Edinburgh Fringe 2015 Top Tips

A fuller, more reflective blog post to follow but time for my Edinburgh Fringe top shows after a fun week. 

Best Theatre was Every Brilliant Thing for taking me on a journey through depression, laughter & tears. 

Best Theatre runners up: The Christians for discussing church division & Jesus Queen of Heaven for raw spirituality.  

Best Comedy was NewsRevue for a returning format but up to date, topical, musical comedy.

Best Comedy runners up were Daniel Sloss for discussing death wisely & Ed Gamble for neat free show. 

Misses included: Invisible City as I didn't quite get the lemons. Tiernan for unstructured rant. 

Other Edinburgh tips: Scottish Parliament for engaging free tour. Mosque Kitchen for tasty curry.

Next blog post will reflect on brilliant first Fringe experience, an awesome country/culture & lovely conversations with friends.

24 Shows, 22 Venues, 12 friends, 8 days, 1 great festival & Edinburgh. #EdFringe over (for me) for a year.

Learning to Relax: Post PhD Submission Life

After six years of studying I am slowly learning what life looks like without a thesis to dominate every waking hour. 

Don’t get me wrong, I know it is not over and there is still a large task remaining with both the viva and any possible re-writes facing me but it is clear that the thesis is entering a new phase.  And I am preparing for the viva, practicing the arguments that I will need to use. 

Much of the last three weeks, however, I have spent time relaxing, forgetting the thesis and trying to work out how to fill me time: catching up with friends and family that I have not seen in a while; catching up on theatre, music and box sets that have not been possible; catching up on sleep. 

But, throughout, there is that nagging feeling that I should be doing something, that I am not doing enough.  As several people have pointed out, I should allow myself time to relax and knowingly take some time off.  However, this is surprisingly hard and I am wondering what element the PhD has to play in all of that. 

PhDs require a certain type of person who is willing to keep being busy, who is prepared to sacrifice their personal time and who has the project management skills in order to complete the work on time.  These skills are by no means exclusive to those with doctorates.  However, the individual nature of a PhD contrasts significantly with a lot of current jobs which are based on collaboration and team working.  The assessment of the PhD via thesis and viva is designed to ensure the individual can stand alone and justify their place amongst other acacemics. 

And this is part of why it is so hard to switch off from a PhD.  It is your work and your work alone.  There is no-one to share the load with.  The individual student or researcher is the one who has to complete and defend the work. 

So perhaps, I need to relish the fact that I cannot switch off rather than being guilty about it; perhaps this is a fundamental part of becoming a researcher.  For now, though, I will also relish the opportunity to re-connect with those around me and prepare for the challenges that still await me on this journey to being a Doctor.  

Greece & a PhD, Social Capital & Soft Power

Six years ago as I began a PhD looking at Europe, the economic crisis was just biting. As I started my research, I joked that I didn't know what Europe would look like when I completed the work. Progress on the thesis and the European economic agenda has been slow but, coming full circle, both issues are reaching a critical point this week.

My thesis looks at why the European Union funded an initiative in Higher Education. I suggest that the EU is drawing on 2 theories with this initiative: Soft Power and Social Capital. Soft Power is defined as the ability to influence others through attraction rather than the hard power of military or economic sanctions. Social Capital theory looks at the development of networks of reciprocity: that by building relationships, people are more likely to support each other. 

Now the EU is well placed to facilitate both Soft Power and Social Capital, and this can be seen in the current Grexit discussions. Greece was attracted to join the EU because of its economic, cultural and socio-political values; the Greek government hopes to emulate these. In turn, the EU wanted to influence Greek behaviour to guarantee both parties long term success, particularly economic success. In other words, Soft Power was at work. What can be seen as  emerging during this crisis is that attraction has waned. The values that attracted Greece to the EU don't quite match, say, Germany's economic prudence. The cultural behaviours of Mediterranean and Scandinavian countries aren't always complimentary, for example. So, in a crisis, cracks start to appear. 

And this is where Social Capital should have helped. The members of the EU had networked and learnt of the value of being a union over many years. The peace and stability the EU has played a part in creating can be explained by the networks of reciprocity and of trust which are seen as defining elements of Social Capital. Instead, the differences in values and views of the EU, as well as different democratic and negotiating styles, has lead to the Social Capital decreasing. It's decreased to such an extent that these recent negotiations are fractious and lack a common vision for the direction of the EU and its constituent states. 

Based on my research, none of this is a surprise. My PhD research showed in a specific initiative funded by the EU that students struggled to identify common European values and that Social Capital can disappear quickly if it is not constantly invested in. My research also found that, in this small group of students, the Soft Power, the attraction, of the EU was founded largely on economic principles rather than cultural ones. 

Now I'm not saying that my research explains the Greek crisis or can be generalised to work at EU level. However, my work does lead me to wonder that if the EU is based on an economic vision then in times of crises, such as the current one in Greece, there is a lack of common bonds or Social Capital to rescue the situation. 

So just as my research concludes, so does the EU situation worsen. But these questions and debates about the role of the EU will continue long beyond the end of my studies as, to my mind, the issues at stake are how different nations and cultures work together and influence each other; issues which the ministers in Brussels cannot solve in a single weekend. 

"The Speech", Europe and Higher Education

Today I will be working on a European Research Bid, discuss my own research into EU funded student mobility and, hopefully, plan a trip to Finland or Lithuania.

Don't get me wrong, I'll also be working on UK based projects and looking at a break in the UK but my life is dominated by Europe. Those that say we should move away from the EU and look towards America, should look at my list of projects. I have one from an American funder compared to 9 within the EU. And, to be frank, the USA's processes are slow and unwelcoming. In Higher Education, certainly at the moment, our eyes are turned towards "Europe".

And what worries me about The Prime Minister's speech and, particularly, his intention to give the people of the UK a vote on the EU is that the media and, thus, the public in general do not see the extent our lives are positively affected by the EU.

Cameron may need to hold his party together but the image this gives off to my colleagues in other European institutions is that Britain is not committed to the EU which affects the work I can do for my University.

This announcement has also brought an element of political instability with it. I thought the general election campaign might wait until after the party conferences this autumn. This divides the coalition & starts the fight now. With fixed term parliaments, we see that election campaigns start half way through a term, as has always been the case with, say, the US Presidentials.

Five years ago the world economic crisis was just starting. Today, five years of European debate starts. For Higher Education, this continues the time we are coping with changes beyond our control. Universities play a central role in the European project. Please allow British ones to continue doing that.

The New Archbishop of Canterbury: "Businessification" of the Church.

The appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury shows a new departure not only in the skills required of the church leader but also in how he was appointed; though perhaps things have not changed in their media department. 

It’s always been a joke that there's nothing that leaks like the CofE! Justin Welby is the name that was reported after the last meeting of the Crown Nominations Commission and they should have managed the story better in the last 48 hours.  I do wonder who the other short-listed name was that the panel could agree on, thus delaying the announcement; we may find out – I gather there’s a role in Durham which needs filling (!) and the Archbishop of York (now 63) may not wait too much longer before retiring.  But here we are with a new ABC in the wings and a rather welcome appointment

I knew Welby when I  was at Coventry Cathedral. He was intelligent, witty and an impressive negotiator. He seemed wise beyond his years. I think it a brave choice to pick a relatively unknown man but his stance on Women Bishops and commitment to listen to, if not agree with, the gay lobby is encouraging. I think he may surprise us and be more liberal than billed.

The media has been emphasising his time in business but I wonder if they have missed something. He's now spent twice as long in the God trade as in the oil one. And business has changes a huge amount in the 20 years since he was involved in it.  What’s more significant and more of a hint of his “business-mind” is his church background. 

Welby was an early member of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) which has successfully designed a more family-friendly, evangelical style of church.  It’s become particularly known for the Alpha course which aims to convert or grow people in the faith.  Alpha is a world-wide brand and HTB has “planted” 20 churches when it has sent staff and members to grow other failing congregations.  A true CofE success.  This model of church has been about getting the message out there and encouraging people to invest their time and money in the church.  The churches staff have already had a bishop and dean amongst its famous alumni and now has a former member in the highest role in anglicanism. 

I don’t mean for a second to suggest that it is all about the money but, rather, that there is a professionalism behind this listening exterior.  This is a man who knows the church needs to improve its image if its message is to be heard: he’s done it before at local and regional level.  Now he has to do it at a national one. 

I think the appointment proves the new system with a revised panel and no government choice has worked. They've come up with a strong, slightly less known candidate as any good recruitment process should. He's going to be more media-savy than Rowan and I think a good choice for the next decade. 

Lasting Impressions of The Balkans

This is my second trip to the Western Balkans, the first being to Zagreb about 2 years ago. I've also been to several countries which only emerged from behind the iron curtain in the last 20 years: the Czech Republic, Poland and Estonia have featured in my travels. Yet, in many senses, this has been a steeper learning and experience curve than those trips.

