Wonkhe
@wonkhe.bsky.social
Home of the higher education debate
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Editor in Chief @markleach.bsky.social
www.wonkhe.com
Editor in Chief @markleach.bsky.social
Best of 2025: The discussions that took place aimed at balancing university fees and migration numbers showcased a renewed commitment to addressing youth issues post-Brexit, highlighting both challenges and opportunities that arose throughout the year.
University fees and migration numbers threaten Brexit reset youth deal
Talks also set to start on making touring easier for musicians and artists
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December 31, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Best of 2025: The discussions that took place aimed at balancing university fees and migration numbers showcased a renewed commitment to addressing youth issues post-Brexit, highlighting both challenges and opportunities that arose throughout the year.
Best of 2025: Prof Alice Sullivan claimed that the University of Bristol failed to protect her right to freedom of expression after a protest disrupted her gender lecture.
Academic ‘prepared to take legal action’ after gender lecture disrupted at Bristol University
Prof Alice Sullivan claims university failed to protect her right to freedom of expression after protest at event
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December 31, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Best of 2025: Prof Alice Sullivan claimed that the University of Bristol failed to protect her right to freedom of expression after a protest disrupted her gender lecture.
Best of 2025: The debates over higher education funding focused on fees and maintenance, but events in 2025 revealed significant underlying issues as Jim Dickinson explored the complexities of governmental financial strategies in higher education.
The government's in a pickle over fees and funding
Debates over higher education funding tend to focus on fees and maintenance - but what’s going on beneath the surface? Jim Dickinson goes down the watering hole Debates over higher education funding...
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December 31, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Best of 2025: The debates over higher education funding focused on fees and maintenance, but events in 2025 revealed significant underlying issues as Jim Dickinson explored the complexities of governmental financial strategies in higher education.
Best of 2025: The Department for Education (DfE) set out how it delivered on its promise to "raise the standards of teaching" in universities across England, as Jim Dickinson detailed the need for a thoughtful approach to funding and quality assurance in higher education.
Thirty ways for DfE to deliver the manifesto and raise the standards of teaching
Some day soon, DfE will need to set out how it's going to deliver on its promise to "raise the standards of teaching" in universities in England. Jim Dickinson sets aside the money for a minute Some day...
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December 31, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Best of 2025: The Department for Education (DfE) set out how it delivered on its promise to "raise the standards of teaching" in universities across England, as Jim Dickinson detailed the need for a thoughtful approach to funding and quality assurance in higher education.
Best of 2025: Gemma Ahearne showed how drawing on lived experience, playful pacing, and radical care kept students engaged and in the room.
From crisis to community: engaging students in post-pandemic classrooms
Gemma Ahearne shows how drawing on lived experience, playful pacing, and radical care keeps students engaged and in the room
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December 31, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Best of 2025: Gemma Ahearne showed how drawing on lived experience, playful pacing, and radical care kept students engaged and in the room.
Best of 2025: Commuter students were everywhere, often engaged and invaluable, but largely invisible. Susan Kenyon and Mack Marshall reflected on the insights that emerged from the commuter students series and formed an agenda for supporting commuters.
A change agenda for the commuter student experience
Commuter students are everywhere, are often engaged and invaluable but largely invisible. Susan Kenyon and Mack Marshall reflect on the insights that have emerged from the commuter students series and...
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December 31, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Best of 2025: Commuter students were everywhere, often engaged and invaluable, but largely invisible. Susan Kenyon and Mack Marshall reflected on the insights that emerged from the commuter students series and formed an agenda for supporting commuters.
Best of 2025: As the Office for Students published its investigation into a private provider that collapsed, the OIA's Charlotte Corrish raised questions about the protections for students when the student loans tap was turned off.
When tuition fee payments are suspended, what happens to students left behind?
As the Office for Students publishes its investigation into a private provider that collapsed, the OIA's Charlotte Corrish raises questions about protections for students when the student loans tap is...
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December 31, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Best of 2025: As the Office for Students published its investigation into a private provider that collapsed, the OIA's Charlotte Corrish raised questions about the protections for students when the student loans tap was turned off.
Best of 2025: Awarding gaps based on ethnicity were a concern in 2025, but the ways in which they were conceptualized, analyzed, and addressed proved to be far from perfect. Katharine Hubbard suggested a more nuanced approach.
