This week on the podcast we examine the results of the Office for Students’ first sector-wide survey on sexual misconduct. With over 50,000 responses from final-year undergraduates, the data provides a stark picture of prevalence, reporting, and staff-student relationships in higher education. But with only sector-level results released, questions remain about transparency, accountability, and the regulator’s approach to such a sensitive issue.

Plus we discuss the politics and potential consequences of a proposed levy on international student fees – a policy idea that could reshape funding, recruitment, and the UK’s global competitiveness. And we take stock of warnings from the Institute of Physics about possible closures of departments and courses, asking what this says about funding for high-cost subjects and the sector’s capacity to manage contraction and change.

With Charlotte Corrish, Head of Public Policy at the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, Mark Bennett, Vice President Research and Insight at Keystone Education Group, and David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.

The “regulatory burden” on sexual misconduct needs to lift the weight from students

What OfS’ data on harassment and sexual misconduct doesn’t tell us

IOP: Quarter of UK university physics departments risk closure as funding crisis bites

Public First: Counting the cost – Modelling the economic impact of a potential levy on international student fees

This week on the podcast we examine the Office for Students' proposed overhaul of England's quality system, as radical reforms seek to integrate the Teaching Excellence Framework with minimum standards and give TEF some serious teeth.

Plus we discuss the government's long-awaited "Hillsborough law" as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill imposes new duties of candour on universities, and examine the machinery of government changes that have seen apprenticeships policy and Skills England transferred from the Department for Education to Pat McFadden's expanded Department for Work and Pensions.

With Andrea Turley, Partner at KPMG, Shane Chowen, Editor at FE Week, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

TEF6: the incredible machine takes over quality assurance regulation

Reputation versus sunlight – universities and the new duty of candour

What Ofsted inspections reveal about university leadership and culture

A machinery of government muddle over skills

The former student leaders entering Parliament

This week on the podcast we examine Universities UK's efficiency and transformation taskforce report. What do shared back-office services, federation models and subject cold spots tell us about the sector's financial pressures?

Plus we discuss Research England's new EDI action plan, and explore whether the UK's rapid three-year degree model is harming student wellbeing and learning outcomes.

With Rille Raaper, Associate Professor in Sociology of Higher Education at Durham University, Jess Lister, Director (Education) at Public First, Mack Marshall, Community and Policy Officer at Wonkhe SUs, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Our drop-out and pace miracle is harming students’ health and learning

Universities UK’s new era of collaboration

Fixing the potholes in postgraduate funding

The spending review is a critical moment for UK science and innovation

There are better politics, big ideas, and future trade-offs in Research England’s new EDI action plan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

This week on the podcast results of the Teaching Excellence Framework are out - but what do they tell us, and how helpful are they for students?

Plus there’s a new report on university staff and skills development and a “new deal” for PGRs has arrived. 

With Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of Education Practice at Public First, Anne-Marie Canning, Chief Executive Officer at The Brilliant Club, Debbie McVitty, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This week on the podcast Labour’s plans to turn the apprenticeship levy into a “Growth and Skills Levy” get more detail - but what will it all mean for HE?

Plus David Willetts has been looking back at his “eight great technologies”, and the debate over reforms to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) rumbles on.

With Shân Wareing, Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Northampton, Ashley Storer-Smith, Student Voice Manager at University of Nottingham Students’​ Union, 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.

This week on the podcast the 2023 Student Academic Experience Survey is out, and it finds that more students are in paid employment than ever before. Does that matter?

Plus the marking and assessment boycott is picking up pace, and the Lifelong Loan Entitlement has been in the Lords - we wonder where the demand is.

With Carole-Anne Upton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Innovation and Impact, Middlesex University, Ben Vulliamy, Chief Executive at University of York Students’ Union, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast the Future Research Assessment Programme (FRAP) has reported - we discuss whether its recommendations will fix the issues that researchers raise.

Plus there’s a new report out on awarding gaps, there’s advice on recruiting international students and English studies is in better health than we thought.

With Omar Khan, Director at TASO, Sally Burtonshaw, Associate Director Education at Public First, Livia Scott, SUs Community and Policy Officer at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we examine the OfS penalty imposed on Leeds Trinity over subcontractual partnerships oversight. What does the £115,000 fine and a new proposed code of “ethical” governance tell us about decision-making at the top?

Plus we discuss the government's decision to axe level 7 apprenticeships from levy funding, and explore incoming OfS chair Edward Peck's ten trends shaping the future of campus universities.

