Higher Education Coordinator Annual Report

Written By Adminstrator

University Geoscience UK

UGUK Annual Meeting - 13th Nov 2025

I attended this meeting online.

Items relevant to ESTA that were discussed:

·         The TeachEarth website is seeking an internships, which could be virtual, UG or PHD student, to help with adding teaching resources to the website. Payment in region of £2k.

·         A new ‘Associate member’ category for UGUK was proposed, for individuals in institutions not explicitly in geoscience, to boost numbers and widen scope or organisation.

·         Call for comments on current state of geoscience HE departments. Student numbers: data indicates peak in 2014 from low in 2001-2006, declined after 2014, rising slowly in recent years – though perspective from many members was that recruitment was difficult. An annual survey of numbers on programmes was suggested – but the problem of ‘dilution’ of pure geology degree programmes makes comparison tricky – lots of mixed or joint programmes currently. In addition, many departments are not wholly geoscience any more: many are merged with environmental science, geography or wider Schools, so Heads are not always geoscientists.

 

Geological Society of London

I attended online meetings of the Joint Higher Education Committee on 12th December 2025, 18th March 2026 and 10th June 2026.

12th December 2025

Chaired by Sian Davies-Vollum; I attended online and reported on ESTA activities, including conference and website difficulties.

Discussed letters to VCs of universities where geoscience departments are threatened with closure (e.g. Leicester). Rather than ‘naming and shaming’ the institutions, Sian suggested a more positive approach, emphasising the skills shortage for geoscientists, coupled with boom in critical minerals. It was mentioned that there were >100 scientists in the current labour govt – representing an opportunity to gain traction.

Hybrid Careers Day (Burlington House) was successful, good attendance and a variety of exhibitors, with positive feedback. Sessions are now up on YouTube. Heriot Watt/Edinburgh due to host this event in 2026.

7 universities signed up to University Geoscience Champions scheme – hoping to 10 eventually.

The Society wrote to Patrick Vallance (Science Minister) and HE Minister to warn of risk that large parts of UK could lose access to Earth Science courses (focused on Geophysics, joint comms with Royal Astronomical Society). Reply was a brush-off, wait until after post-16 education white paper – which contained little relevant content. Megan O-Donnell advocated collaborating with other at-risk subjects to boost influence.

BGS report:

  • Virtual work experience scheme live until Apr 2026

  • Summer placement students created outreach ideas for geology explorer ‘secret agent superhero’ passport (KS2), writing intro to tasks for ‘missions’.

  • On-site geoscience club for KS2 students

  • Ian Williams (NERC) asked for evidence of geoscience skills shortage, at short notice – rapid response to this from BGS

18th March 2026

Chaired by Sian Davies-Vollum; I attended online and reported on ESTA activities, including conference, decision on website redevelopment, summer school recruitment and funding, from ESTA Council meeting the previous evening.

GSL: concern over quote from a university to host Careers Day of £10k – can be hosted at Burlington House for a fraction of that cost (but attendees then pay a premium to travel to London).

14 Universities now signed up to University Geoscience Champions scheme.

UGUK: David Healy has stepped down. New committee members: Christina Manning (RHUL); Catherine Mottram (Portsmouth); James Wheeley (Birmingham)

Report that UCAS site for Earth Science is managed by Lightcast (external company), relies on data that is at least 10 yrs old. Current, comparable data is available (TIG report) but costly. Is this worth paying for?

10th June 2026

Chaired by Pete Burgess, deputising for Sian Davies-Vollum; I attended online and reported on ESTA activities, including conference at Leeds 11-13 Sept 2026, OCR decision to withdraw Geology A-Level (leaving just Eduqas), summer school funding (£8.5k secured, £2k more promised). Summer school will focus on migrating teachers from OCR to Eduqas; there will also be a dedicated session at Leeds conference.

BGS report: funding freeze, with staff leaving not being replaced and no funding for summer placement schemes.

Careers Day: GSL to host at Burlington House in 2026 (due to high costs elsewhere); two informal EOIs to host in 2027 from other institutions. They are planning fewer talks to leave more time for networking.

GeoWeek 2025

I’ve had little time to publicise or develop GeoWeek this year – very busy at work producing a new 60 credit module. I responded to some specific queries from organisers looking to hold events.

A handful of new live events were posted on the GeoWeek map, but I’ve not had time to add any more geotrails.

However, I have (finally!) gained editing access to the GeoWeek web pages hosted on the UGUK website, which should make publicising and managing the event for 2027 easier.

Other

I wrote a not-entirely-positive book review of ‘Explaining the Earth’ by Paul E. Binns for TES/Newsletter.

Tom Argles, H.E. Co-ordinator

August 2026

Adminstrator