The Wonkhe Show

This week on the podcast we pore over Rachel Reeves’ first budget and consider the implications for universities. We also think about students’ finances as bus fares and the minimum wage both rise. Plus OfS has been rattling its sabre on consumer rights—but is the sector taking any notice?With Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business at the University of Manchester, Mary Curnock Cook, serial sector non-exec and former UCAS CEO, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Everything in the Budget for higher educationStudent bus travel should be freeMore consumer rights cases emerge from OfS and NTSThe minimum wage is going up. Will maintenance loans rise to match it?The value of historyDfE to stop grading English schools based on proportion of Russell Group students

This week on the podcast student numbers are set to decline in England after 2030 - we discuss the implications. Plus rumours are swirling over next week’s budget, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has turned its attention to VC pay, and there’s a new report on international student perceptions of different destinations.With David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary at University of Glasgow, Selena Bolingbroke, Principal at the Building Crafts College, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.The demographic tide is turning, but university remains popularThe UK will need to do more to reassure international applicants if it wants to remain a first choice destinationTPA: University Rich List 2024

This week on the podcast we look at the latest graduate recruitment trends as the Institute of Student Employers reveals a 60 per cent surge in applications per vacancy.Plus OfS is to survey the prevalence of sexual misconduct, and there’s new NSS data on satisfaction by student characteristic.With Julie Sanders, Vice Chancellor and Principal at Royal Holloway, University of London, Joe Cooper, Director of People and Culture at University of East London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.What does the graduate jobs market look like right now?A league table on sexual misconduct could be comingNSS 2024 – results by student characteristicsRoyal Holloway's Campus Unity WeekThe Finnish Student Health and Wellbeing Survey (KOTT)

This week on the podcast it’s possible to predict a student’s wellbeing using mental health analytics - but what are the ethics and implications? Plus Labour’s new legislation for improving the rental market has been discussed in Parliament, Hidden History looks at a push for higher technical skills, and there’s going to be a new International Education Strategy - we discuss what should be in it.With Ben Jordan, Director of Strategy at UCAS, Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Director at Unite Students, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Data can help predict where students are struggling with wellbeingWon’t somebody think of the landlords?Ten things that could feature in a new International Education StrategyUniversities can build trust through creative public engagement 

This week on the podcast Universities UK’s much anticipated “blueprint for change” is out – is a new 70 per cent participation target the right one?Plus The Times reports that fees might be going up, Hidden History recalls university leaders trying to get the attention of government, and Keir Starmer has been in Brussels – will he give way on fees and youth mobility?With Rose Stephenson, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Higher Education Policy Institute, Andy Youell, HE data and systems specialist, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.A bluffer’s guide to the Universities UK blueprint for HE policy under LabourA blueprint for change needs students at its centreUniversities UK has a plan to fix research fundingFees of £10,500 would be a return to the policies of 2017The poverty gap between students and the universities they attend is getting widerStudents have unrealistic expectations of the financial support universities can offer themStarmer vows to turn page on UK’s relationship with the EU

This week on the podcast Team Wonkhe has been at Labour Conference in Liverpool - we discuss what was and wasn’t said about higher education.Plus there’s news on skills (and in particular Level 7 apprenticeships), Hidden History looks at how HE came to be publicly funded, and Wales’ new tertiary regulator has a plan.With Pam Macpherson Barrett, Head of Policy and Regulation at the University of Leeds, Aaron Porter, Chair at BPP University and Deputy Chair at Goldsmiths, University of London, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s, University of London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.Students should expect less of universities and more of everyone elseMore sharp suits than a Burton’s windowThe Jacqui Smith doctrineWho should pay for relief for students and universities?A strategic plan for Medr

This week on the podcast bits of the UUK blueprint on funding the sector have emerged - we evaluate what’s emerged so far. Plus we ask whether closure of courses at ABA is a coalmine canary, a debate is hotting up over workload and Hidden History dives into the duopoly.With Ben Ward, Chief Executive at University of Manchester Students’ Union, Meg Price, Senior Policy Manager at Public First, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Universities will be told to “double down” on sharing thingsWhy do we all work such long hours?Staff are working dangerously long hours, and their employers should be concernedPreventing staff burnout makes financial as well as compassionate senseApplied Business Academy to close all higher education coursesThe NHS productivity puzzle: Why has hospital activity not increased in line with funding and staffing?Tomorrow’s teachers: A roadmap to get Gen Z into the classroom

This week on the podcast over the summer the government paused implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act - but should it have, and what will happen next? Plus international visa application data for August is out, Hidden History looks at the competition to be old, and a younger generation is doing less well than their parents.With Chris Husbands, Director at Higher Futures, Steph Harris, Director of Strategy, Insight and Member Engagement at Universities UK, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University, and presented by Mar Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.Nobel laureates join campaign to save university free speech actAugust student visa applications are down 17 per cent on last yearThe future of higher and degree apprenticeships under LabourWould the free speech act have ushered in antisemitism?

This week on the podcast the Westminster government has broken its silence on university funding - but did it say anything?Plus OfS has been pitch-rolling on franchising, Hidden History looks back when universities had their own MPs, and there’s new research on digital student experience.With Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director at the Association of Heads of University Administration, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George's University and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Jacqui Smith's speech at the Universities UK conferenceOfS’ insight on the risks of franchising fall short at addressing the incentivesStudents are still facing issues accessing essential digital services