News and Events

Step into a world of possibilities by meeting top graduate employers and joining talks and workshops designed to give you real insight into your future career options. This event is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Date: Thursday 15 October 2026
Time: 11:00 – 15:00
Location: Panorama Suite, Rootes Building

Congratulations to Rebecca Morris, Reader in Education Studies (SELCS), on the publication of her latest paper, Understanding teacher recruitment and retention across the UK: A ‘home international’ comparison.

Drawing on policy analysis, national data, and interviews with stakeholders across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the research explores how different parts of the UK are responding to ongoing teacher recruitment and retention challenges. The findings highlight both the complexity of teacher supply issues and the varied approaches being taken to teacher training, recruitment, and early-career support.

Importantly, the paper argues for greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the four nations, alongside a stronger evidence base for policy and practice. At a time when attracting and retaining talented teachers remains a key priority across the sector, this research makes a timely and valuable contribution to the debate.

Congratulations to Rebecca on this important publication.

Read the paper here: https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/rev3.70212

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Diversity in Data Visualization (Diverse CDT) is a pioneering, fully funded four-year PhD programme jointly delivered by City St George’s, University of London and the University of Warwick.

Applications for PhD studentships with Diverse CDT are now open for 2026 entry.

We have rolling deadlines across several months and the first deadline for submitting an application is 4pm, GMT on 30th January 2026.

Further details here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/cim/apply-to-study/phd-programmes/diverse-cdt/

We are delighted to share some positive results we have received from National Student Survey 2022.

On the day that employers face new responsibilities to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, University of Warwick researchers warn that nearly half of women surveyed have experienced harassment at work during their careers.

In a new policy briefing, Professor Sonia Bhalotra and Dr Matthew Ridley reveal key findings from their research: workplace sexual harassment is common, carries costs for women’s health and working lives, and is rarely reported to employers.

In recent survey work carried out by Warwick and presented in the briefing, 45% of women said they had experienced workplace sexual harassment at some point in their careers. Among women who said they’d experienced harassment in the previous year, 52% feared their employer would retaliate if they reported it, and 33% said their harasser had some power over their future career. Only 18% said they had reported the incident to their employer.

The policy briefing comes as the legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment strengthens on 30 October. Employers previously needed to take some ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment, but they will now be expected to take all reasonable steps with no exceptions.

The Warwick study also records harms reported by women who have experienced harassment in the previous year:

• 39% said it had worsened their mental health
• 48% found it harder to do their job,
• 37% said they were absent from work more often,
• 6% said they had quit their job as a result.

Across the women surveyed, 46% said they would accept a 10% pay cut to avoid a job where a recent incident of harassment had occurred.

Dr Matthew Ridley from University of Warwick’s Department of Economics said:

“Our study makes clear that enforcing the law in this area is a real problem and that low reporting should not be mistaken for low levels of workplace harassment. Only 1 in 5 women who experience sexual harassment report it to their employer, and 1 in 2 fear that their employer would retaliate if they spoke up.

“Enforcing sexual harassment law often relies on people bringing cases against their employer in tribunal - but this is difficult to do. Our research shows that 1 in 3 women experiencing workplace sexual harassment are harassed by someone with power over their career. The new law has added legal liability on employers but how much difference will that make in practice if victims feel they can't come forward to report what is happening to them?”

The Warwick study also found gaps in knowledge of legal rights: 26% of respondents did not know that employers could be liable for sexual harassment at work, while 56% incorrectly believed a person had to prove harassment beyond reasonable doubt for an employer to take action.

Dr Ridley continues, “People often don't know their own legal rights which makes it difficult to navigate the tribunal system. Our study shows that when members of the public learn about these barriers, support for stronger enforcement of sexual harassment law increases significantly.”

Professor Sonia Bhalotra added: “Nearly half of the women in our survey said they would accept a 10% pay cut to avoid a job where a recent incident of sexual harassment had occurred. That is a striking signal of the value people place on a safe workplace. Alongside the effects that victims are reporting on their health, attendance and ability to work, it shows why preventing harassment matters to employers as well as to workers.”

Notes

• The research is by Professor Sonia Bhalotra and Dr Matthew Ridley. Perceptions of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Support for Policy Action, CAGE Working Paper No. 797/2026, conditionally accepted at the Journal of Political Economy: Microeconomics.
• The 45% lifetime estimate comes from the study’s benchmark survey, which included 408 women. The figures on reported harms, fear of retaliation, perceived career power and reporting refer to women who said they had experienced harassment in the previous year; each of those measures is based on 43 responses. The 46% pay-cut figure was measured among all women in the benchmark survey.
• The wider research included a main survey of 6,000 participants and a follow-up survey.
• The survey measured participants’ reported experiences and perceptions; the reported harms are self-reported.
• ACAS guidance on the law change: https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-rights-act-2025/harassment-law-changes/sexual-harassment

Details of more successes for our students

On 29 October 2026, Dr Luminita Olteanu gave a talk at the Benelux Merkencongres (Benelux Trade Mark Congress), hosted by De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. Her talk, “Freedom of Expression and Due Cause in Trade Mark Law after IKEA / Vlaams Belang”, looked at the recent Court of Justice judgment and what it means for commercial freedom of expression.

The Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) is delighted to announce an outstanding set of results in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2026. PAIS has been ranked among the top two Russell Group Politics departments for the eleventh year in a row, including eight years at No. 1. In this year's survey, PAIS was ranked 1st in the Russell Group, while significantly increasing our scores across every category. * **

The University of Warwick’s Philosophy Department has risen to 38th place globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, marking a significant leap in its international standing. Philosophy is one of ten Warwick subjects now ranked in the global top 50, reflecting strong performance across teaching and research.

University leaders highlighted that this year’s improved rankings underscore the department’s growing global reputation and its commitment to high‑impact scholarship. The climb also contributes to Warwick’s strongest overall subject‑ranking performance since 2020, showcasing broad excellence across its academic disciplines. Read the full story here

The University of Warwick’s Centre for Teacher Education (CTE) has received a glowing report following a recent Ofsted inspection, highlighting the exceptional quality of training and support provided to its teaching trainees. The inspection report underscores the University’s commitment to nurturing future educators who are well-prepared and passionate about their careers.