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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

This week on the podcast the University of Bristol has lost its appeal over a student suicide case - we discuss the implications. Plus the January deadline UCAS figures are out, and we look at the rise in hours that students are spending in paid employment. (CW: Suicide, depression, mental health) With Eve Alcock, Director of Public Affairs at QAA, Ben Whittaker, Chief Executive at LSE Students’ Union, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at...

This week on the podcast university funding is back in the news as Wales increases fees and the sector puzzles over fixing funding across the UK. Are fee increases politically palatable, and what are the alternatives? Plus free school meals students face a “postcode lottery” for university entrance, and we’ve been taking a look at universities’ role in the public sector jobs pipeline. With Gavan Conlon, Partner at London Economics, Jess Lister, Associate Director (Education) at Public First,...

This week on the podcast international students have been in the news - but how much of the coverage was unfair, and does the sector have a case to answer on admissions? Plus DfE has a mental health taskforce report out, Scotland's Commissioner for Fair Access has reported and we look at new polling and data on students' views and the role that gender can play in politics. With Helen O'Sullivan, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Chester, Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of...

This week on the podcast OfS has published more inspection reports into Business and Management provision in universities. Is the process and focus right? Plus we discuss the implications of Jo Phonenix's win at tribunal against the OU, and look in detail at a report on university governance. With Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of the Education Practice at Public First, Steph Harris, Director of Strategy, Insight and Member Engagement at Universities UK, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at...

This week on the podcast the National Audit Office reports on organised crime and fraud in franchise agreements - is the regulation right and are the incentives appropriate? Plus we discuss the prospect of a university going under, there’s new UCAS figures out and who’s paying the Real Living Wage? With Nicola Dandridge, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Policy at University of Bristol, Jonathan Grant, Director at Different Angles, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by...

This week on the podcast we’re in Helsinki on the Wonkhe SUs study tour where SU officers and staff from around the UK have been to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland to learn about student representation, political advocacy and belonging on a budget.  Jim and guests from the bus trip discuss students and sleep, the HE policy year ahead, and what the sector might learn from the frozen north - while Livia catches up with some student leaders from across the countries. With Lily Byrne,...

In our final festive episode of the year we survey the political turmoil over immigration, and consider the impact on university finances. There's also a big delay to the REF to understand, a new report that calls for more graduates and some festive cheer from DK. With Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice at the University of Manchester, Justine Andrew, Head of Education and Head of University Partnership Office at KPMG UK, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan,...

This week on the podcast the government is consulting on minimum service levels in education - what could that mean for industrial action in the sector? Plus there’s a growing “education divide” in UK politics, Advance HE’s 2023 PTES is out, and we’re asking if universities need to “go hard or go home” on degree apprenticeships.  With Diana Beech, CEO at London Higher, Mark Bennett, Director (Audience & Editorial) at Find a University, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and...

This week on the podcast - recorded at Advance HE's Governance Conference in London - new immigration figures are out, and we reflect on what they mean both for the new Home Secretary and for university finances. Plus there's the Chancellor's Autumn Statement to digest, and this year's Postgraduate Research Experience Survey results are out. With Roberta Blackman-Woods, Board Chair at Northumbria University, Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice at the University of Manchester, Dan...

This week on the podcast there's been a Westminster government reshuffle - but does any of it matter to higher education? Plus OfS has been inspecting business courses, sector finances are in the news and Data Futures has been pushed further into the future. With Chris Shelley, Director of Student Experience at Queen Mary University of London, Jess Lister, Associate Director (Education) at Public First, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at...

This week on the podcast, recorded live at Wonkhe's Festival of HE in London, we discuss the King's speech and politics for higher education in the run up to a general election. Plus there's new polling data on students and food, we get as across a new report on graduate skills in an age of AI, and hidden history traces how women got into universities. With Alistair Jarvis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Governance) at University of London, Eve Alcock, Director of Public Affairs at the...

This week on the podcast Michelle Donelan’s letter to UKRI expressing outrage over “extremism” has been in the news, and Gillian Keegan is bearing down on antisemitism on campus - we discuss and assess the fallout. Plus OfS is set to get digging around into franchised provision, and we try to work out if the student training needs in England’s long-term NHS plan are deliverable. With Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University of St Andrews, Paul Greatrix, Registrar at...

This week on the podcast the Renter’s (Reform) Bill has been in Parliament, and there’s a new report on soaring student rents. Should the sector reduce demand or lobby for increased supply? Plus there’s a new report on research culture, and a decline in international student experiences. With Nicola Dandridge, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Policy at University of Bristol, Andrew Boggs, University Secretary at Royal Holloway, University of London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at...

This week on the podcast a fresh debate over controlling student numbers in England’s HE system has kicked off. Would doing so damage access? Plus we’ve new research on belonging and cost of living, we review activity on campus in the wake of the situation in the Middle East, and a new iteration of the Social Mobility Index for universities has emerged. With Rachel Sandby-Thomas, Registrar at University of Warwick, Gary Hughes, Chief Executive at Durham Students'​ Union, Sunday Blake,...

This week on the podcast we’ve been at Labour’s conference in Liverpool - asking what might make it into the manifesto on fees and funding. Plus ministers have written to universities over antisemitism, and we find out what Labour might do on regulating (or not) mental health in universities. With Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive at Universities UK, Gareth Smith, Executive Director of Student Life and Strategy at UA92, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in...

This week on the podcast the government is to consult on “minimum service levels” during industrial action at universities. What could happen next? Plus Michelle Donelan is kicking “woke ideology” out of science, immigration and international students were the talk of the Conservative Party Conference fringe, and there’s new findings on student views of engagement analytics. With Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive at Association of Colleges, Elise Page, Postgraduate Officer at University...

This week on the podcast results of the Teaching Excellence Framework are out - but what do they tell us, and how helpful are they for students? Plus there’s a new report on university staff and skills development and a “new deal” for PGRs has arrived.  With Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of Education Practice at Public First, Anne-Marie Canning, Chief Executive Officer at The Brilliant Club, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City, University of...

This week on the podcast we discuss the government’s plans to reduce the stigma and increase support for students who are lonely. Plus Gillian Keegan is urging VCs to just stop just stop oil, the Lifelong Loan Entitlement gets a rebrand and HESA’s making measures on meaningful work more meaningful. With Selena Bolingbroke, Principal at the Building Crafts College, Jonathan Woodhead, Policy Adviser at Birkbeck, University of London, Michael Salmon, is News Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe,...

This week on the podcast a Lords committee says England’s HE regulator is “arbitrary, overly controlling, and unnecessarily combative. What happens next? Plus we look at what we can learn from two new assessment reports into quality of courses, and there’s a new report on care experienced students. With Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Richard Brabner, Director at UPP Foundation, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar...