The Wonkhe Show

This week on the podcast student finance has exploded into the headlines – but is the English student loan system really doomed? Backbench Labour MPs are pressing the chancellor to act, polling has revealed widespread antipathy for above-inflation interest rates, and Rachel Reeves has clashed with Martin Lewis over the freeze to repayment thresholds. Now former OfS access tsar John Blake has launched The Post-18 Project, our Wonkhe think tank, by arguing that a review of higher education funding is unavoidable and that a graduate tax should be one of the options. So is the government going to act, or will it be bounced into action?Plus UKRI has found itself in a perfect comms storm over the future of curiosity-driven research funding, and Michael Salmon sits down with Welsh minister Vikki Howells to discuss the challenges facing tertiary education.With Ben Ward, CEO at University of Manchester Students' Union, Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, Vikki Howells, Minister for Further and Higher Education in the Senedd and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.The Post-18 Project: A review of higher education funding is inevitableFive challenges faced by the Welsh tertiary sectorMaybe a graduate tax wasn’t such a bad idea after allWelsh higher education is running out of wriggle roomWales refuses to implement Westminster’s stealth graduate tax raidWho should pay for our failing student loan system?

This week on the podcast we examine what a rise in UK university applicants really tells us about the future demand for higher education.With UCAS reporting a 4.8 per cent increase in applications at the January deadline, driven largely by a demographic peak in 18-year-olds, we explore whether this represents a genuine resurgence in demand or a temporary population effect.Plus we discuss new evidence on disabled students’ experiences in higher education, including concerns that pandemic-era accessibility is being rolled back, and the implications of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill — from pressure on NHS training places to uncertainty for students studying medicine abroad through UK-linked programmes.And Jim Dickinson is is in Canada with Wonkhe's Editor Debbie McVitty taking to Canadian HE expert Alex Usher.With Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief, Wonkhe, Alex Stanley, Vice President for Higher Education at the National Union of Students, Dani Payne, Head of Education and Social Mobility at the Social Market Foundation, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief, Wonkhe.

This week on the podcast the government has finally unveiled its new International Education Strategy – but with no headline target for international student numbers and a clear shift towards education exports, what does it mean for the sector?Plus the latest UCAS end of cycle data and what it reveals about entry qualifications at high tariff providers, and a new NUS campaign on student maintenance that’s turning the spotlight on parents.With Mike Ratcliffe, Senior Advisor at UWE Bristol, Richard Brabner, Visiting Professor of Civic Engagement at Newcastle University, Jen Summerton, Operations Director at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.UCAS End of Cycle, 2025: access and participationUCAS End of Cycle, 2025: provider recruitment strategiesGraduates are paying more and getting lessA new international education strategy

Join insightful discussions with Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, Jess Lister, Director at Public First, and Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe. They delve into the complexities of free speech on campuses, highlighting a poll indicating significant student opposition to Reform UK. The conversation shifts to Scotland's budget challenges and the implications for higher education funding. They also tackle the controversial label of 'Mickey Mouse courses,' examining its origins and how universities can better articulate the value of their programs.

Abi Taylor, President of Durham Students' Union, Gary Hughes, CEO of Durham SU, and Mack Marshall, Wonkhe's Community and Policy Officer, dive into the exciting return of the UK to Erasmus+. They discuss the potential impacts on student mobility and equity concerns, highlighting how the program could favor wealthier students. The guests also explore the implications of a new bill on student loan payments, advocating for better financial support for students. Lastly, they share insights from their Rhineland study tour, emphasizing the importance of student engagement and learning from international peers.

This week on the podcast we examine what the rebooted 2029 Research Excellence Framework will mean for universities’ research strategies, research culture, and future funding – including the new “strategy, people and research environment” element and the renewed focus on contribution to knowledge and understanding through research outputs.Plus we discuss the government’s crackdown on franchised higher education provision and student loan eligibility, and we look back at the defining moments of 2025 in higher education policy – from regulation and finance to admissions, academic freedom and research – and consider what they might signal for universities in 2026 and beyond.With Steph Harris, Director of Policy at Universities UK, Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business at the University of Manchester, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. On the site:Re-thinking research support for English universities: Research England’s programme of work during the REF 2029 pauseEverything you need to know about REF 2029Study a Bachelors DEGREE without paying a single penny? You’re onWeekend courses can’t get student loansSub-contractual providers need to register with OfSYou can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Acast, Amazon Music, Deezer, RadioPublic, Podchaser, Castbox, Player FM, Stitcher,

Join James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Jo Heaton-Marriott, Managing Director at The Authentic Partnership, and Jonathan Simons, Partner at Public First, as they delve into pressing issues in higher education. They address the backlash students have against AI-generated teaching materials and the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI use. Financial strategies of English universities are analyzed, and they also explore the ambitious vision for civic engagement in education by 2025. Buckle up for a lively discussion on the future of learning!

Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor at Harper Adams University, shares insights on the new university funding model shaped by Budget 2025. Debbie McVitty discusses the impacts of the proposed international student levy and maintenance grants. David Kernohan highlights the challenges of frozen loan thresholds and the risks of funding concentration in larger institutions. The panel dives into Scotland’s Tertiary Education Bill and its implications for cross-subsidy and institutional costs, revealing a landscape of both opportunity and caution for higher education.

This week on the podcast we examine what the rise of Reform UK – and new insight into its prospective voters – might mean for universities, international education, and the wider public legitimacy of higher education. Plus we discuss Skills England’s new guidance on local skills improvement plans – and the move to place higher education, up to postgraduate level, at the heart of local skills ecosystems – and a new study of student working lives that reveals how paid employment alongside full-time study is reshaping participation, wellbeing, and outcomes.With Sam Roseveare, Director of Regional and National Policy at University of Warwick, Alex Favier, Director at Favier Ltd, Jen Summerton, Operations Director at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Labour takes steps to bring higher education and local skills closer togetherLong hours and poor working conditions hit students’ outcomes hardThe surprising pragmatism of Reform UK voters towards international educationHigher education’s civic role has never been more important to get right

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.