Higher education retains a deep power to transform lives. But there are limits to university influence in conquering cultural prejudice and redressing systemic economic inequities, particularly as the UK continues to suffer from regional economic inequality and lagging productivity. The new Labour government has adopted “opportunity” as one of its five core missions and the structuring theme of its education policy. But as students struggle with meeting the costs of study and with their mental health, we’ll interrogate the existing assumptions around what education opportunity means and think through how higher education can continue to deliver it.
Economic growth is the centrepiece of Labour’s mission-led approach to government, and much of that growth will depend on the UK’s ability to realise the benefits of the knowledge capital developed in universities. How can higher education, research and innovation be more joined up with regional and national industrial and public services strategies to convert aspiration into reality?
The Wonkhe Show is your weekly way in to this week’s higher education news, policy and analysis. Join us for a live recording of the show, where we’ll be getting across the week’s policy developments and reflecting on highlights from the festival. Bring your lunch, and feel free to dip in and out. It’s all coming up!
The difficult decisions that institutional leaders and governors are making right now will determine the future shape and activity of the higher education sector including what courses are on offer, and what research is prioritised. Their ability to oversee change, build organisational capability, sustain external partnerships, and maintain the morale and motivation of their staff will determine whether the sector continues to thrive or whether it flounders in the years ahead. Our panel will assess whether the sector’s decision-makers have the right mix of skills, evidence, and values to make the best possible calls in challenging times.
As international geopolitics gets trickier and the world more dangerous the knowledge capital generated by UK universities has the potential to aid or hinder the furthering of international relations and global stability. Universities need to be well-informed of the risks of international collaboration, as well as being equipped to tackle global challenges in the context of political change. What kind of diplomatic capability do universities need and how can they best acquire it?
There are no easy answers on higher education funding, for students or institutions. There is little political consensus on the value of public funding, fees are also contentious, alternatives are niche and non-existent. The very real threat of an institution going bust has to be weighed against the moral hazard of a public programme of government bailouts. By the end of this session, the answers will be clear.*
*not guaranteed
Financial challenge means tougher times, and many higher education institutions are facing difficult decisions about staff structures, roles, and budgets. While national negotiations over pay, terms, and conditions continue, we discuss what is within universities’ control about the working experiences of higher education staff, and whether current higher education staffing arrangements are still fit for purpose.
The interim chair of the Office for Students and leader of the government’s review of the regulator “Fit for the Future” joins us to discuss his priorities for higher education regulation.
We will talk to Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), diving into immigration policy, data and evidence with the man who chairs the committee responsible for telling the government what the country needs from immigration.
Following on from our discussion with Brian Bell, our panel will explore what universities and government might do together to put international recruitment on a sustainable footing, with political and public support.