The REF: can’t live with it, can’t live without it. That seems like a functional summary of the varied attitudes toward the Research Excellence Framework (REF) that exist within and across institutions. And in the 2023-24 academic year, there has been much ado and additional mixed responses around the new…
In a recent global report on green skills by LinkedIn, it was revealed that possessing one or more ‘green skills’ can increase the chance of getting hired by 29%. The number of jobs requiring at least one green skill has grown, but this demand is fundamentally outpacing the increase in…
University funding is not working. Funding for students’ courses has been falling consistently for the past decade. By 2026, it will be at its lowest level for over 25 years. At the same time, demand for going to university is increasing. This is good. We need more university graduates. But…
Forty years ago, a student at university in the UK paid no tuition fees, could receive a full maintenance grant and rarely felt in need of a paid job while studying. By contrast, many of today’s students are under increasing financial strain. The 2023 HEPI/Advance HE Student Academic Experience Survey…
There is a lot of discussion at the moment about AI and how we navigate this use of technology with our students. Technology Foundations for Twenty-First Century Higher Education , which is a collection of essays, edited by Mary Curnock Cook CBE and sponsored by LearningMate, brings together leading Edtech…
Since the 1980s, the landscape of higher education in the UK has undergone significant transformation, with the internationalisation of universities emerging as a central theme. This evolution, particularly in the context of international student recruitment, is often viewed through the lens of financial necessity and strategic financial planning. Yet, this…
Enter the inverted snob Last Wednesday, I set my first-year Creative Non-Fiction class the task of embarking on an experience that pushed them out of their comfort zones (safely, legally, and in accordance with their moral compasses, of course), and, in a show of solidarity, I foolishly promised them I…
A good university funding system for England should have three primary goals: Measured against these objectives, the system Tony Blair introduced 25 years ago – a time-limited and income-contingent graduate contribution towards the repayment of heavily-subsidised loans – is the least bad option. There is nothing wrong with the present…
The REF team recently announced updates on the development of People, Culture and Environment (PCE) for REF 2029 and opportunities for the research community to engage with the development of this aspect of the exercise. The REF has always been a shared endeavour with the sector and our focus continues…
As the custodians of academic inquiry, universities themselves are well-placed to take difficult decisions to secure free speech, academic freedom, and protection from harassment on campus. At a time when student protests are on the rise, new legislation and case law are emerging, and regulatory frameworks evolving, higher education leaders…