On the podcast this week we talk about Chris Skidmore’s intervention into student accommodation not ready for the new term, and his letter to Research England about the future of UK research. We dig into what’s changed in the two years since UUK set up its harassment and hate crime task force, and discuss HEPI’s new report into how students view the Augar Review. With Andy Youell, strategic data advisor; Shân Wareing, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) at London South...
Oct 10, 2019•36 min
On the podcast this week we discuss Labour's party conference resolution on capping the percentage of kids from private schools going to uni. We also discuss the newly launched "research on research" institute, a new report on care leavers and HE and an intervention on VC pay from the Taxpayer's Alliance. With James Wilsdon, professor of research policy and director of impact and engagement in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Sheffield; Tristram Hooley, Professor of Career Edu...
Oct 03, 2019•35 min
This week on the podcast we talk about equality, privilege, and TUNDRA; and the shelving of £7,500 fees. We also chat UUK’s new guidance on initiations and a new survey on student financial pressure. With Selena Bolingbrooke, Lead for External Engagement & Strategic Development at Goldsmiths, University of London; Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice and Vice Dean of Humanities at the University of Manchester; and Wonkhe’s Editor Debbie McVitty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
Sep 26, 2019•44 min
This week we dive into Unite Students and HEPI’s new insights report, discuss Gavin Williamson’s letter to the Office for Students, look at the barriers faced by Black PhD students, and discuss whether freshers’ week needs a rethink. With Jenny Shaw, Student Experience Director at Unite Students, Pete Quinn, former board member at AMOSSHE and now HE consultant, and Wonkhe Associate Editor Jim Dickinson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 19, 2019•42 min
The podcast is back for its autumn season, and we're chatting all the gossip and speeches from Universities UK's annual conference in Birmingham. There's also news on international students, a new unistats from OfS, and the return of Hidden History. With Wonkhe's own Jim Dickinson (Associate Editor), Debbie McVitty (Editor) and Mark Leach (CEO) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 12, 2019•45 min
On our final podcast of the season we dive into the Department for Education’s technical review of level 4 and 5 qualifications and the results of a review into the Warwick WhatsApp issue. We take a look ahead to clearing and look back on a year in higher education policy. With Mary Stuart, vice chancellor of the University of Lincoln, Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice and Vice Dean of Humanities at the University of Manchester, and Wonkhe Associate Editor David Kernohan. Hosted on...
Jul 11, 2019•43 min
This week we dive into the Office for Students’ annual report and look at wider issues of governance surrounding the OfS investigation into De Montfort University. We take a detailed look at this year’s National Student Survey results and - it’s that time of year - we discuss priorities for incoming students’ officers. With Mary Curnock Cook, former chief executive of UCAS, Pete Quinn, former board member at AMOSSHE and now HE consultant, and Wonkhe’s Editor-in-Chief, Founder and CEO Mark Leach....
Jul 04, 2019•37 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the Sutton Trust and Social Mobility Commission’s report on the educational backgrounds of Britain’s leaders and what the findings suggest about social mobility. We look at LEO, analyse an exercise reviewing the Research Excellence Framework, and take stock of where the sector is with the debate over free speech. With Paul Greatrix, Registrar at the University of Nottingham; Aaron Porter, Associate Director Governance, Advance HE and Director of Policy, IDP Co...
Jun 27, 2019•45 min
This week on the show we chat the results of UCU's FOI requests to universities about VC membership of remuneration committees, and the PM’s prevention plan to tackle mental ill health across the education sectors. And it’s that time of year - we take a look at graduation costs for students. There's also a dose of True Crime on Campus and our Correlation Quiz. With Rachel Piper, Policy Manager at Student Minds; Ben Vulliamy, chief executive of York Students’ Union; and Wonkhe’s own Minto Felix. ...
