This week on the podcast the government is to “get Britain working” - but what role will higher education play in the plans? Plus there are big divides between international and home students in this year’s PTES, and proposals for a transformation fund to help universities change what they do and how they work. With Shane Chowen, Editor at FE Week, Roscoe Hastings, Director of Teaching Excellence and Enhancement at University of Exeter, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, MIke Ratcliffe, Academic ...
Nov 28, 2024•51 min•Season 18Ep. 13
This week on the podcast the sector’s financial woes continue - just how bad is it and are regulators on top of the problem? Plus there’s a new report out on subject cold spots, and student housing is back in the news. With Gavan Conlon, leader of the Education and Labour Market teams at London Economics, Sally Burtonshaw, Director of the Education Practice at Public First, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and pre...
Nov 21, 2024•50 min•Season 18Ep. 12
This week on the podcast live from the Festival of Higher Education in London, England is grappling with Labour’s longer-term aspirations for higher education - we try to figure out what it wants. OfS wants to silence the “boomers”, regional access and participation planning is coming and we dive into the history of our venue for the festival, Senate House. With Vicki Stott, Chief Executive Officer at the Quality Assurance Agency, Alistair Jarvis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Governance...
Nov 13, 2024•47 min•Season 18Ep. 11
This week on the podcast the Westminster government has announced a fee increase - but will it be enough, and can universities even impose it? Plus the government is on a “renewed drive for efficiency” in universities, and we consider the implications of the results of the US Election. With Brooke Storer-Church, Chief Executive Officer at GuildHE, Johnny Rich, Chief Executive at the Engineering Professors’ Council and Push, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of Lo...
Nov 07, 2024•48 min•Season 18Ep. 10
This week on the podcast we pore over Rachel Reeves’ first budget and consider the implications for universities. We also think about students’ finances as bus fares and the minimum wage both rise. Plus OfS has been rattling its sabre on consumer rights—but is the sector taking any notice? With Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business at the University of Manchester, Mary Curnock Cook, serial sector non-exec and former UCAS CEO, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at Cit...
Oct 31, 2024•48 min•Season 18Ep. 9
This week on the podcast student numbers are set to decline in England after 2030 - we discuss the implications. Plus rumours are swirling over next week’s budget, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has turned its attention to VC pay, and there’s a new report on international student perceptions of different destinations. With David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary at University of Glasgow, Selena Bolingbroke, Principal at the Building Crafts College, Michael Salmon, News Editor at ...
Oct 24, 2024•38 min•Season 18Ep. 8
This week on the podcast we look at the latest graduate recruitment trends as the Institute of Student Employers reveals a 60 per cent surge in applications per vacancy. Plus OfS is to survey the prevalence of sexual misconduct, and there’s new NSS data on satisfaction by student characteristic. With Julie Sanders, Vice Chancellor and Principal at Royal Holloway, University of London, Joe Cooper, Director of People and Culture at University of East London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, ...
Oct 17, 2024•49 min•Season 18Ep. 7
This week on the podcast it’s possible to predict a student’s wellbeing using mental health analytics - but what are the ethics and implications? Plus Labour’s new legislation for improving the rental market has been discussed in Parliament, Hidden History looks at a push for higher technical skills, and there’s going to be a new International Education Strategy - we discuss what should be in it. With Ben Jordan, Director of Strategy at UCAS, Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Dire...
Oct 11, 2024•37 min•Season 18Ep. 6
This week on the podcast Universities UK’s much anticipated “blueprint for change” is out – is a new 70 per cent participation target the right one? Plus The Times reports that fees might be going up, Hidden History recalls university leaders trying to get the attention of government, and Keir Starmer has been in Brussels – will he give way on fees and youth mobility? With Rose Stephenson, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute, Andy Youell, HE data and systems ...
Oct 03, 2024•45 min•Season 18Ep. 5
This week on the podcast Team Wonkhe has been at Labour Conference in Liverpool - we discuss what was and wasn’t said about higher education. Plus there’s news on skills (and in particular Level 7 apprenticeships), Hidden History looks at how HE came to be publicly funded, and Wales’ new tertiary regulator has a plan. With Pam Macpherson Barrett, Head of Policy and Regulation at the University of Leeds, Aaron Porter, Chair at BPP University and Deputy Chair at Goldsmiths, University of London, M...
Sep 26, 2024•46 min•Season 18Ep. 4
This week on the podcast bits of the UUK blueprint on funding the sector have emerged - we evaluate what’s emerged so far. Plus we ask whether closure of courses at ABA is a coalmine canary, a debate is hotting up over workload and Hidden History dives into the duopoly. With Ben Ward, Chief Executive at University of Manchester Students’ Union, Meg Price, Senior Policy Manager at Public First, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, Debbie McVitty, Editor at ...
Sep 20, 2024•52 min•Season 18Ep. 3
This week on the podcast over the summer the government paused implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act - but should it have, and what will happen next? Plus international visa application data for August is out, Hidden History looks at the competition to be old, and a younger generation is doing less well than their parents. With Chris Husbands, Director at Higher Futures, Steph Harris, Director of Strategy, Insight and Member Engagement at Universities UK, Debbie McVitty,...
Sep 12, 2024•47 min•Season 18Ep. 2
This week on the podcast the Westminster government has broken its silence on university funding - but did it say anything? Plus OfS has been pitch-rolling on franchising, Hidden History looks back when universities had their own MPs, and there’s new research on digital student experience. With Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director at the Association of Heads of University Administration, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Mike...
Sep 05, 2024•50 min•Season 18Ep. 1
This week on our final show before the summer break, Labour is to introduce a Skills England bill - we discuss what might be in it, and everything else that was (and wasn’t) in the King’s speech. Plus the QAA has published its investigation into international foundation years, and DK has been making music again. With Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive at Universities UK, Aaron Porter, Chair of the Board at BPP University, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief...
Jul 18, 2024•44 min•Season 17Ep. 13
This week on the podcast the new government is shaping up - we check if it’s ship shape. Plus it's been NSSmass so we’ll work out the impact, and we’ve got new research on academic support. With Jess Lister, Associate Director (Education) at Public First, Alex Favier, Founder and Director at Favier Ltd, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. What can the NSS can tell us about staff pay? National Student Survey 2024 Who is Jacqui Smith?...
Jul 12, 2024•48 min•Season 17Ep. 12
This week on the podcast the party leaders have spoken out on student living cost support - did they have anything to say, and if not why not? Plus the OIA has a fresh batch of complaints to learn from, there's two new reports on international expansion, and DK has some red hot quality news. With Michelle Morgan, Dean Of Students at University of East London, Mark Bennett, Director (Audience & Insight) at Find A University, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor...
Jun 27, 2024•47 min•Season 17Ep. 11
This week on the podcast we have new research out on cost of living and its impact on the student experience. With no time, will students get the skills and confidence they were promised? Plus there's new public polling out on the salience of universities, the election rumbles on and Debbie's going back to the 90s. With Paul Greatrix, Registrar at University of Nottingham, Ed Marsh, Chief Executive Officer at the Tutor Trust, and Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Edit...
Jun 20, 2024•43 min•Season 17Ep. 10
This week on the podcast all the major parties have their manifestos out for the General Election. What's in there for students or universities? Plus the Student Academic Experience Survey for 2024 is out, and staff-student relationships are in the news. With Jonathan Grant, Director at Different Angles, Alex Stanley, Vice President Higher Education-elect at the National Union of Students, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted...
Jun 13, 2024•54 min•Season 17Ep. 9
This week on the podcast we talk about potential HE policy after the election – could a tuition fee rise be on the cards in England if Labour wins? Plus various sector organisations have their manifestos out, and we go over the Conservatives’ plan to cull “Mickey Mouse” low-value courses. With Pam Macpherson Barrett, Head of Policy and Regulation at the University of Leeds, Chris Shelley, Director of Student Experience at Queen Mary University of London, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and pres...
Jun 06, 2024•34 min•Season 17Ep. 8
This week on the podcast Rishi Sunak has called a general election for July 4th - so we think about the issues, the pitfalls and landmines for universities, students, SUs and the sector, we talk tactics for the regulated period and we even turn our attention to what might happen after the election. With Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice at the University of Manchester, Polly Mackenzie, Chief Social Purpose Officer at University of the Arts London, Mark Leach Editor in Chief at Wonk...
