting impact on the University, the city of 51�� and beyond. His philanthropy shaped the University’s identity, strengthened the community and created new student experiences.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of 51��, said:

“Dr Lee’s vision left an enduring impact on 51��, the city and the wider community. He understood the unique power of education, culture and dialogue to bring people together with peace and empathy. We will honour his life and his values through the work of the Dr Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery and the 51�� China Institute – institutions that foster understanding between the UK and China, deepen connection between people and enrich students’ experiences. We are profoundly grateful for Dr Lee’s friendship and we will remember him with deep respect for his ambition for a more harmonious and inclusive world.”

On behalf of the entire University community, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Dr Lee’s family and friends, and our lasting gratitude for Dr Lee’s friendship and partnership.

Stronger communities linked to better health, new study finds

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:30:00 +0000

New research from 51�� has found that areas with higher community resilience experience better health - including lower rates of drugs, alcohol and suicide deaths - even when those areas face significant deprivation.

The study tested a new “Community Resilience Index” which measures how well local areas can withstand long-term pressures such as economic hardship, poor housing and inequality. Unlike traditional deprivation scores, it focuses on the strengths of a community - things like local infrastructure, social connection, opportunities and stability.

The team analysed data from 307 local authorities across England. They looked at five health measures - deaths of despair (including alcohol-specific deaths, drug-related deaths and suicide), cardiovascular disease, COVID-19 mortality, excess deaths during the pandemic and people’s self-rated general health.

Their findings, published in the , showed that areas with higher resilience scores had lower rates of deaths of despair, lower cardiovascular disease mortality and more residents reporting good health. These patterns remain even after accounting for deprivation, meaning that resilience offers extra insight into why some communities stay healthier than others.

One of the most striking discoveries was how resilience interacts with deprivation. In the poorest areas, resilience appeared to make the biggest difference. For deaths of despair in particular, communities with higher resilience had lower rates compared to equally deprived areas that lacked the same local strengths.

Interestingly, the index did not predict COVID-19 mortality or pandemic-related excess deaths - the researchers say this may reflect that some aspects of resilience – such as good transport links, mobility and strong social connectedness – can increase exposure risk during fast-moving infectious disease outbreaks.

The team believes their findings could help shape future public health policy. While deprivation measures like the Index of Multiple Deprivation will remain key tools, resilience-based measures may help councils and national bodies identify communities that need support - not just because of what they lack, but because of the assets they can build upon.

The researchers hope the index will be used alongside deprivation indices to guide investment in social infrastructure, voluntary sector capacity, community spaces and local connectivity.

The arts can transform young people’s wellbeing and deliver big economic returns, study finds

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:50:25 +0000

A new study led by 51��’s #BeeWell team and PBE (formerly Pro Bono Economics) has found that artistic activities can dramatically improve young people’s wellbeing - with effects equivalent to the happiness boost that unemployed adults experience when moving into work.

, based on the Factory International Schools Programme (FISP), compared students who took part in a creative intervention with a control group who did not. It found that creative pursuits like poetry, photography and music composition can help teenagers express themselves, build confidence and reconnect with learning - all while offering significant value for money.

The findings come at a critical time. The UK has the lowest levels of youth wellbeing in Europe, with one in four young people reporting mental health difficulties by the age of 19. However, school funding for arts subjects continues to decline, leaving many children - especially those in disadvantaged areas - without any access to creative opportunities.

FISP, run by Factory International, worked with 181 pupils across five Greater 51�� schools, including those facing barriers such as low attendance or financial hardship. Over ten months, professional artists led workshops in schools, using different art forms to help pupils explore big themes. Examples include collaging to examine 'What is power?' and photography to explore 'My stomping ground.'

The results speak for themselves - the study found that taking part improved young people’s life satisfaction scores by 0.6 points on a 10-point scale, a change comparable to one of the most powerful wellbeing boosts possible – a move from unemployment to employment. Using Treasury-approved methods to put a monetary value on wellbeing, this is worth almost £10,000 per young person.

The programme delivered an estimated £7 in benefits for every £1 spent, which shows that arts engagement is as good for the economy as it is for the mind.