Jun 20, 2019•37 min•Season 3Ep. 8
This week we discuss the annual student academic experience survey produced by HEPI and Advance HE to dissect students’ perceptions of value for money, teaching and assessment. We also explore trends in international student mobility, and higher education has finally made its appearance in the manifestos of candidates for leadership of the Conservative party - we take a look. Plus True Crime on Campus and our Correlation Quiz. With Gavan Conlon, Partner at London Economics; Greg Walker, chief ex...
Jun 13, 2019•40 min•Season 3Ep. 7
The long awaited Augar review is finally out, and this week our top wonks discuss the proposals, implications for the sector and politics of the review. Plus a look behind the curtain at what went on at the launch event. With Wonkhe's Editor in Chief Mark Leach; our Editor Debbie McVitty and our Associate Editor David Kernohan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 30, 2019•50 min•Season 3Ep. 5
On the eve of the expected publication of the Augar review of Post-18 Education and Funding, Mark Leach asks if it will avoid the education policy trap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 25, 2019•41 min
This week we discuss the Higher Education Policy Institute’s report on staff mental health and the University of Oxford’s programme to widen access to the institution. There is a statement of intent on degree classifications, and the question of how responsible universities should be for freshers’ weight gain. With Justine Andrew of KPMG; Amatey Doku of the National Union of Students; and Wonkhe’s Mark Leach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 24, 2019•37 min•Season 3Ep. 4
This week we discuss the government’s strategy on research and innovation and the Minister’s intervention on anti-semitism. Duncan Exley, former Director of the Equality Trust, has published a book scrutinising the UK’s social mobility problem and we chat Wonkhe's Car Parking Ranking. With Luke Myer of Edge Hill Students’ Union; Sarah Barr-Miller of UCAS; and Wonkhe’s David Kernohan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 16, 2019•36 min•Season 3Ep. 3
This week we discuss the Minister’s intervention on non-disclosure agreements and research, and get up to speed with the latest in the row over conditional unconditional offers. The Higher Education Policy Institute has a report on measuring wellbeing. With Graeme Atherton, director of the National Education Opportunities Network; Kate Wicklow, policy manager at GuildHE; and Wonkhe’s Minto Felix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 09, 2019•35 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The amount that EU students may have to pay to come to a UK university has been across the news this week, and our podcast guests analyse the debate. We also talk ONS figures on “over-education”, the UUK/NUS report on the BME attainment gap and Cambridge’s decision to look into its past. We also catch up with OfS’ Richard Puttock about data. With Rachel Hall, Universities Editor at the Guardian, Alec Cameron, Vice Chancellor of Aston University, and Wonkhe’s Jim Dickinson. Hosted on Acast. See a...
May 02, 2019•41 min
We’ve been on our Easter break at Wonkhe towers, so this week we’ve got a special treat - the whole season of the Hidden History of HE in one podcast. Find out about the university curriculum that was designed exclusively for women, the origins of the commuting university, the battle to be the oldest university, and the students at a university where most of the rules were for those that taught them - and much more! With Nottngham Trent’s Academic Registrar, Mike Ratcliffe. Hosted on Acast. See ...
Apr 24, 2019•54 min
On the last podcast before our Easter break, we discuss the rise of non-disclosure agreements for university staff, the state of the Office for Students’ access and participation data, the refusal of affiliation for an anti-abortion group in Aberdeen, and students with low prior attainment doing well at university. With Shan Wareing, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) at London South Bank University; Thom Brookes, Professor of Law and Government at Durham University; ...
Apr 18, 2019•40 min
In this special bonus edition of the podcast, Wonkhe's editor Debbie McVitty sits down with Wales' Education Secretary Kirsty Williams to discuss higher education policy, politics and the challenges of being a woman in public life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 17, 2019•24 min
A centre-right think tank has a new report out on generational differences. We also discuss NUS' conference, data on stalking and a fascinating rent guarantor scheme aimed at care leavers. With Nick Hillman, Director at HEPI, Jess Moody, Senior Advisor at Advance HE and Wonkhe's own Arthi Nachiappan. The shownotes and correlation quiz are on wonkhe.com Note this episode contains discussion of stalking and domestic violence. Paladin is the national stalking advisory service paladinservice.co.uk. ...
