The much anticipated Universities UK (UUK) ‘Bluepring for Change’ (pdf) landed on Monday and presented the government with a mountain to climb. With many of our higher education institutions running substantial deficits, the blame lies at the door of the…
This week saw the release of a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) ‘Undergraduate fees revisited’ (pdf) that offers a fairer solution to the university funding crisis. Economist Tim Leunig, who is a former Chief Analyst at the…
The Labour conference finished today with an upbeat mood. However, the departing delegates in Liverpool have started to come to terms with the mountain the government must climb. Meanwhile, the universities ship was slowly sinking in full view in the…
The impending financial crisis affecting universities across the UK is not so much a ‘train crash’ but a slowly descending hot air balloon with no place to land. They will have to ‘rationalise’ their operations. But increasing the burden on…
Last week brought the results for examinations held across the UK. They represent pivotal points in a student’s career when critical decisions are made. They also reflect the stark social divide that permeates the UK. The existing attainment gaps between…
The Office for Students (OfS) has been under new leadership since yesterday as a review of its workings emerged with many recommendations in the pipeline. Both events make the OfS look like a ‘lame duck’, but it does not seem…
UPDATE: 2nd August 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves included something in her statement to the Commons on the ‘public spending inheritance’ this week that was drowned out by much of the rest of the bad news on spending. It turns out…
Some light was shone on the ‘darkness’ of government policies on universities. However, we are all waiting for all the lights to be switched on. There are big promises but little detail emerging yet. It appears Labour policy on university…
Today saw the government finally surface on the plight of students and universities. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson was interviewed on the BBC Today programme and the Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education, Jacqui Smith (aka Baroness Smith of…
Things are moving fast today as news of imminent university and course closures spreads. This was aided by a main headline article in the Sunday Times that added to a growing sense of urgency. The government is running out of…