Throughout many former Eastern Bloc countries and, indeed, most Western European countries, too, there are memorials to those lost in the world wars or in the struggle for independence. There's evidence of change and loss but mostly it has been preserved or sanitised. Although divisions may still exist, they are largely hidden and the process of "moving forward" is well advanced. In Bosnia & Herzegovina and, to a lesser extent, Croatia the divisions remain, the healing is just starting and the physical scars are all too visible.

Even in Dubrovnik with its relative wealth and large number of tourists, gaps remain where buildings have been hit, the suburbs are poor and there are posters condemning the Serbian/Montenegrin bombing, showing where each shell landed. Indeed, when speaking to people the tensions between Croats and Bosniaks, Serbians etc still remain.

In Bosnia, the poverty is much more evident and the damage has been made safe but barely repaired in places. Again, I gather that the divisions remain with schools on either side teaching only their version of history to their people. Signs are meant to be bilingual but often graffiti wipes out one or other language. Political slogans, dates of importance to one side or the other and symbols (including swastikas) can be seen everywhere there is blank wall a spray can can be used on. This is not a sustainable model for peace where a common understanding, respect and future need to be forged.

These countries were at war from 1991-5 with ongoing skirmishes (e.g. In Kosovo) until recently. War is not an historical thing but something that everyone has a story about. Within two and a half of hours of London is a country which is still working through its troubles.

Yet, despite these harsh social realities, there is a softer side to these countries. The scenery is truely spectacular from the coast roads to the mountain passes, from the pretty town centres to the night time panoramas of cities, from the clean accommodation to the welcoming hosts. This was a holiday where I learnt so much of what this area has to offer.

My father remembers travelling through here after his first year at university with its amazing views; I too take away great memories and can wholeheartedly recommend a self-drive trip to explore the area. And it will not be my last trip: the national parks to the north of Croatia and Zadar are a high priority. A trip to Sarajevo is now top on my travel "to do" list.

This holiday has changed the way I see this part of the world and, as with so many of my trips, inspires me travel more around this diverse, fascinating continent of Europe.

Travel: Learning, experiencing, enjoying

As I walked across Dubrovnik harbour front this morning I witnessed some of the worst stereotypical American tourists. Only they weren't a stereotype: they were the real thing. Loud, dominating any scene, ignoring local practices in ordering a taxi and nearly shouting at the locals who were obviously a bit thick AS THEY DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.

That said, I have remarked several times how tricky it is to be a self-guiding tourist here. Coach tours turn up outside a venue, wander around, get fed and wander on again. A tad stereotypical again but there's less risk there. As a self-guided tourist we need direction signs (language unimportant), safe accommodation and info on what we are looking at. These things have not always been obvious here. We have not been able to find museums, monuments and hotels without a bit of search or, in a couple of cases, at all.

Yet it is easy to be a snobby tourist, stating that "my way is the only way"; I know that I have a tendency not to engage with the local population but at the same time want to avoid mass crowds. I am more comfortable in a little hotel or B&B than staying with a family or in a big all-inclusive hotel. We all have our comfort zones as travellers. It's being confident to move beyond those so we learn more, experience more and enjoying more of the world around us which has to be some of the reasons we travel for.

Beauty and Hurt in the Balkans

One of the joys of doing a PhD on a European-related theme is that I can justify trips to less known corners of my continent as "research". It's a long shot but makes me feel better about taking time off. That said, in the case of Bosnia and Croatia, the focus of my current trip, it's not that far from the truth. These countries have been the focus of EU Higher Education policies to help their recovery from the 1992-5 war and some of the students involves in my case study come from this part of the world. If Universities can be used as a "soft power" tool to bring about social change, peace and growth - as the EU desires - then this is a prime example of where it can be used. 

I was 9 when the war in Bosnia started in 1992 and remember my Mother trying to explain that this was important not simply due to the deaths but it's proximity to us. A shooting in this part of the world had lead 80years earlier to war across Europe. This is not some far flung land but part of our continent. 

And that has been one of the striking things since we landed in Dubrovnik 36 hours ago. The Dalmatian coast is a little bit Italian, the Herzegovinan river valleys seeming a little like inland France and the rocky mountains like Provence. Of course, this country is unique and its beauty stunning but, in places, this is a land that is familiar.  So to imagine a war raging through this part of the edge of Europe is challenging. 

As we drove deeper into Bosnia some of the divisions became clearer. Road signs in cyrillic were crossed out or had graffiti on them to correct into what one minority consider the "correct" language. The number of minarets was a little unexpected but with some 48% of the 3.8m population being Muslim, they shouldn't have been. There have been Muslims in this part of the world for 5 centuries. Christians in the UK have left their mark on the architecture of the country with church towers over that time, the same will be true here. At the same time as witnessing the familiar in Bosnia & Croatia, we were seeing new things, too. 

