The Wonkhe Show Access, governance, festival vibes
Nov 12, 2025
Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive at Advance HE, shares insights on university governance and regional collaboration. Janet Lord, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses access strategies and the civic role of universities. Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, analyzes leadership changes impacting access policies. The trio dives into the Sutton Trust's findings on social mobility, intergenerational wealth, and the need for diverse policymaking, all while capturing the vibrant atmosphere of a London festival celebrating higher education.
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Coffee And Socials Powered The Festival Vibe
- Alistair and Janet both cited coffee as their festival highlight, showing the event's informal networking value.
- Michael Salmon also praised the social evenings, emphasising vibe over formal sessions.
Churn Undermines Long-Term Access Progress
- Frequent leadership churn at the Office for Students makes long-term evaluation and progress fragile.
- Michael Salmon warns repeated director changes risk never knowing whether past regimes worked.
Access Needs System-Wide Thinking
- Access and participation require system-wide thinking beyond universities alone.
- Janet Lord says narrow, single-threaded interventions fail because they ignore schools, employers and the wider labour market.
