• Labour’s agenda, OfS, regional APPs
    Nov 13 2024

    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) at the University of London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.


    Alex Usher’s One Thought to Start Your Day

    How to better understand students’ sense of belonging

    Universities may be a priority for reform but they are not a priority for investment

    Some providers are cutting financial support for students – with OfS’ blessing

    Access and participation planning gains a regional dimension

    Bridget Phillipson has set out the government’s priorities for HE reform


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    47 mins
  • Fees increase, efficiency, Trump
    Nov 7 2024

    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 London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.


    • Bridget Phillipson increases fees by 3.1 per cent
    • An increase in maintenance loans gets blunted by fiscal drag
    • Fees are going up to £9,535. Or are they?
    • Seizing the current policy moment – from cost-savings to radical efficiency
    • Collaboration is already baked in to the sector, and we need to see more of it
    • Deeper collaboration key to securing the future of UK higher education



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    48 mins
  • Budget, student finance, consumer rights
    Oct 31 2024

    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 City St George’s University of London, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.


    Everything in the Budget for higher education

    Student bus travel should be free

    More consumer rights cases emerge from OfS and NTS

    The minimum wage is going up. Will maintenance loans rise to match it?

    The value of history

    DfE to stop grading English schools based on proportion of Russell Group students



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    48 mins
  • Student numbers, budget, international, VC pay
    Oct 24 2024

    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 Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.


    The demographic tide is turning, but university remains popular

    The UK will need to do more to reassure international applicants if it wants to remain a first choice destination

    TPA: University Rich List 2024


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    38 mins
  • Graduate jobs, sexual misconduct, NSS analysis
    Oct 17 2024

    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, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.


    What does the graduate jobs market look like right now?

    A league table on sexual misconduct could be coming

    NSS 2024 – results by student characteristics

    Royal Holloway's Campus Unity Week

    The Finnish Student Health and Wellbeing Survey (KOTT)


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    49 mins
  • Mental health, renters’ reform, international strategy
    Oct 11 2024

    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 Director at Unite Students, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.


    Data can help predict where students are struggling with wellbeing

    Won’t somebody think of the landlords?

    Ten things that could feature in a new International Education Strategy

    Universities can build trust through creative public engagement




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    37 mins
  • Blueprint, fees increase, Brussels
    Oct 3 2024

    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 specialist, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.


    A bluffer’s guide to the Universities UK blueprint for HE policy under Labour

    A blueprint for change needs students at its centre

    Universities UK has a plan to fix research funding

    Fees of £10,500 would be a return to the policies of 2017

    The poverty gap between students and the universities they attend is getting wider

    Students have unrealistic expectations of the financial support universities can offer them

    Starmer vows to turn page on UK’s relationship with the EU


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    45 mins
  • Labour, skills, Medr
    Sep 26 2024

    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, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s, University of London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.


    Students should expect less of universities and more of everyone else

    More sharp suits than a Burton’s window

    The Jacqui Smith doctrine

    Who should pay for relief for students and universities?

    A strategic plan for Medr



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    46 mins