Ranking the most popular posts of 2024

OK, it’s one of those posts that no-one really asked for but tend to be a must at the end of each year. And there is an inevitability about this here: it is, of course, a league table of the most read posts in this, the first year of the Wonderful Higher Ed blog. It’s not hugely different from the ranking of rankings but is at least based on some data rather than just vibes.

So, let’s start counting them down..

10 The Professor Boaty McBoatface League Table

This vital ranking reminds us all of the significant role played by research ships, particularly in terms of environment-related investigations.

But which are the best ships? Where are the top sea going research vessels? Drawing on criteria including number of berths, endurance, length, tonnage propulsion and speed plus an overall scientific research vibe rating we came up with this all new international ranking of research ships. Good enough to float into the top 10.

9 Full Service – Your Definitive UK University Motorway Service Station Ranking

This exciting ranking features universities which also happen to share a name with motorway service stations. Naturally the criteria are appropriately arbitrary and demonstrate very limited relationship to newspaper league tables and Which? rankings of motorway services.

8 Shy, but not Retiring

This very recent blog offered some thoughts on leaving the University of Nottingham after 18 years as Registrar. And making it clear that this was not retirement but a bit of a break which will no doubt be filled with more blogs and podcasts.

7 Cut regulation, save money

A few modest proposals to address the regulatory burden and help save the higher education sector some money. One way in which savings can be made is in reducing the excessive burden of regulation. In England the bulk of unnecessary regulation is principally, but not exclusively, managed by the Office for Students (OfS). There are other burdensome regulatory activities at play too though, including some self-imposed ones, which do need to be considered.

6 Evidently an Honorary

Picking worthy Honorary Degree recipients has become challenging in new and exciting ways and universities have to be a bit more thorough with their due diligence. But one remarkable honorary has bucked the problematic trend and throughout his 50 or so years as a poet and entertainer he has managed to acquire genuine national treasure status.

5 Things can only get better. Eventually

It’s looking grim out there in higher education land. Every day brings new stories about planned cuts to courses and disciplines or redundancy programmes at one university or another. But there are some grounds for optimism about the future. Don’t panic.

4 The Ranking That Can Only Get Worse

One day it may be the only league table that matters – a ranking of UK universities by their height above sea level. Here we have a ranking of selected UK universities by their height above sea level. What this tells us is that many institutions are sitting pretty on high ground and will remain standing proud as rising sea levels begin to take their toll.

3 Top of the Quads

Everyone loves a university quad. This critical league table reinforces what an important indicator a quad can be of a university’s reputation and standing (regardless of less important matters such as its education offer and research track record). Here then is your ranking of some of the very best quadrangles in UK higher education. Let the arguments begin.

2 US Universities Which Should Really be in the UK

There are around 4,000 universities and HE colleges in the USA and I must admit I’ve long been interested in the unusual names some of them have. There are a few of these which share their titles with UK locations which currently lack a fully-fledged university but might quite like one.

Here then is the top 10 of US universities which really should be warming up all those HE cold spots in the UK.

1 Rock Around the Clock

Everyone loves a university clock tower. With their seemingly infinite variety of heights, styles, clock faces and chimes there is so much to enjoy in looking and listening to them and they can be a real centrepiece for a campus. In short, there’s nothing not to like.

So, given all these multi-faceted wonders it seemed about time we had a ranking of these towering marvels. So here’s your top 10 of the best university clock towers. Ever!

Until next year…

There you go then, your top 10 of the most popular blogs on the site this year. Until next time.