Behind these figures are some powerful personal stories. Alexa, a Year 9 student who moved to the UK recently, used to shy away from sharing her ideas. Through the programme, she found her voice - writing poetry, mentoring younger students and dreaming of becoming a writer.

Brian, another participant, faced a turbulent year after his mother’s illness. Through music, photography and collage, he found a safe space to express emotion and rebuild confidence. He’s now on a scholarship studying Sports Science, and is determined to use his creativity to help others.

With arts subjects continuing to decrease in school timetables, the research provides compelling evidence for policymakers to rethink how creativity is valued.

“This analysis meaningfully contributes to the body of evidence on investing in arts and culture as an investment in young people’s future,” said Dr Maliha Rahanaz, author of the report. “Every young person deserves the chance to imagine, create and belong.”

Supporting the academic journey with the launch of The Fellowship Academy

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:26:24 +0000

Over 30 new research fellows gathered at 51�� Museum to take part in the launch of The Fellowship Academy within the Faculty of Humanities. Designed to provide wrap-around support to our exceptional intake of research fellows, the Fellowship Academy offers an annual Humanities focused programme of development for the first time.

The Faculty has a broad range of fellowships including those of the University’s own , the and . The aim is to ensure that new fellows are well settled into the University and can engage with all of the support available as well as contribute fully to our research culture.

Associate Vice Dean of Research and Professor of Geography comments: “The Fellowship Academy provides a fantastic opportunity to ensure that every fellow has a fantastic experience and provide them with pathways in terms of engagement across our centres, institutes and research groups, as well as build a community to enhance the sharing of good practice and experiences.

, Vice Dean for Research added: “This is a brilliant innovation that has been developed by listening to our previous cohorts and ensuring that we co-design support that is relevant and applicable to their needs. I’m really delighted to have one of the largest cohorts of humanities fellows in recent years. I’m looking forward to spending time with our fellows across the next three years.”

To apply for fellowships or learn about the Faculty of Humanities funding opportunities please visit our Funding & Fellowships webpage.

New report calls for comprehensive overhaul of UK counter-terrorism policies

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:06:22 +0000

The University’s is among 14 experts who compiled the of the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which was published today by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law.

The report is based on extensive research and evidence from over 200 experts, practitioners, policymakers, academics and community representatives.

Professor Pilkington’s remit was to scrutinise the evidence around the Government’s Prevent programme - which aims to identify and rehabilitate people at risk of radicalisation - drawing on her research expertise in youth engagement and the societal drivers of extremism.

Referrals to Prevent increased markedly after 2015, when it became a legal duty for teachers, social workers, nurses and other frontline professionals to report people they believed to be at risk of being drawn into terrorism or extremism. Referrals jumped from a few hundred a year before 2015, to an average of 6,458 per year since 2015 and to a record number of 8,517 in 2024-25.

More than two thirds of these referrals were for concerns that had no - or no clear - ideological dimension, meaning that a counter-terrorism intervention was not an appropriate response. Almost half of referrals were for children aged 11-17, and a third had at least one mental health or neurodivergence condition.

“We have lost a lot of trust in communities over the Prevent programme,” said Professor Hilary Pilkington. “The whole of society has to live better together, and that requires social cohesion for all communities.”

“It should constitute one element of a broader, more holistic and better resourced multi-agency safeguarding approach that addresses diverse drivers of violence and to which individuals are referred via a ‘big front door’,” Hilary added.

The Commission sets out 113 recommendations to modernise the UK’s counter-terrorism framework and strengthen its fairness, focus and accountability.

The report concludes that while the UK’s counter-terrorism system remains world-leading, it has grown complex and overbroad. Key reforms are needed to ensure it remains effective, proportionate, and rooted in democratic values. As well as the recommendations concerning the Prevent programme, it also recommends that the government:

Narrow the legal definition of terrorism, ensuring clarity and proportionality.
Reform proscription powers, introducing time-limited reviews and stronger parliamentary and judicial oversight.
Tighten terrorism offences, ensuring prosecutions are fair, proportionate, and grounded in clear intent.
Restore equality in citizenship law, limiting deprivation powers and ensuring fair treatment under the law.
Invest in social cohesion, recognising that inclusion and trust are vital to long-term security.

