Mark Pendleton

@markpendleton.bsky.social

1171 Followers 636 Following

Historian (mostly of Japan) and trade unionist (mostly in UCU). UCU Vice-president for Higher Ed. He/him

An empty beach at Broken Head on Arakwal country.
National Tertiary Education Union national president Alison Barnes and University and College Union Vice President for Higher Education (elect) Mark Pendleton speak to camera outside the Federation of Education Unions building in Melbourne, Australia.
NTEU president Alison Barnes and UCU vice president for higher education (elect) Mark Pendleton stand on a footpath outside the NTEU headquarters in Melbourne.
A segment of Archie Moore’s kith and kin that shows chalk genealogical lines of his ancestors, reflecting the complexities of kinship relationships, and a combination of known people, terms drawn from archival sources and speculative ancestral names.
Text reads: I am humbled and excited to be elected the next UCU Vice-President for Higher Education. Now is a devastatingly difficult and challenging time for our sectors and so many workers in post-16 education, but as a union we cannot succumb to despair. We have the skills, knowledge and capacity to help chart a way out of this mess and restore higher and further education. That you have put your trust in me to help do that is a huge honour and responsibility. I do not take this lightly. Thank you to the many thousands of members who voted for me and also to those who did not – we need to build better engagement in our union and part of that is voting, no matter who you voted for. I promised in my election materials to work hard to bring our union together and that is what I will do.
A pole at a pedestrian crossing adorned with two stickers, one handwritten in green pen that reads “VOTE 💚 LOVE” and the other that has the Reform party logo in a Red circle and with a cross through it
Flyer for community organising training at Levy Old Library on 28th February. More details at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/localvoices/2056960
UCU’s vision for prison education. More details at https://www.ucu.org.uk/UnlockingFutures
UCU commons recommended voting list. Also available at https://ucucommons.org/who-else-should-i-vote-for/
A picture of UCU voting papers
List of UCU Commons recommended candidates for the 2026 UCU elections. List can also be found at: https://ucucommons.org/who-else-should-i-vote-for/
Dozens of protestors stand with placards and banners in the rain at a demonstration outside London Metropolitan University over threats to 120 academic jobs.
Text reads: “Tomorrow is the start of LGBT+ History Month, a time when we acknowledge, remember and celebrate our queer pasts. Our union has a strong history of advancing LGBTQ+ equality in our workplaces, in the trade union movement and beyond.”
Dozens of UCU members outside Firth Court at the University of Sheffield, an ivy covered red brick building that houses the vice chancellor’s office.
Text reads: “Our union needs to come together and work across differences. Years of neglect and often outright hostility have taken post-16 education very close to the edge. Our employers don’t have a plan, and neither do successive governments, including the deeply disappointing current one. This can and must change. “In that climate of neglect, we as education workers must make the case for education as a public good, change the narrative and build more coherent and impactful campaigns using the full resources of the union.”
Screenshot of email that reads: “This status will remain in place until the University receives notification that you are no longer participating in that action. During this period, any work undertaken will be regarded as voluntary.”
Three friends pose for a drink at an izakaya in Japan
Hiromi Itō performs Killing Kanako, with her daughter Kanako on the koto and translator Jeffrey Angles
Mark Pendleton wears a pink UCU beanie, while standing on a train platform in the dawn light
Text reads: “Trade Unions 4 Trans Rights” in block text over a trans flag (pink, white and blue horizontal stripes)
Hundreds join the Manchester trans rights demonstration on 18th April 2025. Banner reads “Manchester Lesbians stand by your Trans”
Trans rights peaceful protest. Friday 18th April. Meet: St Peter’s Square, 3pm. All LGBTQIA+ and allies welcome.
Poster for public lecture on “Towards a transnational cultural history of HIV and AIDS from Japan” by Mark Pendleton in Rome, at Sapienza Marco Polo building, from 4pm, 3 December. Image is of Japanese AIDS activist Ōishi Toshihiro holding a Silence = Death placard.
A pink flare and a sea of demonstrators in front of Rome’s Piramide
Plaque for the Istituto Italiano di Studi Orientali