2026 Report

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14 January 2026, 1.00pm - 2.30pm

Online

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Report

The first report of the States of Precarity research project is now available to download. Its key findings include details of the extent of precarity within UK HE Geography departments, how precarity is experienced and why, and what precarity’s implications are for the health of individuals, departments, and the wider discipline. It is based on the findings of our discipline-wide survey and focus groups. Full details of the research design can be found here.

© 2025 States of Precarity Project. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution–Non Commercial 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-NC 4.0). You are free to share and adapt this material for non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate credit is given.

Action Plans

The report contains a set of Best practice Action Plans that provide concrete steps that can be taken to improve colleagues’ experiences of working in Higher Education. These steps are organised into separate plans for:

  • Institutions
  • Heads of Departments/Schools and Administrators
  • Departments and Departmental Communities
  • Precariously Employed Colleagues
  • PhD Supervisors and Leaders of Postgraduate Training Programmes

Key recommendations

Best Practice Action Plans:

The Action Plans provide a range of practical interventions that can be taken by colleagues across career stages over the short and long term to support more equitable working cultures. The report recommends the embedding of these plans within departmental and institutional structures.

Raising awareness:

Greater awareness is needed of the effects of precarity – both for individuals across career stages but also for the discipline as a whole. In addition to incorporating awareness raising resources, the report warns of the impacts of precarity on geographical thought and practice.

Lobbying for change:

Lobbying is key to realising more equitable futures amidst a precarious climate in Higher Education. The report provides lobbying template letters for key issues, and acts a resource for generating engagement with precarious employment in the discipline and sector.

Infographic Posters - Free Downloads