New study shows AI enhances teacher development

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:01:00 +0000

Research from the offers vital early insights into how AI tools can be responsibly and effectively embedded into teacher training. The preliminary findings from year 1 of the three-year longitudinal pioneering research project explore the integration of generative AI in primary teacher education, centred on the use of (TMAI) within the University of 51��’s Primary PGCE programme.

Despite early concerns about over-reliance on AI, initial findings indicate that trainee teachers demonstrated a critical, creative, and context-aware use of the technology. The study revealed that AI can actually enhance, not diminish, professional judgement, resourcefulness, and contextual sensitivity when supported by clear guidance and reflective practice.

Building on the University of 51��’s ‘Outstanding’ -rated PGCE programmes - 2011, 2018, and 2024 -, teacher training at the 51�� Institute of Education continues to lead innovation in the field. With AI becoming deeply embedded in young people’s lives, it’s essential to prepare future teachers to navigate and shape its role in education and society.

Most trainees used AI to generate lesson materials, such as activities, model texts, prompts, and visual resources, rather than relying on it for full lesson planning. Importantly, many trainees demonstrated strong contextual judgement, adapting AI-generated content to suit the specific needs of their pupils, and used the tools to extend their creative capabilities rather than replace them.

Emerging themes from this early stage of the project include the importance of context awareness, the potential for AI to support workload management, and the need for strong professional judgment in evaluating and adapting AI outputs. The research also identified the development of prompt engineering skills and critical fact-checking as essential components of effective AI use in teacher education.

The next phase of this research will involve the collection of AI-generated prompts and outputs, enabling researchers to track usage trends and assess the long-term impact of AI on teacher development. The research team – Liz Birchinall, , , , , , and - also see a key opportunity for universities to collaborate with schools to help bridge the gap between innovative research and everyday classroom practice.

Embedding AI into teacher training at 51�� is already delivering real benefits for the local community. Each year, approximately 8,400 children across Greater 51�� are taught by PGCE trainees on placement, bringing high-quality, AI-informed teaching into local classrooms. On average, 80% of our graduates secure teaching roles within 20 miles of the University, making the programme’s impact lasting, local, and growing.

This work also contributes to a broader national and international conversation about how education systems can respond to and shape the rapid evolution of generative AI. As the research continues, 51�� remains committed to helping shape a future in which AI enhances the quality, ethics, and creativity of teacher education.

This study was funded by the Flexible Learning Programme at 51��.

Access the report on FigShare:

Call for Interest opens for 2026 Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:24:42 +0000

51�� has announced the Call for Interest for lightning talks and research posters for its upcoming international conference, , taking place 9 - 10 June 2026.

Hosted by the , this hybrid event will bring together educators, researchers, students, policymakers, and technology specialists from around the world to explore the intersection of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), equity, and accessibility in higher education.

As AI technologies transform the way universities teach, assess, and collaborate, the conference will provide a critical forum to examine who benefits from these changes and who risks being left behind.

“Generative AI is reshaping higher education in powerful ways, but the real challenge is ensuring it supports all learners,” said , Principal Investigator and Lead Conference Organiser.“This event will focus on how we can design, use, and govern AI systems to make higher education more equitable and inclusive.”

Exploring the future of inclusive AI in education

Through keynotes, interactive discussions, lightning talks, and poster presentations, the conference will address questions at the heart of educational transformation:

How can AI be designed to support diverse learners and reduce digital divides?
What ethical and policy challenges must institutions confront?
How can collaboration between educators, technologists, and students ensure GenAI promotes inclusion rather than inequality?

The conference themes include:

Stakeholder perspectives on GenAI for equality and inclusion
Inclusive design and implementation of AI tools
Pedagogical innovation for diverse learners
Policy studies on GenAI for inclusive education
Student and staff voices on AI and equity

Call for Lightning Talks and Posters now open

The organising committee is inviting proposals for:

Lightning Talks (in-person): Short 5 - 7-minute presentations reflecting on practice, policy, or research around GenAI in higher education. Proposals may highlight best practices or share honest accounts of challenges and lessons learned.
Research Posters (online or in-person): Posters exploring the relationship between AI, accessibility, and inclusion in higher education. Submissions are welcome from all disciplines and especially encouraged from students, early-career researchers, and those foregrounding underrepresented perspectives.

