The Wonkhe Show

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

This week on our final show before the summer break, Labour is to introduce a Skills England bill - we discuss what might be in it, and everything else that was (and wasn’t) in the King’s speech.Plus the QAA has published its investigation into international foundation years, and DK has been making music again.With Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive at Universities UK, Aaron Porter, Chair of the Board at BPP University, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe. 

This week on the podcast the new government is shaping up - we check if it’s ship shape. Plus it's been NSSmass so we’ll work out the impact, and we’ve got new research on academic support.With Jess Lister, Associate Director (Education) at Public First, Alex Favier, Founder and Director at Favier Ltd,  David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.What can the NSS can tell us about staff pay?National Student Survey 2024Who is Jacqui Smith?Listening to what students say in the national student surveyWhat academics want from academic supportOnce you can describe an academic support system, you can begin to evaluate itHow universities are thinking about academic supportFive free(ish) things Labour could do on R&DThirty seven things Labour should do now to make things better for studentsA look at Labour’s in-tray for higher educationThe unofficial reintroduction to Patrick VallanceThe Kerslake Collection looks forward to a refreshed civic agenda for universities

This week on the podcast the party leaders have spoken out on student living cost support - did they have anything to say, and if not why not? Plus the OIA has a fresh batch of complaints to learn from, there's two new reports on international expansion, and DK has some red hot quality news.With Michelle Morgan, Dean Of Students at University of East London, Mark Bennett, Director (Audience & Insight) at Find A University, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

This week on the podcast we have new research out on cost of living and its impact on the student experience. With no time, will students get the skills and confidence they were promised? Plus there's new public polling out on the salience of universities, the election rumbles on and Debbie's going back to the 90s.With Paul Greatrix, Registrar at University of Nottingham, Ed Marsh, Chief Executive Officer at the Tutor Trust, and Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.

This week on the podcast all the major parties have their manifestos out for the General Election. What's in there for students or universities? Plus the Student Academic Experience Survey for 2024 is out, and staff-student relationships are in the news.With Jonathan Grant, Director at Different Angles, Alex Stanley, Vice President Higher Education-elect at the National Union of Students, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

This week on the podcast we talk about potential HE policy after the election – could a tuition fee rise be on the cards in England if Labour wins? Plus various sector organisations have their manifestos out, and we go over the Conservatives’ plan to cull “Mickey Mouse” low-value courses.With Pam Macpherson Barrett, Head of Policy and Regulation at the University of Leeds, Chris Shelley, Director of Student Experience at Queen Mary University of London, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.