This week on the podcast there’s new figures on the impact of the pandemic on students to discuss. Did those studying away from home “stay away” as asked? There’s also the skills agenda, grade inflation, the hidden history of student accommodation and our “boarding school” model, a new report on care-experienced students, and DK digs into the University of St Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill. With Michael Taylor, External Affairs Advisor at Manchester Metropolitan University, Cat...
Jan 28, 2021•37 min
In a special podcast this week Team Wonkhe attempts to make sense of a big release of policy documents from the Department for Education. There's an interim response to the Augar review of HE fees and funding, news on the TEF, Gavin Williamson's long awaited skills white paper and a teaching funding settlement for 2021/22. With Debbie McVitty, Wonkhe's Editor, David Kernohan and Jim Dickinson, Wonkhe's Associate Editors, and presented by Mark Leach, Wonkhe's Editor in Chief. Hosted on Acast. See...
Jan 21, 2021•46 min
This week on the podcast we consider the fate of Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, and ask what ministers haver to do to get sacked these days. There's also a look at our new Skills to Thrive research, and a delve into the complexities of fair assessment during a pandemic. With Sue Rigby, Vice Chancellor at Bath Spa University; Jonathan Simons Director at Public First; Debbie McVitty, Wonkhe's Editor; and presented by Jim Dickinson, Wonkhe's Associate Editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...
Jan 14, 2021•49 min
To kick the term off Wonkhe's editorial team gathers to discuss the year ahead - taking in everything from the delayed and constrained "staggered" return, to quality and standards, student accommodation, calls for "no detriment" policies and the team's things to watch out out for in the year ahead. With Debbie McVitty, Wonkhe Editor; David Kernohan, Associate Editor; Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor; and presented by Editor in Chief Mark Leach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Jan 08, 2021•46 min
It’s the end of term at Wonkhe towers but the policy train is still trundling along, and so on the podcast we’re discussing everything from Brexit, to a glut of paperwork from the Office for Students, UCAS figures and the dramatic return of the Free Speech University Rankings. Plus not one but two special musical interludes. With Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International, Jonathan Simons, Director at Public First and Head of the Education Practice, Jim Dickinson, Associate Edit...
Dec 17, 2020•46 min
This week on the podcast there are new figures from the Office for Students on student transfer to understand. There’s also some striking survey data out from the ONS, a new paper on universities and climate change from HEPI, and the small issue of Brexit and its impact on higher education. With Claire Taylor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Johnny Rich, Chief Executive of the Engineering Professors' Council and presented by Jim Dickinson, Wonkhe’s Associate Editor. Hosted ...
Dec 10, 2020•46 min
This week on the podcast there’s guidance for England for the return to campus in the new year to get across. We also discuss the skills graduates need and whether higher education can deliver them, and new polling form HEPI on the full time undergraduate experience this term. Presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe, guests Tim Blackman, Vice Chancellor at the Open University, Jess Moody, Senior Adviser at Advance HE and Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
Dec 04, 2020•43 min
This week there's the Chancellor's spending review to get across and a new report from Universities UK on tackling racial harassment. There's also work out from Jisc on staff and digital, and a batch of complaints from the first part of the pandemic to learn lessons from published by OIA. With Helen O'Sullivan, Pro VC Education at Keele University and Amatey Doku, Consultant at Nous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 26, 2020•41 min
This week on the podcast the panel evaluates proposals on quality, standards and so-called “Mickey Mouse” courses. We also think through the great “reset” at No.10 and potential implications for higher education, international recruitment, and protections for students in the event of course, campus or whole provider closure. With Selena Bolingbroke, Consulting Fellow at the Halpin Partnership, Paul Inman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Reading, Jonathan Simons, Director...
