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History Extra podcast
Funding cuts and culture wars: history behind the headlines
Mar 31, 2025
Hannah Skoda, a Fellow in Medieval History at St John's College, Oxford, Rana Mitter, the S.T. Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at Harvard, and Lucy Noakes, President of the Royal Historical Society, tackle pressing issues in historical education. They dive into the implications of funding cuts for UK history departments and the impact of culture wars on historical understanding. The conversation highlights the importance of advocacy for history, the resilience of student interest, and the urgent need for renewed support in the discipline.
48:32
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Quick takeaways
- Funding cuts are significantly impacting UK history departments, leading to reduced program offerings and raising concerns about the future of the discipline.
- The podcast highlights the importance of history in shaping cultural identity and warns that neglecting history education could erode societal awareness and critical thinking.
Deep dives
Current Challenges in History Education
Many university history departments in the UK are facing significant funding challenges and potential closures due to restructuring, which has led to cuts in degree programs. Lucy Noakes from the Royal Historical Society highlighted that over half of responding departments have experienced reduced offerings since 2020, indicating a troubling trend for the subject's future. Despite these challenges, history remains a popular field, with thousands of students taking A-levels and pursuing undergraduate and master's programs. The possibility of funding cuts is especially concerning in post-1992 universities, which often operate with limited resources and smaller staffing levels.
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Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode