
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

Oct 26, 2023 • 40min
Housing, research culture, international
This week on the podcast the Renter’s (Reform) Bill has been in Parliament, and there’s a new report on soaring student rents. Should the sector reduce demand or lobby for increased supply? Plus there’s a new report on research culture, and a decline in international student experiences.With Nicola Dandridge, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Policy at University of Bristol, Andrew Boggs, University Secretary at Royal Holloway, University of London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 19, 2023 • 50min
Student numbers, belonging, Israel/Gaza, social mobility
This week on the podcast a fresh debate over controlling student numbers in England’s HE system has kicked off. Would doing so damage access?Plus we’ve new research on belonging and cost of living, we review activity on campus in the wake of the situation in the Middle East, and a new iteration of the Social Mobility Index for universities has emerged.With Rachel Sandby-Thomas, Registrar at University of Warwick, Gary Hughes, Chief Executive at Durham 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.

Oct 12, 2023 • 47min
Labour and funding, antisemitism, mental health
This week on the podcast we’ve been at Labour’s conference in Liverpool - asking what might make it into the manifesto on fees and funding. Plus ministers have written to universities over antisemitism, and we find out what Labour might do on regulating (or not) mental health in universities.With Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive at Universities UK, Gareth Smith, Executive Director of Student Life and Strategy at UA92, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 5, 2023 • 41min
Strikes, woke science, immigration, learner analytics
This week on the podcast the government is to consult on “minimum service levels” during industrial action at universities. What could happen next? Plus Michelle Donelan is kicking “woke ideology” out of science, immigration and international students were the talk of the Conservative Party Conference fringe, and there’s new findings on student views of engagement analytics.With Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive at Association of Colleges, Elise Page, Postgraduate Officer at University of East Anglia Students’ Union, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City, University of London and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 28, 2023 • 42min
TEF results, staff development, PGR new deal
TEF results are discussed and the value they hold for students. The 'New Deal' for PGRs is explored. The podcast also delves into the diversity of excellence among providers in the TEF rankings. The challenges faced by universities in terms of skills needs and organizational development are highlighted. The historical expansion of universities in the UK is discussed, along with the process of establishing new universities in different locations.

Sep 21, 2023 • 40min
Loneliness, climate change, LLE, work
This week on the podcast we discuss the government’s plans to reduce the stigma and increase support for students who are lonely. Plus Gillian Keegan is urging VCs to just stop just stop oil, the Lifelong Loan Entitlement gets a rebrand and HESA’s making measures on meaningful work more meaningful.With Selena Bolingbroke, Principal at the Building Crafts College, Jonathan Woodhead, Policy Adviser at Birkbeck, University of London, Michael Salmon, is News Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City, University of London and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 2023 • 48min
Regulation, quality, care experienced students
This week on the podcast a Lords committee says England’s HE regulator is “arbitrary, overly controlling, and unnecessarily combative. What happens next? Plus we look at what we can learn from two new assessment reports into quality of courses, and there’s a new report on care experienced students.With Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Richard Brabner, Director at UPP Foundation, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City, University of London and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 7, 2023 • 47min
Cost of living, research security, gender based violence
This week on the podcast we look at three new reports that detail the impact of the cost of living crisis on students. Is there more that universities can do as governments continue to ignore the issue?We also discuss Horizon, research security and foreign policy, and the question of gathering stats on gender-based violence in higher education.Plus hidden history looks at how teacher training troubles impacted where our universities are.With Pete Quinn, HE inclusion consultant, Jess LIster, Associate Director Education at Public First, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City, University of London and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 20, 2023 • 46min
Summer special: Admissions, NSS, Predictions
This week on our summer break special Level 3 results are out - does the press coverage bear any relation to what's happening in universities?Plus this year's new and "improved" National Student Survey results are out, and the team looks ahead to the new academic year. With Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, University Administrator and Sector Historian and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 6, 2023 • 50min
Harassment, NHS, AI, Bob Kerslake
This week on the podcast there’s new recommendations on campus harassment and sexual misconduct - but is a DfE campaign targeting men the right approach?Plus there’s a new NHS workforce plan to think about, the challenges of AI continue to generate debate, and Richard Brabner pays tribute to Bob Kerslake, who died earlier this week.With Claire Taylor, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive at Plymouth Marjon University, Paul Ashwin, Professor of Higher Education at Lancaster University, Richard Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation, 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.