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The UK's only independent think tank devoted to higher education.

Nick Hillman

  • Can generalist Whitehall match specialist HEFCE?

    2 November 2015

    Rumours of the demise of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (established in 1992) continue to grow. HEPI will have more to say about the Government’s overall approach to higher education – pros and cons – once the green paper is published in the next few days. But, for…

  • What might governing bodies ask their vice chancellors?

    18 October 2015

    This is an extract from a speech made by Nick Hillman, HEPI Director, to the Committee of University Chairs Autumn Plenary, held in central London on Friday, 16th October 2015. The instructions I have received for this event advise that ‘our most successful speakers are those who encourage the audience to reflect on what…

  • Students and the 2015 general election: Did they make a difference?

    15 October 2015 by Nick Hillman

    Before the 2015 election, it was believed students would play an important part in the result. They were the target of Labour’s commitment to reduce fees, and the NUS’s ‘Liar Liar’ campaign was aimed at politicians who had broken promises made at the previous election. Meanwhile, a new electoral registration…

  • Work hard, play hard: HEPI / UPP party conference events

    3 October 2015

    On Tuesday, 29th September 2015, HEPI co-hosted a roundtable discussion at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. It focused on some new research exploring students’ views on applying to higher education, alternatives to higher education and employability. A similar event will be taking place at the Conservative Party Conference in…

  • Now that’s what we call soft power: 55 world leaders educated in the UK

    1 October 2015

    HEPI has undertaken a small piece of desk research which reveals that 55 world leaders (Presidents, Prime Ministers and monarchs) from 51 countries attended higher-level education in the UK. Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), said: ‘The Home Office wants to restrict the number of foreigners coming to study…