With Alex Stanley, Vice President for Higher Education at the National Union of Students, Pam Macpherson Barrett, Head of Policy and Regulation at the University of Leeds, David Kernohan, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.

Poor quality teaching and student outcomes. But where?

The new OfS chair identifies ten trends

A code of ethical university governance is overdue

Should governance reform be horizontal or vertical?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast duty of care has been discussed in Parliament - and we examine the implications.

Plus there’s media interest in UK from across the pond, we’ve been getting all interdisciplinary and there’s revised guidance out on students as consumers.

With Jonathan Grant, Director at Different Angles, India Ellis, President at Lancaster University Students’ Union, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special half term episode of the show, Wonkhe's Editor in Chief Mark Leach chats to Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles. 

In a wide ranging discussion the pair talk Wales’ new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, fees funding and finance, the character of regulation and governance in Wales, Miles’ vision for students as citizens and how the new commission will drive progress on widening access. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast net immigration stats are out - will stopping the dependants of PGT students from getting visas be the end of restrictions?

Plus reform for renters in England is causing a headache in the student housing market, and OfS is upping its fees by 20 per cent - whatever happened to value for money?

With Chris Skidmore, Net Zero Review Chair and MP for Kingswood, Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice at The University of Manchester, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast student suicides and a duty of care have been discussed in Parliament - but would such a duty help or hinder in efforts to support students?

Plus Cabinet wranglings over immigration policy and international students continue, and we discuss whether the sector should wade in or deftly avoid controversies over issues like student drug use.

With Sue Rigby, Vice Chancellor at Bath Spa University, Andy Youell, Executive Director Digital and Regulation at University College of Estate Management, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast to mark Eurovision week we have a special episode featuring Bram Van Uden, who’s President of the SU at Twente University in the Netherlands. We chat project-based learning, building belonging and community and what the world’s biggest student case competition on campus says about this fascinating institution.

Presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast Keir Starmer has U-turned over student fees and finance - but what should Labour’s policy be if not free education?

Plus support for PGRs is in the news, universities are frantically fundraising in a period of fiscal constraint, and disadvantaged students go on to be lower earning graduates - why?

With Selena Bolingbroke, Director at Sighthound Consultancy, Ben Ward, Chief Executive at University of Manchester Students’ Union, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast there’s new data on the financial health of universities - we discuss how higher education is coping with inflation and frozen fees.

Plus we discover how much students are getting from universities in financial help, universities are leaving the CBI just as soon as people realised they were members, and there’s a new commitment out on improving accessibility for disabled students.

With Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, Mary Stuart, Director of Leadership Development at Minerva, 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.

This week on the podcast the Office of the Independent Adjudicator has published its annual report. Should we worry that it’s handled a record number of complaints?

Plus the Lords have beeling listening in on an apparent absence of student voice in the Office for Students, and the question of whether quality-related (QR) funding needs a root-and-branch review is in the air.

With Anthony Finkelstein, President at City, University of London, Smita Jamdar, Partner at Shakespeare Martineau, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final show before the Easter break, OfS has published the first Equality of Opportunity Risk Register for English HE. But are there some big risks missing?

Plus UCAS says we’ll soon have a million applicants, Wales is working towards better mental health and in response to news from Turnitin, plenty of people seem to want to turn it off.

With James Purnell, Vice Chancellor at University of the Arts London, Anne-Marie Canning, CEO at The Brilliant Club, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast there are new numbers out on the size and shape of higher education providers - is the sector growing international PGT too quickly?

Plus the robots are coming for our jobs and souls, and we mark neurodiversity celebration week.

With Nicola Dandridge, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Policy at University of Bristol, Joseph Cooper, Director of People and Culture at University of East London, 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.

This week on the podcast we examine the government's brutal funding cuts to universities. What does the £108m reduction in the Strategic Priorities Grant mean for higher education, and why are media studies and journalism courses losing their high-cost subject funding?

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit http://www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

Plus we discuss the independent review of student suicides, and explore new research on widening participation and regional disparities.

With Shân Wareing, Vice Chancellor at Middlesex University, Richard Brabner, Executive Chair at the UPP Foundation, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Why not take a risk-based approach to discrimination or harassment on campus?

Whatuni Student Choice Awards

For those in HE cold spots, higher education isn’t presenting as a good bet

A review of student suicides suggests that standards are now necessary

What have coroner’s reports said about student suicide?

