Books at the Bodleian Library, Oxford
History UK (HE) is the national body promoting history in higher education. It represents all UK HE history departments and is based at the Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, London.
It was founded in 1982 as the History at Universities Defence Group (HUDG), to 'defend and maintain the scope and quality of the teaching and scholarly study of history in British universities', and to 'monitor the effects of the financial cuts on the viability of history in all its aspects in the various universities and to bring these effects to the notice of the public and of all relevant responsible bodies'. In 1992 it merged with its sister body the Campaign for Public Sector History (PUSH), representing Polytechnics and Colleges of HE, and in 2005 adopted the name History UK (HE).
All UK HE History departments (or equivalent units) are eligible for membership of History UK, and the great majority do subscribe annually. Day-to-day business is carried on by two Convenors, assisted by a Secretary and a Treasurer and supported by a paid Executive Secretary.
A Steering Committee which includes 30 elected members meets three times a year. The Steering Committee is anxious to represent all parts of the UK and every kind of history grouping, in Colleges and Institutes of HE as well as universities.
An annual Plenary Meeting open to every subscribing department acts as a forum and information point for major issues affecting the profession, and incorporates an AGM. History UK communicates with the profession via regular mailings to heads of history. It works with other national organisations promoting history, and has arrangements for mutual representation with the Royal Historical Society, the Historical Association and the Institute of Historical Research.
History UK exists to monitor the state of History in UK Higher Education, to lobby for improvements, to promote good practice, and to collaborate with other relevant bodies, particularly in the following areas:
- The profile of history, in both higher education and in public life generally.
- The state of the profession, particularly recruitment to HE History including undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and staff.
- Research culture, including the archival, library and other material available to historians and the impact of external measures of research quality.
- Audit culture, to ensure that the demands of external audit and quality measurement are appropriate to the discipline and light in touch.
- Career development, of both history teachers and researchers.
In the past, History UK (and its predecessors HUDG and PUSH) has taken a leading role in drawing up the QAA History Benchmark Statement, which sets out the standards for History degrees in the UK; monitored trends in the profession through surveys of departments; sent regular mailings to members covering developments affecting the profession; nominated members to RAE History panels and other bodies; made representations on behalf of member departments experiencing 'local' difficulties; and lobbied government on behalf of the History profession.