Wonkhe
@wonkhe.bsky.social
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Home of the higher education debate www.wonkhe.com Editor in Chief
@markleach.bsky.social
NEW on Wonkhe: OfS has published board papers from December. Think partnership not punishment
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about 7 hours ago
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NEW on Wonkhe: Iranâs students are again at the centre of nationwide unrest
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about 11 hours ago
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Best of 2025: The discussions that took place aimed at balancing university fees and migration numbers showcased a renewed commitment to addressing youth issues post-Brexit, highlighting both challenges and opportunities that arose throughout the year.
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University fees and migration numbers threaten Brexit reset youth deal
Talks also set to start on making touring easier for musicians and artists
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Prof Alice Sullivan claimed that the University of Bristol failed to protect her right to freedom of expression after a protest disrupted her gender lecture.
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Academic âprepared to take legal actionâ after gender lecture disrupted at Bristol University
Prof Alice Sullivan claims university failed to protect her right to freedom of expression after protest at event
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The debates over higher education funding focused on fees and maintenance, but events in 2025 revealed significant underlying issues as Jim Dickinson explored the complexities of governmental financial strategies in higher education.
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The government's in a pickle over fees and funding
Debates over higher education funding tend to focus on fees and maintenance - but whatâs going on beneath the surface? Jim Dickinson goes down the watering hole Debates over higher education funding...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The Department for Education (DfE) set out how it delivered on its promise to "raise the standards of teaching" in universities across England, as Jim Dickinson detailed the need for a thoughtful approach to funding and quality assurance in higher education.
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Thirty ways for DfE to deliver the manifesto and raise the standards of teaching
Some day soon, DfE will need to set out how it's going to deliver on its promise to "raise the standards of teaching" in universities in England. Jim Dickinson sets aside the money for a minute Some day...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Gemma Ahearne showed how drawing on lived experience, playful pacing, and radical care kept students engaged and in the room.
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From crisis to community: engaging students in post-pandemic classrooms
Gemma Ahearne shows how drawing on lived experience, playful pacing, and radical care keeps students engaged and in the room
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Commuter students were everywhere, often engaged and invaluable, but largely invisible. Susan Kenyon and Mack Marshall reflected on the insights that emerged from the commuter students series and formed an agenda for supporting commuters.
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A change agenda for the commuter student experience
Commuter students are everywhere, are often engaged and invaluable but largely invisible. Susan Kenyon and Mack Marshall reflect on the insights that have emerged from the commuter students series and...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: As the Office for Students published its investigation into a private provider that collapsed, the OIA's Charlotte Corrish raised questions about the protections for students when the student loans tap was turned off.
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When tuition fee payments are suspended, what happens to students left behind?
As the Office for Students publishes its investigation into a private provider that collapsed, the OIA's Charlotte Corrish raises questions about protections for students when the student loans tap is...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Awarding gaps based on ethnicity were a concern in 2025, but the ways in which they were conceptualized, analyzed, and addressed proved to be far from perfect. Katharine Hubbard suggested a more nuanced approach.
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Itâs time to decolonise the awarding gap
Awarding gaps based on ethnicity are a concern, but the way we conceptualise analysing and addressing them are far from perfect. Katharine Hubbard suggests a more nuanced approach
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: It was explored why higher education institutions sought to grow home student numbers despite incurring losses on each, with Debbie McVitty analyzing the financial implications.
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Filling their boots? The rationale for growing loss-making home student numbers
Why would a higher education institution seek to grow home student numbers when technically it makes a loss on each student? Debbie McVitty runs the numbers Why would a higher education institution seek...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: In World Autism Acceptance Month, Hannah Breslin and Jon Rowlands reflected on their experiences of sharing and adapting to their late autism diagnoses.
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Everyone can play a role in removing barriers for autistic colleagues
Itâs World Autism Acceptance Month, and Hannah Breslin and Jon Rowlands reflect on their experiences of sharing and adapting to their late autism diagnoses Itâs World Autism Acceptance Month, and...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Paul Ashwin argued that the Office for Studentsâ proposed strategy put government priorities into the mouths of students.
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Ventriloquising the student interest
Paul Ashwin argues that the Office for Studentsâ proposed strategy puts government priorities into the mouths of students Paul Ashwin argues that the Office for Studentsâ proposed strategy puts government...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Paige Rivers explored the realities of being a student nurse and considered a renewed health agenda for government and the sector.
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The labour of being a student nurse
Paige Rivers explores the realities of being a student nurse and considers a renewed health agenda for government and the sector.
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Months of student-led protests in Serbia reached a climax, as Jim Dickinson reviewed the significant roles played by both "official" and "unofficial" student representatives amid the growing political unrest and challenges faced by the country.
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Students are at the centre of a political uprising in Serbia. Again
As months of student-led protests come to a head in Serbia, Jim Dickinson reviews the role of both "official" and "unofficial" student representatives in the country's growing problems and protests As...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The five things universities did to cut costs, as outlined by David Kernohan, illustrated that despite the unique circumstances of each institution, financial challenges prompted similar strategies across the board.
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The five things universities do to cut costs
Though every higher education provider is different, changes driven by financial problems start with five similar questions. David Kernohan asks them
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Young people in coastal and rural areas missed out on higher education. Graeme Atherton called for access work to reconnect with geography.
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The widening access narrative must return to speaking about places
Young people in coastal and rural areas are missing out on higher education. Graeme Atherton calls for access work to reconnect with geography
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The UK government launched a "gap year" scheme aimed at school and college leavers, providing a taste of military life in the Army, Royal Navy, or RAF without long-term commitment.
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UK to offer military gap year in effort to boost recruitment
The paid 12-month course is aimed at under-25s, with plans for the scheme to grow to 1,000 young people a year.
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Reporting on focus groups with students in Nottingham for the UPP Foundation's latest report, Will Yates found a new belt-tightening normal.
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Todayâs students are scrimpers, not spendthrifts
Reporting on focus groups with students in Nottingham for the UPP Foundation's latest report, Will Yates finds a new belt-tightening normal
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: As universities were urged to provide support to struggling students, Jim Dickinson reviewed the evidence and found that the system of rapid graduate production had a key potential role in causing pressure and harm.
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Our drop-out and pace miracle is harming studentsâ health and learning
As universities are again urged to provide support to struggling students, Jim Dickinson reviews the evidence - and finds our system of rapid graduate production a key potential cause of pressure and...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The government quietly revised its definition of a duty of care in universities, as Bob Abrahart argued it needed more clarity.
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There's nothing certain about the circumstances when a duty of care applies to students
The government has quietly revised its definition of a duty of care in universities. Bob Abrahart argues it needs more clarity
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: An eye-catching headline about institutional governance got Simon Varwell thinking about the roles that students played.
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A sea change in student partnership
An eye-catching headline about institutional governance gets Simon Varwell thinking about the roles that students play An eye-catching headline about institutional governance gets Simon Varwell thinking...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: James Coe examined what could be done about those annoying, frustrating, slightly wrong, but not entirely terrible issues that accumulated to make for a bad student experience.
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The rubbish bin theory of the student experience
James Coe takes a look at what can be done about those annoying, frustrating, slightly wrong, but not entirely terrible issues that accumulate to make for a bad student experience
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The postgraduate population grew significantly, yet there was a noticeable lack of interest in regulating this area of higher education and ensuring equitable outcomes. Katharine Hubbard urged the sector to pay more attention.
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Why arenât we addressing inequity of outcomes for postgraduates?
The postgraduate population is growing, but there appears to be less interest in regulating this area of higher education, much less how equitable outcomes are. Katharine Hubbard asks the sector to pay...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Debbie McVitty argued that successful governance needed to manage tensions between the academic and business ends of institutions.
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Higher education governance needs the conflict between academic and business imperatives to be successful
Debbie McVitty argues that successful governance needs to manage tensions between the academic and business ends of institutions
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: A new DSIT report shed light on the connection between an unequal workforce and economic growth, revealing key insights from James Coe.
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The economic cost of an unequal R&D workforce
A new DSIT report shines a light on the link between an unequal workforce and economic growth. James Coe has the details.
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Molly Pemberton reflected on how active student citizens successfully lobbied for improved transport for commuter students.
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Students making changes on transport
Molly Pemberton reflects on how to create active student citizens to lobby for improved transport for commuter students.
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Scotland's free fees policy faced mounting challenges as public support wavered and funding pressures intensified, highlighted in Hannah Garrow's insightful argument.
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Tuition fees are a social contract with small print
Scotland's free fees policy faces mounting challenges as public support wavers and funding pressures intensify, argues Hannah Garrow
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: The fundamental changes to the system for student support in England had been long overdue, as Jim Dickinson argued for reforms to alleviate poverty and enhance opportunities for students.
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A proper review of student maintenance is now long overdue
The fundamentals of the system for student support in England were put place before most of them born. Jim Dickinson argues for change to alleviate poverty and support opportunity The fundamentals of...
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Anna Bull and Kelly Prince explained a new toolkit that offered practical guidance to address the unique risks that PGRs faced over harassment and sexual misconduct.
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How to address harassment and sexual misconduct experienced by PGRs
Anna Bull and Kelly Prince explain a new toolkit offering practical guidance to address the unique risks that PGRs face over harassment and sexual misconduct
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3 days ago
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Best of 2025: Susan Kenyon considered who commuter students were, what they needed, and why the sector should have cared.
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Shaping higher education for commuter students
Susan Kenyon considers who commuter students are, what they need and why the sector should care.
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: The latest student money and wellbeing survey from Blackbullion highlighted the severe impact of student poverty on learning and experience, with calls for reform from Lee Elliot Major.
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Higher education should lift students out of poverty - not trap them within it
The latest student money and wellbeing survey from Blackbullion shows the impact of student poverty on learning and experience. Lee Elliot Major calls for reform The latest student money and wellbeing...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: The discussion around improving the agility of UK research became a focal point, as Anton Muscatelli and Miles Padgett analyzed its implications and identified the barriers that stood in the way.
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The research system wonât become more agile without a deeper conversation on funding
Improving the âagilityâ of UK research is an attractive idea. Anton Muscatelli and Miles Padgett consider what it really means and whatâs holding the system back Improving the âagilityâ of UK...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: New research on regret explained why students made the wrong choices, as Jim Dickinson and Mack Marshall remained unconvinced that the benefits of hindsight had been realized.
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing - but foresight is better
New research on regret explains why students make the wrong choice. Jim Dickinson and Mack Marshall are not convinced that the benefits of hindsight have been realised New research on regret explains...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Paul Ashwin argued that the Office for Studentsâ proposed strategy put government priorities into the mouths of students.
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Ventriloquising the student interest
Paul Ashwin argues that the Office for Studentsâ proposed strategy puts government priorities into the mouths of students Paul Ashwin argues that the Office for Studentsâ proposed strategy puts government...
https://buff.ly/1AOBpkg
4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Students reflected on whether they had pursued rankings or combed through NSS spreadsheets when choosing universities, as Emmanouil Noikokyris and Emanuela Nova listened to and learned from the experiences of applicants.
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The secret life of university applicants
Are students perusing the rankings or combing through NSS spreadsheets when choosing universities? Emmanouil Noikokyris and Emanuela Nova listen to and learn from the experiences of applicants Are students...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Kulvinder Singh explored how vital the classroom was for commuter students' belonging in a context of increasing transactional approaches to education.
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The value of the classroom in building belonging for commuter students
Kulvinder Singh explores how vital the classroom is for commuter students' belonging in a context of increasing transactional approaches to education.
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: The Innovation and Research Caucus assessed what drove FEC recovery rates down and revealed what could be done about it. Stephen Roper and Tim Vorley presented the findings.
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Whatâs driving low levels of full economic cost recovery in research?
The Innovation and Research Caucus has been assessing what drives FEC recovery rates down, and what can be done about it. Stephen Roper and Tim Vorley present the findings The Innovation and Research...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Universities served purposes beyond market demands. Jim Dickinson asked if the pendulum between planning and markets swung back - and what it meant to protect student interests.
