The Wonkhe Show

This week on our final proper show before the break, we’ve published polling on students experience of earning while learning - is a return to “full time” study possible? Plus OfS has a new strategy, the OIA has some learning from complaints, and we look ahead to the 2025 spending review.With Shahid Omer, Director of Policy at Universities UK, Diana Beech, Chief Executive Officer at London Higher, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. And keep an ear out over the break for a special edition of the show.Latest from Belong – students are earning, but what are we learning?Every student on every placement should be paid for their labourThe realities of student transferThe OIA rides to the rescue on university restructuresComplex and insufficient – Scottish student income doesn’t match the expenditureThe Office for Students’ proposed new strategy for 2025–30

This week on the podcast there’s budget news from both Wales and Scotland - why are governments finding it so hard to stick to commitments on student financial support? Plus OfS has temporarily “closed” its register as the financial crisis intensifies, and Radio 4’s File on Four has been looking at international recruitment.With Beccy Freeman, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at University of Warwick, Jonathan Grant, Director at Different Angles, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.File on 4: The International Student ScandalWe need to look at representation ratios as well as awarding gapsHate to say we told you soIt’s time for a legislative response to student suicideAnother brutal budget in Scotland – for universities and studentsWales ditches Diamond and robs students to pay universitiesOfS temporarily closes entry to the register

This week on the podcast the government is to “get Britain working” - but what role will higher education play in the plans? Plus there are big divides between international and home students in this year’s PTES, and proposals for a transformation fund to help universities change what they do and how they work.With Shane Chowen, Editor at FE Week, Roscoe Hastings, Director of Teaching Excellence and Enhancement at University of Exeter, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, MIke Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Getting Britain Working (except for students, as usual)How skills, careers, and industrial policy fit togetherA higher education transformation fund would catalyse university reformAnother year, another PTESWorld Skills

This week on the podcast the sector’s financial woes continue - just how bad is it and are regulators on top of the problem? Plus there’s a new report out on subject cold spots, and student housing is back in the news.With Gavan Conlon, leader of the Education and Labour Market teams at London Economics, Sally Burtonshaw, Director of the Education Practice at Public First, James Coe, Associate 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.Do we need a league table of scholars produced by Silicon Valley?There are cold spots in arts, humanities, and social sciences provisionIs it reasonable to expect higher education institutions to be more business-like?Governing bodies need to prepare and plan now for a different futureVAT is not always the barrier to shared services that it is thought to beUniversities need a plan to manage future HE provision. So does the governmentThe regulator does not have a handle on the financial state of English higher education

This week on the podcast live from the Festival of Higher Education in London, England is grappling with Labour’s longer-term aspirations for higher education - we try to figure out what it wants. OfS wants to silence the “boomers”, regional access and participation planning is coming and we dive into the history of our venue for the festival, Senate House.With Vicki Stott, Chief Executive Officer at the Quality Assurance Agency, Alistair Jarvis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Governance) at the University of London, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Alex Usher’s One Thought to Start Your DayHow to better understand students’ sense of belongingUniversities may be a priority for reform but they are not a priority for investmentSome providers are cutting financial support for students – with OfS’ blessingAccess and participation planning gains a regional dimensionBridget Phillipson has set out the government’s priorities for HE reform

This week on the podcast the Westminster government has announced a fee increase - but will it be enough, and can universities even impose it?Plus the government is on a “renewed drive for efficiency” in universities, and we consider the implications of the results of the US Election.With Brooke Storer-Church, Chief Executive Officer at GuildHE, Johnny Rich, Chief Executive at the Engineering Professors’​ Council and Push, 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.Bridget Phillipson increases fees by 3.1 per centAn increase in maintenance loans gets blunted by fiscal dragFees are going up to £9,535. Or are they?Seizing the current policy moment – from cost-savings to radical efficiencyCollaboration is already baked in to the sector, and we need to see more of itDeeper collaboration key to securing the future of UK higher education

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