The Wonkhe Show

Duncan Ivison, President and Vice Chancellor at the University of Manchester, and Vicki Stott, Chief Executive at the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, delve into the controversial debate surrounding international student recruitment. They challenge the notion that universities are prioritizing immigration over education and discuss implications of potential new policies. The conversation shifts to student leaders’ manifestos, touching on their proposals for enhanced student support. They also explore the exciting developments in metascience aimed at transforming research funding practices.

This week on the podcast we examine the government’s new industrial strategy and what it really means for higher education – from regional clusters and research funding to skills bootcamps and spin-out support.Will the plans finally integrate universities into the UK’s economic future, or is this another case of policy promises outpacing delivery?Plus we discuss the franchising scandal and the damning case for urgent reform, and ask whether new research on social mobility challenges the sector’s claims about access, aspiration, and advancement.With Katie Normington, Vice Chancellor at De Montfort University, Johnny Rich, Chief Executive at the Engineering Professors’ Council and Push, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Higher education and the industrial strategy priority areasThe cashpoint campus comeback franchising, fraud, and the failure to learn from the FE experienceOn the move: how young people’s mobility responds to and reinforces geographical inequalitiesInequalities in Access to Professional Occupations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we examine the Office for Students' new free speech guidance as controversial requirements prepare to take effect from August 1st. What do the "deeply disturbing" YouGov findings about academic self-censorship really tell us, and how should universities navigate campus protests and challenging research topics?Plus we discuss outgoing UKRI chief Ottoline Leyser's stark warning about "inevitable consolidation" in university research.With Mark Peace, Professor of Innovation in Education at King's College London, Arti Saraswat, Senior Policy Manager for Higher Education at the Association of Colleges, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Will guidance on freedom of speech help the staff who fear physical attack for expressing their views?Prevent data, 2023-24We need a better quality of conversation about education and the skills agenda for the screen industries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we examine the government's spending review and what it means for higher education. How will the £86bn R&D commitment translate into real-terms funding, and why was higher education notably absent from the Chancellor's priorities?Plus we discuss the Post-18 Project's call to fundamentally reshape HE policy away from market competition, the startling new REF rules, and the striking rise in student term-time working revealed by the latest Student Academic Experience Survey.With Stephanie Harris, Director of Policy at Universities UK, Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director at the Association of Heads of University Administration, Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Tooling up: Building a new economic mission for higher educationInvesting for the long term often loses out to pensioner powerWhat’s in the spending review for higher educationThe student experience is beyond breaking pointHow to assess anxious, time-poor students in a mass ageREF is about institutions not individuals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week features Jess Lister, Director at Public First, Mack Marshall, Community and Policy Officer at Wonkhe SUs, and Rille Raaper, Associate Professor at Durham University. They dive into the challenges facing UK higher education, including a critical review of the three-year degree model and its toll on student wellbeing. The discussion also highlights the need for collaboration among universities and explores the implications of Research England's new EDI action plan in tackling equity and diversity in research. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation!

This week on the podcast we examine the OfS penalty imposed on Leeds Trinity over subcontractual partnerships oversight. What does the £115,000 fine and a new proposed code of “ethical” governance tell us about decision-making at the top? Plus we discuss the government's decision to axe level 7 apprenticeships from levy funding, and explore incoming OfS chair Edward Peck's ten trends shaping the future of campus universities.With Alex Stanley, Vice President for Higher Education at the National Union of Students, Pam Macpherson Barrett, Head of Policy and Regulation at the University of Leeds, David Kernohan, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Poor quality teaching and student outcomes. But where?The new OfS chair identifies ten trendsA code of ethical university governance is overdueShould governance reform be horizontal or vertical? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we examine the government's brutal funding cuts to universities. What does the £108m reduction in the Strategic Priorities Grant mean for higher education, and why are media studies and journalism courses losing their high-cost subject funding?When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit http://www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.Plus we discuss the independent review of student suicides, and explore new research on widening participation and regional disparities.With Shân Wareing, Vice Chancellor at Middlesex University, Richard Brabner, Executive Chair at the UPP Foundation, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Why not take a risk-based approach to discrimination or harassment on campus?Whatuni Student Choice AwardsFor those in HE cold spots, higher education isn’t presenting as a good betA review of student suicides suggests that standards are now necessaryWhat have coroner’s reports said about student suicide?A brutal budget for strategic priorities from the Department for EducationWhy are we so embarrassed about Erasmus? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, Smita Jamdar, a partner at Shakespeare Martineau, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, and Roscoe Hastings from the University of Exeter dive into the implications of the UK's new immigration white paper. They tackle the reduction of the graduate route visa and its potential harm to international student recruitment. The proposed 6% levy on international fees raises eyebrows, highlighting concerns about funding and compliance. They also scrutinize Skills Minister Jacqui Smith's critique of universities, questioning financial accountability and public trust in higher education.

Paul Greatrix, a higher education expert and former registrar, Graeme Atherton, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe, dive into the financial troubles plaguing UK universities. They discuss the implications of course closures and maintenance cutbacks, alongside the controversial topic of vice-chancellor pay during fiscal constraints. The conversation emphasizes the mismatch between financial projections and reality, urging for reforms that protect students and enhance educational quality amidst a funding crisis.

This week on the podcast we discuss the financial crisis at the University of Dundee, as a revised recovery plan reduces proposed job cuts while requesting additional funding. Is this a sustainable solution for institutions facing similar challenges?Plus we look at concerning new Wonkhe and Cibyl polling on student health, and we examine how international student policies have become political battlegrounds in global elections.With Chris Shelley, Director of Student Experience at Queen Mary University of London, Rachel MacSween, Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement (UK and Europe) at IDP, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Dundee: An alternative pathway to financial recovery, Scottish Government statementLatest from Belong – students’ health is not OK, and that’s not OKCanada: The Deeper Meaning of Election 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.