Submission information

Deadline for submissions: 20 December 2025, 23:59 (GMT)
Notification of decisions: 31 January 2026
Submission form:
For further information, please contact: , Email: skye.zhao@manchester.ac.uk
Organising team: Dr Skye Zhao, , , and
Further details: (PDF, 143KB)

About the Conference

As part of the University’s commitment to equitable innovation, will create a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration across research, policy, and practice.

The event will highlight both opportunities and challenges presented by the rapid rise of GenAI in higher education, addressing issues of ethics, accessibility, data governance, and inclusion.

“We want to open space for creative and critical conversations about AI’s role in shaping the future of learning,” added Dr Zhao. “This conference is about ensuring that innovation goes hand-in-hand with equity.”

The conference will take place in person at the , University of 51��, with online participation available for global accessibility.

Social gender norms deepen elderly care burdens for Thai women

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:45:08 +0000

As Thailand has experienced a rapid increase in its elderly population, a new study published in has found that “social gender norms” - shared beliefs about how “altruistic” women or men should be in society - are overburdening women in the country with elderly care.

Alongside Dr Minh Tam Bui from Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand and Professor Ivo Vlaev from the National University of Singapore, 51��’s Dr Katsushi Imai analysed national time-use survey data covering over 70,000 Thai adults to see how men and women care for their elderly family members. The study shows that women offering elderly care spend 2 to 2.5 hours on unpaid elder care each day - far more than men.

This imbalance is partly due to the social norm about how “altruistic” women or men should be in society. In many communities in Thailand - particularly in rural areas - this social norm often forces women to be more altruistic than men as caregivers, because men are supposed to work outside. In areas with stronger gender norms, men spend much less time on elderly care than women do. Dr Bui emphasised the importance of digging deeper into the roots of caregiving inequality:

“We all know that there is a persistent gender care gap - women carry more of the burden in childcare, elder care and household work nearly everywhere in the world - but the underlying reasons for this are often understudied. We wanted to find out why and how this happens by looking at social gender norms around altruistic behaviour.”

“We found that women swap paid work for elderly caregiving, but men do not. This unequal division of care responsibilities can lead to gender gaps in employment and wellbeing, and is worrying in terms of achieving both equality and efficiency in Thailand,” she added.

The research team urges policymakers to recognise the value of unpaid elderly care, allocate more budget for long-term care insurance, and introduce nationwide campaigns to encourage men to engage in family care duties. This would help the country achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality by offering critical insights for building more equitable care systems and behavioural change in ageing societies.

The study informs a process that takes place in many countries worldwide where women are overburdened with care responsibilities. As populations age and family structures change, how societies value and share care work may become one of the defining social issues of the century.

The authors also raise concerns over the discontinuation of the Thai national time-use survey by the National Statistical Office. They advocate for its urgent resumption, stressing that time-use data is critical for understanding gender inequality, strengthening the care economy, and helping the government monitor its progress toward the SDGs. Without such data, key dimensions of unpaid care work remain invisible in policy design and economic planning.

Buddhist spirituality could transform modern mental health care, study finds

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:06:46 +0000

A new study from an expert at 51�� has found that ancient Buddhist wisdom could help address growing social and emotional challenges created by modern life and the pressures of today’s mental health systems.

The research by trainee counselling psychologist Minwoo Kang, which has been published in , calls for a re-thinking of how spirituality can be understood and used in psychotherapy.

Kang’s work suggests that Buddhism offers much more than meditation or mindfulness - it provides an ethical and spiritual framework that can help counter the individualism and stress often driven by neoliberalism.

“Mindfulness has become popular in workplaces and therapy rooms, but it is often stripped of its deeper spiritual roots,” Kang explains. “When used only as a productivity tool, it risks becoming part of the very system that causes people distress. Buddhism, in its full context, reminds us of compassion, interconnection and humility - qualities that modern mental health care needs more than ever.”

Kang’s paper proposes a new approach he calls “Buddhism as method.” This framework uses Buddhist teachings such as impermanence, conditionality and relativity to critically examine the ways mental-health practice can unintentionally reinforce social injustice and individual blame.

Drawing on his own experiences of growing up in South Korea and training in the UK, Kang explores how spirituality can serve as both a personal and social force for change.

“Spiritual growth isn’t just about inner peace,” he says. “It can also inspire collective action - challenging racism, materialism and the climate crisis by helping people recognise their deep connection with others and with the natural world.”

The study highlights that Buddhist principles - like the understanding that everything is interconnected and constantly changing - can encourage psychological therapists and researchers to adopt greater self-awareness, compassion and ethical reflection in their work.

It also argues that spirituality can empower individuals to resist the sense of isolation and competition fostered by consumer culture.

Kang hopes his research will inspire future psychologists and psychotherapists to look beyond Western, medicalised approaches to therapy and to embrace more holistic, inclusive perspectives.

51�� is globally renowned for its pioneering research, outstanding teaching and learning, and commitment to social responsibility. We are a truly international university – ranking in the top 50 in a range of global rankings – with a diverse community of more than 44,000 students, 12,000 staff and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries. Sign up for our e-news to hear first-hand about our international partnerships and activities across the globe.

NGOs can serve communities better by listening more, researchers say

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:15:00 +0000

A new study has shed light on how international charities and non-governmental organisations can better serve some of the most marginalised people in the world - by learning to truly listen to them.

Dr Sofia Yasmin from 51��’s Alliance 51�� Business School and Professor Chaudhry Ghafran from Durham University looked at how a major international NGO delivered a clean water and sanitation project in two of Pakistan’s poorest urban communities - one Christian, and one Muslim.

The team spent time on the ground, talking with local residents, community leaders and NGO staff. Their aim was to understand how accountability - the idea that organisations should answer to the people they serve - works in practice in places where poverty, religion, gender and social class all intersect.

“What we found was that even within poor communities, people don’t experience aid in the same way,” said Dr Yasmin. “A Christian minority neighbourhood, for example, faced a deeper level of exclusion and was grateful simply to be seen, while another Muslim community - though still poor - felt able to challenge and question the project. These differences really matter if we want development to be fair and inclusive.”

The study - published in the - revealed that while NGOs often talk about “community participation,” decision-making can remain tightly controlled by donors and distant managers. Projects are frequently governed by strict budgets and performance targets, leaving little room for flexibility or for local people to shape outcomes.

Yet the study also uncovered moments of hope. In one community, trust between residents and NGO workers grew not through slogans or workshops, but through the visible arrival of clean water systems and working infrastructure. “People believed what they could see,” said Dr Yasmin. “Trust was built when promises turned into pipes.”

The paper introduces the idea of “fluid responsiveness” - a call for NGOs to treat accountability not as a tick-box exercise, but as a living, evolving relationship with the communities they serve.

Dr Yasmin hopes the findings will encourage international charities, donors and governments to rethink how they design and monitor conservation projects. “If we want sustainable development,” she said, “we have to stop speaking for people and start listening to them - especially those who are most often ignored.”

Outdated Westminster rules undermine democracy by excluding smaller parties

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:48:26 +0000

The 2024 General Election was one of the most dramatic in British history, as voters turned away from the two traditional giants - Labour and the Conservatives - in record numbers. Thirteen different parties and six independents won seats in the House of Commons, making this the most fragmented Parliament ever.

This trend has continued in the recent Caerphilly byelection, where the Labour and Conservative votes collapsed - but while the ballot box is reflecting a new era of multi-party politics, inside Westminster it is still business as usual for the main parties.

New research published in by Dr Louise Thompson from 51�� shows how outdated rules in the House of Commons shut smaller parties out of key decisions, leaving millions of voters effectively unheard.

“Parliament is still operating as if it were the 1950s, when two big parties dominated,” Dr Thompson explains. “Smaller parties are treated unfairly in parliament’s rules, even though their MPs represent a growing share of the electorate. That creates a real democratic deficit.”

Currently, only the government, the official opposition and the third-largest party enjoy guaranteed speaking time, committee chairs and opportunities to hold the government to account. Everyone else - from the Greens and Reform UK to Plaid Cymru and the DUP - has no such rights.