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DfE and OfS are running out of road on regulating a "free market" effectively
Universities serve purposes beyond market demands. Jim Dickinson asks if the pendulum between planning and markets is about to swing back - and what that should mean to protect student interests Universities...
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4 days ago
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NEW on Wonkhe: As Serbia's student-led protest movement clears its first anniversary, Jim Dickinson reflects on a year of blockades, sonic weapons, and a new grammar of protest that defies easy categorisation
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Brooke Storer-Church and Ben Vulliamy argued that the government needed to address the limitations of competitive pressures in the sector to secure the financial stability and long-term impact of higher education.
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The era of hyper competition between universities needs to end
Brooke Storer-Church and Ben Vulliamy argue that the government should address the limitations of competitive pressures in the sector to secure the financial stability and long-term impact of higher education.
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: We were not the only country caught in debates about free speech on campus. Jim Dickinson and Mack Marshall reported back from their bus tour of Central Europe to discover how others resolved the tensions.
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Resolving the tensions in campus culture requires leadership from within
We're not the only country caught in debates about free speech on campus. Jim Dickinson and Mack Marshall report back from their bus tour of Central Europe to discover how others are resolving the tensions
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: The Office for Students published its investigation into the University of Sussex, which led to a record fine of nearly ÂŁ600,000 for failing to uphold free speech and academic freedom.
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Sussex fined almost ÂŁ600k over free speech
The Office for Students has published its investigation into the university that employed Kathleen Stock. Jim Dickinson explains the record fine and the potential fallout The Office for Students has published...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Jim Dickinson reviewed what happened with the great boomer wealth transfer and explained why it destroyed the social mobility power of higher education.
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Social mobility is about to die â and university won't help
Jim Dickinson reviews what's about to happen with the great boomer wealth transfer â and why it will destroy the social mobility power of HE Jim Dickinson reviews what's about to happen with the great...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Jim Dickinson explored whether a better student academic experience was possible with fewer academic staff, showcasing how one university adapted to significant cuts in innovative ways.
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With the power of knowledge â for the world
Is it possible to have a better student academic experience with fewer academic staff? Probably not, but Jim Dickinson looks north to see how one university handled savage cuts in fascinating ways Is...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: International students were misled by false promises from recruitment agents, while constant changes to visa terms and post-study work arrangements represented a much deeper deception.
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Itâs the Home Office thatâs misselling UK higher education
International students may be being misled by false promises from recruitment agents. But for Michael Salmon, constant changes to visa terms and post-study work arrangements represent a much deeper deception
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Johnny Rich did not celebrate a 14 percent increase in engineering applications in the latest UCAS data, as sector capacity failed to rise in tandem.
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More engineering applications don't make for more engineers
Johnny Rich won't be celebrating a 14 per cent increase in engineering applications in the latest UCAS data - because sector capacity hasn't risen to match
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: A national review found a raft of issues in how universities previously prevented and learned from student suicides, leading to evaluations of whether voluntary urges for change were ever sufficient.
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A review of student suicides suggests that standards are now necessary
A national review has found a raft of issues in the way that universities prevent and learn from student suicides. Jim Dickinson evaluates whether voluntary urges for change will ever be enough.
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: The student experience crossed a troubling threshold, as student numbers rose by 15.5 percent while their term time employment hours soared by an astonishing 79.6 percent.
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The student experience is beyond breaking point
Student numbers over the decade are up 15.5 per cent, but their term time hours in employment are up 79.6 per cent. Reviewing this year's Student Academic Experience Survey, Jim Dickinson works out who...
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4 days ago
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Best of 2025: Antony Moss, Charlotte Ransom, Charlotte Adams, and Matt Myles-Brown shared how they challenged traditional assumptions about assessment fairness by abolishing penalties for late work.
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Trusting students and reducing barriers by abolishing penalties for late work
Antony Moss, Charlotte Ransom, Charlotte Adams,and Matt Myles-Brown share how they challenged traditional assumptions about assessment fairness
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4 days ago
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