Nov 19, 2020•47 min
This week on the show we discuss admissions reform and what's looking like an impending shift towards post qualifications offers. There's also a look back at the big student demo of 2010 and a look forward to both Christmas and what we could be faced with in the new year. With Helen Higson, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Aston University and Chris Shelley, Director of Student and Academic Services at the University of Greenwich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 13, 2020•45 min
This week on the podcast the panel looks at Wonkhe's new research on non-continuation. We also think through the implications of the month long lockdown in England, and look at a couple of new reports on the skills agenda and levelling up. With Diana Beech, CEO at London Higher; Adam Tickell, Vice Chancellor at Sussex University; and Wonkhe's Editor in Chief Mark Leach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 05, 2020•35 min
Our usual discussion format is on its half term break, so ahead of our Wonkhe @ Home event on retention on November 4th we’ve got a recording of our session on the subject from our Secret Life of Students event back in September. This term students need more help than usual to thrive, especially when face to face contact, extracurricular activity and part-time work is severely constrained. In this discussion, delivered in partnership with Solutionpath, a panel of experts explored how universitie...
Oct 29, 2020•47 min
This week on the podcast we discuss demand for higher education and new reports on the future of the sector. We also consider the phenomenon of the "boomerang" generation, confidence in democracy, reforms to the REF and some good news on funding for students impacted by the pandemic. With In Paul Ashwin, Professor of Higher Education at Lancaster University and Deputy Director of the Centre for Global Higher Education; and Marian Hilditch, Deputy Academic Registrar at the University of Bradford ...
Oct 22, 2020•42 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the proposed student lockdown for Christmas and the latest salvos in the sector's slice of the culture wars. We also review what's happening on the ground in universities and consider a new report on student outcomes. With Emmanuel Adukwu, UWE; Rachel Hewitt, HEPI and Mark Leach, Wonkhe's CEO. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 15, 2020•41 min
This week on the podcast the panel reflects on a new report on the experience of disabled students in higher education. There is also discussion on the HE "market" and new providers, the diversity of HE governing bodies and Conservative party conference. With Ian Dunn, Provost at Coventry University and Anne-Marie Canning, CEO at the Brilliant Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 08, 2020•44 min
This week on the show we check in on the return to campus and the fallout from student self-isolation that’s been dominating all the press coverage. We also discuss the government’s partial response to the Augar review, the start of Black History Month and there’s a look at student discipline on Hidden History. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 02, 2020•44 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the impending review of the National Student Survey and what’s going on with the great return to campus. We also consider the latest student numbers figures from UCAS, look at a report on students’ unions and ask why students might be “leaning left”. With Jenny Shaw, Student Experience Director at Unite Students; and Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 24, 2020•47 min
In this week’s special edition of the podcast we’ve got a grab bag of highlights from our Secret Life of Students event - covering everything from the future of the NSS, to how students understand the “value” of higher education, through to building community, student safety and fairness. With Alison Johns, CEO Advance HE; Nicola Dandridge, CEO Office for Students; Libby Farrier-Williams, St Mary’s University; Ann Olivarius, Senior Partner, McAllister Olivarius; Felicity Mitchell, Independent Ad...
Sep 18, 2020•52 min
In our first episode of the autumn term we consider the issues surrounding higher education's return to campus and the latest Covid guidance from government. We also look at the summer results crisis and consider its long term impacts, and discuss two big speeches from Gavin Williamson and Michelle Donelan. With Mary Curnock Cook, independent higher education expert; Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice and Vice Dean of Humanities at the University of Manchester; Debbie McVitty, Edito...
Sep 10, 2020•43 min
The podcast is back off its hols for a week with a clearing and admissions special. We wrap up the news from the controversial Scottish Highers results, look ahead to the rest of the UK’s results, and consider how students are making decisions in the context of Covid-19. There’s also discussion on admissions reform, and where widening access fits into the picture. With Clare Marchant, CEO at UCAS; Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews; Debbie McVitty, Wonk...