May 23, 2024•52 min•Season 17Ep. 7
This week on the podcast the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the Graduate route is here - how will the government respond? Plus we take a trip back to the sixties to look at manifesto mentions from six decades ago, and OfS says that 40 per cent of institutions expect to be in deficit this year. With Eve Alcock, Director of Public Affairs at QAA, Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of the Education Practice at Public First, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach,...
May 16, 2024•35 min•Season 17Ep. 6
This week on the podcast a group of vice chancellors have been called into see Rishi Sunak in a bid to clamp down on student protest. Where does that fit with new Free Speech duties? Plus HEPI has a new study out on students’ standard of living, and UCU has a new report out on academic freedom. With Anne-Marie Canning, Chief Executive Officer at the Brilliant Club, Ben Vulliamy, Chief Executive at University of York Students’ Union and incoming ED at AHUA, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator a...
May 09, 2024•46 min•Season 17Ep. 5
This week on the podcast a parliamentary report calls for changes to regulation on franchising – does it go far enough? Plus the think tanks are circling as Labour keeps shtum on HE policy, Jim is in Austria chatting dropping out and study speed, and creepy behaviour towards female academics is under fire. With Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive at the Association for Colleges, Sally Burtonshaw, Associate Director (Education) at Public First, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, Jim Dickin...
Apr 26, 2024•51 min•Season 17Ep. 4
This week on the podcast there’s a new campaign to highlight first-in-family students. Will it shift the dial on public (and political) attitudes to HE? Plus NUS attempts to bounce back at its annual conference in Blackpool, and new data on graduates’ experiences in the labour market suggests a lot of focus on hybrid working. With Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Johnny Rich, Chief Executive at the Engineering Professors' Council and Push, Debbie McVitty, Ed...
Apr 18, 2024•41 min•Season 17Ep. 2
This week on the podcast the Department for Education has published its annual funding letter – we work out the size and shape of the cuts. Plus there’s a call for evidence on abolishing part of the Disabled Students Allowance, and there’s a problem for providers in post-pandemic nursing. With Selena Bolingbroke, Principal at the Building Crafts College, Pete Quinn, HE inclusion consultant, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted o...
Apr 11, 2024•45 min•Season 17Ep. 1
This week on the podcast the Home Office has commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to review the Graduate route visa - what could be on the cards come its conclusions in May? Plus UUK and UCEA are trying to pull out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), and there’s a new tool from ONS that lets us see towns and cities’ ability to retain, attract or lose their graduates. With Mary Curnock Cook, Chair at the Dyson Institute and Pearson UK, Omar Khan, Chief Executive at TASO, Michael Salmo...
Mar 21, 2024•37 min•Season 16Ep. 11
This week on the podcast, live from our Secret Life of Students event in London, we've published new stats and analysis on student loneliness - what can universities (and their SUs) do about this seemingly intractable problem? Plus we have highlights from our session on the campus culture wars, and we ask whether TV coverage of universities is fair and balanced in the wake of Geoff Norcott's Is University Really Worth It documentary. With Rebecca Freeman, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) a...
Mar 12, 2024•49 min•Season 16Ep. 10
This week on the podcast Science Secretary Michelle Donelan has paid damages to two academics that she falsely accused of supporting Hamas. What next for the campus culture wars? Plus a new report finds a “growing disconnect” between students and their university experience, and there’s been an HE-free budget. With Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Northampton, Ben Elger, Chief Executive at the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and...
Mar 07, 2024•32 min•Season 16Ep. 9
This week on the podcast only three per cent of students say they feel they have enough money. Do students need to change their expectations? Plus Australia has a new Universities Accord, there’s all sorts of international numbers floating around, and MPs debate franchising. With Paul Ashwin, Professor of Higher Education at Lancaster University, Hannah Malone, Vice President at Arts University Bournemouth Students’ Union, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associat...
Feb 29, 2024•47 min•Season 16Ep. 8
This week on the podcast the government is planning to introduce a “quality seal” for universities evidencing standards in dealing with antisemitism. But does its free speech legislation put that in jeopardy? Plus students are off to court over their Covid consumer claim, and a “welcome week” election could present headaches. With Mary Stuart, Director of Leadership Development at Minerva, Anne-Marie Canning, Chief Executive Officer at The Brilliant Club, Livia Scott, Community and Policy Office...
Feb 22, 2024•41 min•Season 16Ep. 7