A brutal budget for strategic priorities from the Department for Education

Why are we so embarrassed about Erasmus?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we’re live at our Secret Life of Students event in London where we hear from the Office for Students' Director for Fair Access and Participation John Blake, discuss belonging and community and its relationship to the rest of the student experience, and consider the impact of the cost of living crisis on different groups of students.

With Sally Burtonshaw, Associate Director (Education) at Public First, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar and sector historian, Eve Alcock, Head of Public Affairs at QAA, Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we’re getting a complete overhaul of student finance in England - but is there enough demand for modules of debt?

Plus the government has published its independent review of the research, development and innovation organisational landscape, there’s new polling on the public’s attitude to international students, and we’ve been working out where they’re living.

With Marian Hilditch, Academic Registrar at University of Bradford, Mark Bennett, Director Audience and Editorial at Find a University, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast 46 per cent of people would only choose to invest more in R&D when the UK economy is in better shape – does the fragility of public support matter?

Plus international student visas are up again, and so are dependants, and the Lords have been interrogating universities’ engagement with autocracies.

With Martin Jones, Vice Chancellor at Staffordshire University, Jess Lister, Associate Director Education at Public First, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast the Office for Students has new proposals out on harassment and sexual misconduct – but will they work in the way intended?

Plus Tony Blair and William Hague have ideas out on science and technology, there’s a new student living strategy in Nottingham and we explain the reclassification of FE colleges into the public sector.

With Paul Greatrix, Registrar at the University of Nottingham, Selena Bolingbroke, HE consultant, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, Andrew Bush, Director at KPMG and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast Nicola Sturgeon has resigned as leader of the SNP and Scotland’s First Minister - what kind of higher education legacy does she leave?

Plus student engagement with their studies may or may not have bounced back, and there’s a call to extend rather than cut the post-study work visa for international students.

With Mary Curnock Cook, Chair of the UPP Foundation’s Student Futures Commission, Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of the Education Practice at Public First, Sunday Blake, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark leach, Editor in Chief at Wonkhe.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Acast, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, RadioPublic, Podchaser, Castbox, Player FM, Stitcher, TuneIn, Luminary or via your favourite app with the RSS feed.     

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast the government has published its review of the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy. Are campuses really a breeding ground for extremism?

We also discuss this week’s reshuffle and its implications for HE, a new report on graduate outcomes and earnings, and try to understand what’s going on with the government’s short courses trial.

With Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive at Universities UK, Julie Sanders, Principal at Royal Holloway, University of London, David Kernohan, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we get across the government's new immigration white paper. What does cutting the graduate route visa from two years to 18 months mean for international students and universities? Plus we examine the proposed 6 per cent levy on international student fees and tighter compliance requirements that could put some institutions at risk.

We also discuss Skills Minister Jacqui Smith’s Telegraph op-ed criticizing universities for "losing sight of their responsibility to protect public money" – are her concerns reasonable?

With Smita Jamdar, Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau, Roscoe Hastings, Director of Teaching Excellence and Student Experience at the University of Exeter, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson.

Everything in the immigration white paper for higher education

There are lots of ways to be more transparent about university finances

Lessons from innovating in our student support model

Euro visions: A playbook to fight the populists in the Netherlands

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we discuss the government’s strategy on research and innovation and the Minister’s intervention on anti-semitism. Duncan Exley, former Director of the Equality Trust, has published a book scrutinising the UK’s social mobility problem and we chat Wonkhe's Car Parking Ranking.

With Luke Myer of Edge Hill Students’ Union; Sarah Barr-Miller of UCAS; and Wonkhe’s David Kernohan.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we discuss the Minister’s intervention on non-disclosure agreements and research, and get up to speed with the latest in the row over conditional unconditional offers. The Higher Education Policy Institute has a report on measuring wellbeing.

With Graeme Atherton, director of the National Education Opportunities Network; Kate Wicklow, policy manager at GuildHE; and Wonkhe’s Minto Felix.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we discuss the Office for Students' financial sustainability report. What do widespread course closures and maintenance cutbacks mean for the sector's future? Plus we examine "naming and shaming" over vice-chancellor pay packages when student outcomes fall short.

With Paul Greatrix, higher education expert and former registrar at the University of Nottingham, Graeme Atherton, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Regional Engagement at the University of West London, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.

OfS continues to sound the alarm on the financial sustainability of English higher education

Plotting VC pay against OfS progression

Are there secret government bailouts?

Survey shows how the sector is cutting spending

Hard raindrops keep falling on my head

With the power of knowledge – for the world

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.