That means these MPs often spend hours waiting in the chamber for a chance to speak, sometimes never being called at all. Even when they represent national movements like the Greens, or entire regions like Northern Ireland parties, they remain sidelined.

The problem isn’t just symbolic. Without a seat on select committees, smaller parties cannot properly scrutinise new laws. Without guaranteed debate slots, they cannot speak to issues that matter to them. In Dr Thompson’s words, “All MPs are elected equally, but inside Westminster, some are definitely more equal than others.”

At present, smaller parties rely on handshakes and goodwill to be heard. The Speaker sometimes makes space for their questions, and on rare occasions, bigger parties share their committee or debate time - but these arrangements are inconsistent and can be withdrawn at any moment. This patchwork system also favours parties that have good relationships with the big players, while leaving others with nothing. It is, Dr Thompson argues, no way to run a modern democracy.

Her study recommends that Westminster should modernise its rulebook to reflect today’s multi-party politics. She calls for formal guarantees in the Commons’ Standing Orders, giving smaller parties fair speaking rights, seats on committees and access to debates.

She also suggests borrowing ideas from devolved parliaments, such as minimum thresholds for party rights, and promoting more guesting” on committees so small party MPs can contribute where they have expertise. These reforms, she stresses, wouldn’t overhaul the system but would make it more transparent, consistent and fair for all MPs - regardless of their party.

Public invited to open discussion on migration at John Rylands Library

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:20:56 +0000

The Migration, Refugees and Asylum Research Group at the University of 51��’s Global Development Institute (GDI) is inviting the public to take part in an open and honest conversation about migration.

The event - which will be held at 51��’s historic John Rylands Library on Friday 14 November from 2-4pm - aims to challenge harmful myths and misunderstandings about migrants and refugees in the UK and the wider world.

At a time when discussions around migration can often be divisive, this event seeks to bring people together. It offers a welcoming space for anyone with questions or concerns about migration to hear from experts, share their views and take part in respectful discussion. The goal is simple - to replace fear and misinformation with understanding and fact-based dialogue.

The event forms part of the , a global initiative that promotes truth, solidarity and the defence of academic freedom. The event will highlight the many ways migrants contribute to the city of 51�� and to communities across the UK and the wider world - from building businesses and supporting public services, to enriching culture and everyday life.

The panel will feature leading voices on migration and social justice including Dr Tess Hartland (51��), Professor Anandi Ramamurthy (Sheffield Hallam University) and Professor Jan Nederveen Pieterse (University of California, Santa Barbara). The discussion will be accompanied by live music from Richard Fay and Intercultural Musicking and poetry from Balraj Samrai, adding creative energy to the afternoon’s exchange of ideas.

The event is inspired by the tradition of the “teach-in”, which began in the 1960s during the Vietnam War. These gatherings were created by university communities as spaces to question official narratives, learn from one another, and promote social awareness. The 51�� event will expand this format into a “teach-in/out”, inviting not just students and staff, but the wider public - ensuring everyone has a seat at the table.

While the political climate may have changed since the 1960s, the challenge of misinformation remains. In today’s UK, migrants are too often portrayed as a threat rather than a source of strength and renewal. This event aims to correct falsehoods by offering evidence-based insights and real stories of migration - celebrating diversity and community rather than division.

“Migration is one of the most debated topics in the world today, including in the UK, and is clearly shaping our national dialogue more than ever before,” said Tanja Bastia, Professor of Migration and Development. “This event is about providing a calm and engaging environment where anyone can come to learn, listen and ask questions about migration.”

Everyone is welcome to join the conversation, whether you are a resident, visitor, student, or simply curious about the realities of migration.

To reserve your place, please register on .

School isolation rooms are damaging pupil wellbeing, new study warns

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:43:46 +0100

Children placed in school ‘isolation rooms’ are losing learning time, feeling cut off from their peers and suffering damage to their wellbeing, according to new research from 51��.

The study, published in the , is the first large-scale investigation into internal exclusion in England and reveals that the practice is far more common - and harmful - than many parents or school leaders may realise. The researchers hope their findings will spark urgent debate among teachers, policymakers and parents about how schools can support pupils to achieve and flourish using alternative approaches to managing their behaviour.

