
The Wonkhe Show
Every week the Wonkhe team and guests from across higher education dissect the week's big policy developments, and we also feature interviews, features and views from around the sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Feb 3, 2022 • 36min
Levelling up, black students in halls, disabled students
This week on the podcast we go searching for a role for higher education in the levelling up agenda.There’s also interesting new reports out on race and disability ahead of our Secret Life of Students event.With Amatey Doku, Consultant at NOUS, Selena Bolingbroke, Independent Consultant, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27, 2022 • 47min
Student numbers, assessment, third years, blended
This week on the podcast we’re crunching numbers as HESA spring tells us about the size and shape of the sector in 2020/21, and UCAS end of cycle data gives us a sense of where we are this year. Who’s up, who’s down, and does it matter?We’re also thinking about assessment, considering the plight of third year students, looking at QAA research on blended learning and Dame Shirley Pearce gives Debbie the lowdown on the TEF review.With Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, NUS Vice President for Higher Education, Lawrie Phipps, Senior Research Lead at Jisc, Debbie McVitty, Wonkhe’s Editor and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 20, 2022 • 41min
Outcomes, TEF, NDAs
This week on the podcast we’re discussing the Office for Students’ new proposals on the outcomes that universities will have to deliver for students. Are they the right way to judge quality?Plus OfS has a new design for the Teaching Excellence Framework, and Michelle Donelan is urging universities to outlaw the use of NDAs.With Mary Curnock Cook, Chair of the Student Futures Commission, Ben Archibald, General Manager at the Union of Students in Ireland, David Kernohan, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 13, 2022 • 46min
Omicron, access, harassment, NSS
This week on the podcast we’re back after the break being told that there’s “no excuses” for online learning. How is the sector handling Omicron?We’re also reflecting on exhortations from ministers on improving attainment in schools, reading up on UCU’s new report on harassment on campus, and trying to work out what’s going on with the National Student Survey.And DK has an update on the ARIA bill, and there's also the triumphant return of Yes, but does it correlate?With Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Northampton, Ben Vulliamy, Chief Executive at York University Students’ Union, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 9, 2021 • 55min
Plan B, admissions, staffing, “one nation”
This week on our Christmassy podcast, England has moved to plan B - but what does that mean for students and universities? The UCAS end of cycle report is out - what does a bumper year for high tariff providers mean for their local areas and the test of the sector? Plus there’s new reports on staffing in higher education, the idea of a “one nation” university, and Wonkhe’s bid for the Christmas #1.With Jackie Njoroge, Director of Strategy at the University of Salford, Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice at the University of Manchester, Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at Nottingham Trent University, David Kernohan, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 2, 2021 • 40min
Strikes, blended, transfers
This week on the podcast industrial action has begun across the sector - how should universities mitigate any impact on students? There’s also a new briefing out on digital delivery from Universities UK, and new figures on student transfers.With Emily McIntosh, Director of Learning, Teaching and Student Experience at the University of Middlesex; Tim Blackman, Vice Chancellor at The Open University; David Kernohan, Associate Editor at Wonkhe; Jamie Melrose, President of the University of Bristol UCU branch; and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25, 2021 • 40min
Access and participation, social mobility, student loans
This week on the podcast there’s a new director for fair access and participation at the Office for Students - what will that mean for students and universities?Plus IFS has some fascinating new data out on social mobility, there’s a new report out on what graduates think about student loans and on Hidden History we look at how women came to study in the sector.With Anne-Marie Canning, Chief Executive at the Brilliant Club, Adam Tickell, Vice Chancellor and President at the University of Sussex, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at Nottingham Trent, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 18, 2021 • 39min
Regulation, industrial action, PGTs
This week on the podcast we consider the future of regulation of universities, and wonder who gets to decide the "student interest". Plus UCU have announced strike dates, Advance HE has published the results of this year's PTES and on Hidden History we look back at student disciplinary procedures from a different age.With Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Northampton, Neil Mackenzie, Associate Director Membership at Sheffield Students' Union, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at Nottingham Trent University and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2021 • 44min
OfS, COP, student experience, antisemitism
This week on the podcast OfS chief Nicola Dandridge is stepping down - what next for regulation of higher education?There’s also news from COP, some new stats on the student experience, and concern over antisemitism on campus.With Sue Rigby, vice chancellor at Bath Spa University, Jonathan Grant, Director of Different Angles, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at Nottingham Trent and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief of Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4, 2021 • 45min
White paper, Wales, PRES, ONS
This week on the podcast we ask if we’re getting an HE white paper for Christmas, and look at polling on the politics of fees, funding and maintenance. Plus Wales has a new Bill, and there’s new data on PGRs and undergrads - both of which appear to signal an intractable mental health crisis across the sector. What can be done?With Osama Khan, PVC Education at the University of Surrey, Debbie Holley, Professor of Learning Innovation at Bournemouth University, David Kernohan, Wonkhe’s Associate Editor, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at Nottingham Trent, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Wonkhe’s Associate Editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.