Mostar is one of the places where the divisions in this society were clearest 20 years ago in 1993 when the bridge between the 2 elements of this society was destroyed and crimes committed against the city's populations. The bridge has been rebuilt and is impressive. In the bright autumnal sunshine it is beautiful yet, all around buildings remain bombed out, bullet marks can be seen on buildings and the community remains separated into groups as can be seen by the separate schools, governance and cultural institutions. 17 years may have passed since the peace was agreed and millions invested but there is still much that divides this nation. 

As tourists, we are amongst the minority who come here though numbers are increasing. We strayed from the main tourist sites to small villages or back roads where the divisions become more evident. Schools for one group of children or another. Cemeteries, spray painted slogans, war memorials and, I suspect, local cafes dedicated to one group or another. The infrastructure here is not suited to tourists (the lack of accommodation, food or even signage indicates that) but this is, I feel, what really needs to be seen and talked about. The reality of this country rather than the glossy brochure they want to present. 

And this is where the EU and, in a strange way, my research links back in. This place needs unifying infrastructure and knowledge. The EU has experience of this following the divisions through war, the iron curtain and socio-political shifts. Through the power of schemes like the one I am researching, people learn and engage with new peoples and cultures. The "other" becomes familiar. If this is allowed to continue here, perhaps HE can have a role beyond educating. 

Today I am stunned by the concurrent beauty and still-visible ravages of war in Mostar & Bosnia generally. Tomorrow, perhaps, I can be impressed by the beauty and a country that has continued to move on from its difficult past. 

The Role of A University

I read a blog on my old School's website about how students selected universities, the role those universities play in the UK and I wanted to reply. Here's my reply to the headmaster who is also in charge of the University Brief at the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference which brings together heads of many leading private schools.


Dear Mr Ramsey,

Just to prove how widely your blog is read, I am an OKS from 2001 and keep my eye on your blog for its comments on current eduction trends and updates about Kings. It is a different school to my day but the values seem to resonate through the years.

Since leaving school, I took a degree in French at the Universities of Warwick & Grenoble and a Masters in Broadcast Journalism at Sheffield University before taking a job in International Business Development at Roehampton University, putting together international research and teaching projects. I am currently a Research Development Officer at the University of Westminster where I "sell" research in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Languages to UK & European Research Councils, foundations, government departments and business as well as helping develop the research culture and preparations for the Research Excellence Framework assessments. In addition to this, I'm 4 out of 5 years through my PhD (in my spare time!) on European Higher Education Policy. Which leads me to a unique (if personal!) view of Higher Education. Which brings me to 2 points on your blog.

1. I agree with your advice on visiting an institution on an ordinary day. That's how I fell in love with Warwick and knew that would be my home. However, I'm not as keen on the National Student Survey (NSS) and it has a mixed reputation amongst universities and Students' Unions. It's not just because it doesn't give the answer we want (!) but issues with the questions asked and how the data is collected. Response rates vary hugely both between institutions and between individual courses at a single institutions. Conclusions are drawn from surprisingly low percentages of students on programmes. I was told by Mr Neal (I think, it could have been Dr Heritage my form tutor) when I applied to look at the percentage of students getting 1st/2:1s as this shows how well academics are teaching the talent they welcome. It's a good metric and the stats from HEFCE are based on entire student bodies on a programme rather than partial snap shots.

2. The main reason for writing is your comment on why our decision makers are based in Business, Innovation & Skills. It makes sense to those of us working in Universities. Though 18 year olds coming for tertiary level education are the focus of our reputation and our media presence, their significance is a bit more mixed. Yes, the majority of our income comes from them but we make more money on Taught Masters which is a sector-wide growth area and the most profitable area is student accommodation lettings. Universities have a rapidly growing portfolio of Continuing Professional Development opportunities and opportunities for more mature learners, a significant market in a country with an ageing population. However, though Government would want us to grow these areas and thus is part of the reason we are included in BIS, the primary reason is Research. Teaching is often only a third of an academic's contract. Academics see themselves as researchers; their PhDs are not for teaching or "knowledge transfer" activities but for their research. Universities offer a lot in terms of economic growth through research and, indeed, it is one of the things that makes us distinctive. Universities contribution is not just about education but about furthering knowledge. Some (more political) people might say it gives us the excellent Willets rather than the more divisive Give but I try not to be as partisan!

I suspect none of this comes as a surprise to you given your role on the HMC but in the spirit of discussion inspired by both the Internet and my education at King's I thought I would send a few thoughts.

With all good wishes to you and the school,
Christopher Grinbergs