Aug 07, 2020•40 min
In our end of term podcast , we dive into Wonkhe/Pearson research on student expectations around September and consider how universities should respond. Wales has a new tertiary education bill, Michelle Donelan has been at the Commons Education Committee, there are some reforms to higher technical education and DK has all the highlights (and correlations) we need from NSSmas day. After the main recording, news of DfE’s restructuring regime and OfS’ market exit plans dropped - so Jim and DK discu...
Jul 16, 2020•52 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the economy, the Government’s recovery plan and why some are claiming that bashing universities is “the new Brexit”. There’s also a road map out for making the UK the world’s most attractive global destination for international students, some new UCAS figures to give us a bit of hope and there's a quick listen to Gavin Williamson's speech on skills. Hosted by Wonkhe CEO Mark Leach, and with guests Jess Strenk, Policy & Public Affairs Manager at Middlesex U...
Jul 09, 2020•44 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the Government’s package of support for research and ask who it’s for and whether it will work. There’s also a speech from Michelle Donelan on social mobility and low value courses to digest, and HEPI polling on lockdown learning and student expectations for September. With Ross Renton, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Worcester and Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International (UUKi). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Jul 02, 2020•33 min
This week on the podcast we discuss results from the Graduate Outcomes survey, and evaluate reforms to tuition fees in Australia. We also look at HEPI's new report on PhD students and the realities of their experience. With Ellen Wilson, VP higher education services at Pearson; Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI; and Debbie McVitty Editor of Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 25, 2020•42 min
This week on the podcast we evaluate universities' efforts to reassure students about the experience they will have from September. We also discuss Jo Johnson's proposals on international students, a new report recommending changes to admissions and Michelle Donelan's interview with HEPI. With Ghazwa Alwani-Starr, Pro Vice-Chancellor Strategy at the University of London and Ben Ward, Union Director and CEO at the University of Manchester SU. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Jun 18, 2020•41 min
This week on the podcast we discuss OfS’ new guidance on student consumer protection and wonder whether it’s possible to offer the certainty that the law suggests they are entitled to. We also look at this year’s iteration of the HEPI / Advance HE Student Academic Experience Survey, Onward and British Council reports on China, and the Rhodes Must Fall protests. With Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Northampton and Aaron Porter, Governor of Goldsmiths & BPP universiti...
Jun 11, 2020•39 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the advice on offer to universities about reopening in September. We also look at the reaction to the murder of George Floyd, the (re)introduction of student number controls and the budget issues facing many universities With Sue Rigby, Vice Chancellor at Bath Spa University and Jonathan Grant, Vice President & Vice Principal (Service) at King’s College London. . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 04, 2020•42 min
This week on the podcast we’re discussing the possibility of students attempting to defer as we approach September, and consider what the clearing period might look like. We also look at a new report on the regional imbalance in research and development expenditure, and have a read of the Russell Group’s plan for widening access. Hosted by Wonkhe’s CEO and Editor in Chief Mark Leach, with David Sweeney, Executive Chair at Research England; Jenny Shaw, Student Experience Director at Unite Student...
May 28, 2020•34 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the announcements that universities are starting to make about their approach to September. There's an updated and refreshed mental health framework out, an immigration bill has been passed in Parliament, and we catch up with former Wales Education Minister Leighton Andrews on his urge to merge. Plus - nature is healing - correlate is back. With Anne Marie Graham, CEO at UKCISA, Adam Tickell, Vice Chancellor at the University of Sussex and Leighton Andrews, Pr...
May 21, 2020•44 min
This week on the podcast we discuss the relationship between science, society and politics. There's also new report from HEPI on postgrads, a Policy Exchange report on "training", and new legislation on student accommodation in Scotland. With Rachel Sandison, Vice Principal External Relations at the University of Glasgow; Debbie McVitty, Wonkhe's Editor; David Malcolm, Head of Policy at NUS; and Wonkhe's Editor in Chief Mark Leach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 14, 2020•41 min