Among their recommendations are methods that are restorative (focusing on repairing harm and rebuilding relationships rather than solely on exclusion) and trauma-informed (recognising that some disruptive behaviour may stem from underlying trauma or adverse experiences). The research recognises the challenges of managing behaviour but calls for the development of alternative approaches.

The team of experts analysed survey data from the #BeeWell programme which included more than 34,000 pupils at 121 mainstream secondary schools across Greater 51��. They found that one in 12 pupils (8.3%) reported being placed in isolation at least once a week, often spending more than a full school day there.

Isolation - also known as internal exclusion - involves removing a pupil from class for disruptive behaviour and making them work alone or in silence in a separate room. Unlike suspensions or permanent exclusions, there are no national rules on how isolation should be used, or for how long.

Key findings from the research:

One in 12 pupils (8.3%) reported being placed in isolation at least once a week
The average time spent in isolation was 8.5 hours a week – more than a full school day
Even after accounting for behavioural difficulties:
-    Children with recognised special educational needs (an Education, Health and Care plan) were more than twice as likely to be in isolation
-    Children on Free School Meals were more than one and a half times more likely to be in isolation
-    Children who identified as LGBTQ+ were nearly twice as likely to be in isolation
-    Black, Asian and mixed heritage children were more likely to be in isolation than their White British peers
Isolated pupils reported reduced belonging, poorer relationships with teachers, and (for girls) lower levels of mental wellbeing than a very closely matched sample of their non-isolated peers.
Schools with higher rates of suspensions also tended to isolate more pupils, undermining the idea that internal exclusion prevents more serious sanctions.

“Internal exclusion is happening every day in classrooms across England, yet it is largely hidden from view,” said lead author Dr Emma Thornton. “We know that it can provide an effective short-term solution for teachers dealing with disruption in their class, who want to create the conditions for all pupils to thrive. But our findings show that it is disproportionately applied to young people most in need of support, and leads to lost learning, weaker connections with teachers, and in some cases poorer mental health.”

#BeeWell is one of 40 organisations calling for a government definition of inclusion as measurable through data on the amount of lost learning - time spent away from the classroom through isolation, suspension and absence - and through pupil experience data, such as the #BeeWell data used in this study. The Inclusion for All campaign asks that the upcoming Schools White Paper should provide guidance and support schools to continuously improve and reduce the amount of time spent away from classrooms and peers.

“What’s needed is more research and practice-sharing on effective ways to set up internal spaces that are diagnostic, supportive and get children back to class as soon as possible,” said Kiran Gill, CEO of charity The Difference charity. “That’s why The Difference is working with schools across the country to better measure inclusion, and to set up spaces internally to support young people in crisis before their challenges escalate. We’re excited to bring some of those school leaders together with #BeeWell and others at our annual conference IncludED in January to share strategies that are working, as measured by pupils’ own experiences.”

The research is part of the , a major study of young people’s wellbeing in Greater 51��, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, funded by 51�� and partners including The National Lottery Community Fund.

51�� hosts leading experts to explore the power of dangerous writings

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 13:20:52 +0100

Led by 51��’s in partnership with the the (30 September 2025) brought together leading academics, archivists, and curators to examine how texts - from prisoners’ letters, politicians’ and military men’s diaries during wars, missionaries’ photographic pictures and reports, blogs and tweets, and anatomy controversial books - can empower, unsettle, and endanger in equal measure.

By fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue, the symposium, co-organised by , and , encouraged participants to share diverse perspectives, uncover new insights, and explore the ethical responsibilities of engaging with these powerful writings.

Across panels and performances, participants grappled with questions of care, responsibility, and solidarity: How do we preserve and share texts that are powerful but can be painful? What duties do researchers and curators hold towards their participants? What about audiences and the broader community – can they be traumatised by what they read too? And how can the voices of the marginalised be honoured without causing further harm?

The programme ranged from suppressed memoirs to protest theatre, to prison blogging and the fragile preservation of refugee diaries. Presentations by and (University of 51��) explored prisoners’ diaries and the ethical complexities of engaging with them, while international contributors highlighted struggles faced by writers across Europe.

Emphasising the ethical challenges at the heart of the discussions, event organiser, Dr Marion Vannier, Senior Lecturer in , shared:

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