Apr 11, 2019•43 min
OfS has finally published its assessment of English providers' finances - and the forecasts look shaky. Our guests discuss the implications, along with a new report on cybersecurity, and another on the value of vocational degrees. Plus Chris Skidmore calls App Britain!, our correlation quiz and more Hidden History of HE. With Johnny Rich, CEO of Push and the Engineering Professors' Council; Julia Clarke, Pro VC at Manchester Metropolitan; and Wonkhe's Editor Debbie McVitty. Hosted on Acast. See ...
Apr 04, 2019•36 min
Is grade inflation the problem that Damian Hinds claims it is? This week on the podcast we discuss DfE’s “intervention” on the issue, as well as research on student loneliness and the issue of institutional mergers and acquisitions. We also cover the University of Cambridge’s withdrawal of a two-month fellowship for Jordan Peterson. With David Morris of the University of Greenwich; Rebecca Lowe of the Institute of Economic Affairs; and Wonkhe’s own Mark Leach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
Mar 28, 2019•36 min
The government has published a new international education strategy - but is it enough given the competition? On the podcast this week we discuss the issues, as well as taking a look at Damian Hinds’ intervention on plagiarism. We also discuss the UK’s skills slowdown, the looming university recruitment crisis, and Hidden History looks at degrees for women. With Robin Webber-Jones, Vice Principal at The Sheffield College; Kate Wicklow, Policy Manager at Guild HE; and Minto Felix, Associate Edito...
Mar 21, 2019•39 min
On the podcast this week we discuss the impact of recent political developments on higher education, data futures, and new research on student accommodation. Plus ITV's new drama about a student who uses an essay mill, our correlation quiz, the latest from the blogs and the launch of Wonkhe SUs. With Chris Shelley, Director of Student and Academic Services at the University of Greenwich; Gavan Conlon, Partner at London Economics; and Wonkhe’s own Jim Dickinson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Mar 14, 2019•43 min
What is the real cost to the taxpayer of funding higher education? This week on the podcast we look at report trying to answer that question, as well as students’ views on bailouts for universities, student mental health stats, Hidden History and our correlation quiz. With Andy Youell, strategic data advisor; Eve Alcock, president of Bath Students’ Union; and Wonkhe’s editor Debbie McVitty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 07, 2019•42 min
On the show this week we discuss student complaints about last year's strike action and compensation. The Office for Students has new guidance out on access and participation plans, and there's new data on sexual misconduct on campus. Plus hidden history, our correlation quiz and the latest from our bloggers. With HE public affairs and strategy expert Charles Heymann, Lucy Findlay of Social Enterprise Mark, and Wonkhe’s David Kernohan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 28, 2019•37 min
This week on the podcast we discuss Labour's emerging policy on higher education. There's also a look at curriculum decolonisation campaigns getting the royal seal of approval and the state of private student housing. - should universities intervene? With serial non-exec and sector expert Mary Curnock Cook, HE consultant Pete Quinn, and Wonkhe’s Editor-in-Chief, Founder and CEO Mark Leach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 21, 2019•40 min
This week on the podcast the Office for Students has released data on senior pay, and there’s a major report on the civic role of universities. The University and College Union has asked its members what they think of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework, and we hear from this week’s bloggers. With Anne Marie Canning of King’s College London, William Whyte from the University of Oxford, and Wonkhe’s Arthi Nachiappan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 15, 2019•38 min
The full recording of Michael Barber live at Wonkfest18. Accompanying slides can be found here: https://wonkhe.com/wp-content/wonkhe-uploads/2018/11/WONKHE-5-NOV-FINAL.pdf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 10, 2018•1 hr 4 min
The full recording of Sam Gyimah in conversation - live at Wonkfest18. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 06, 2018•46 min