It’s time to decolonise the awarding gap
Awarding gaps based on ethnicity are a concern, but the way we conceptualise analysing and addressing them are far from perfect. Katharine Hubbard suggests a more nuanced approach
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December 30, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Best of 2025: Awarding gaps based on ethnicity were a concern in 2025, but the ways in which they were conceptualized, analyzed, and addressed proved to be far from perfect. Katharine Hubbard suggested a more nuanced approach.
Best of 2025: It was explored why higher education institutions sought to grow home student numbers despite incurring losses on each, with Debbie McVitty analyzing the financial implications.
Filling their boots? The rationale for growing loss-making home student numbers
Why would a higher education institution seek to grow home student numbers when technically it makes a loss on each student? Debbie McVitty runs the numbers Why would a higher education institution seek...
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December 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Best of 2025: It was explored why higher education institutions sought to grow home student numbers despite incurring losses on each, with Debbie McVitty analyzing the financial implications.
Best of 2025: In World Autism Acceptance Month, Hannah Breslin and Jon Rowlands reflected on their experiences of sharing and adapting to their late autism diagnoses.
Everyone can play a role in removing barriers for autistic colleagues
It’s World Autism Acceptance Month, and Hannah Breslin and Jon Rowlands reflect on their experiences of sharing and adapting to their late autism diagnoses It’s World Autism Acceptance Month, and...
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December 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Best of 2025: In World Autism Acceptance Month, Hannah Breslin and Jon Rowlands reflected on their experiences of sharing and adapting to their late autism diagnoses.
Best of 2025: Paul Ashwin argued that the Office for Students’ proposed strategy put government priorities into the mouths of students.
Ventriloquising the student interest
Paul Ashwin argues that the Office for Students’ proposed strategy puts government priorities into the mouths of students Paul Ashwin argues that the Office for Students’ proposed strategy puts government...
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December 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Best of 2025: Paul Ashwin argued that the Office for Students’ proposed strategy put government priorities into the mouths of students.
Best of 2025: Paige Rivers explored the realities of being a student nurse and considered a renewed health agenda for government and the sector.
The labour of being a student nurse
Paige Rivers explores the realities of being a student nurse and considers a renewed health agenda for government and the sector.
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December 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Best of 2025: Paige Rivers explored the realities of being a student nurse and considered a renewed health agenda for government and the sector.
Best of 2025: Months of student-led protests in Serbia reached a climax, as Jim Dickinson reviewed the significant roles played by both "official" and "unofficial" student representatives amid the growing political unrest and challenges faced by the country.
Students are at the centre of a political uprising in Serbia. Again
As months of student-led protests come to a head in Serbia, Jim Dickinson reviews the role of both "official" and "unofficial" student representatives in the country's growing problems and protests As...
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December 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Best of 2025: Months of student-led protests in Serbia reached a climax, as Jim Dickinson reviewed the significant roles played by both "official" and "unofficial" student representatives amid the growing political unrest and challenges faced by the country.
Best of 2025: The five things universities did to cut costs, as outlined by David Kernohan, illustrated that despite the unique circumstances of each institution, financial challenges prompted similar strategies across the board.
The five things universities do to cut costs
Though every higher education provider is different, changes driven by financial problems start with five similar questions. David Kernohan asks them
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December 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Best of 2025: The five things universities did to cut costs, as outlined by David Kernohan, illustrated that despite the unique circumstances of each institution, financial challenges prompted similar strategies across the board.
Best of 2025: Young people in coastal and rural areas missed out on higher education. Graeme Atherton called for access work to reconnect with geography.
The widening access narrative must return to speaking about places
Young people in coastal and rural areas are missing out on higher education. Graeme Atherton calls for access work to reconnect with geography
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December 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Best of 2025: Young people in coastal and rural areas missed out on higher education. Graeme Atherton called for access work to reconnect with geography.
Best of 2025: The UK government launched a "gap year" scheme aimed at school and college leavers, providing a taste of military life in the Army, Royal Navy, or RAF without long-term commitment.
UK to offer military gap year in effort to boost recruitment
The paid 12-month course is aimed at under-25s, with plans for the scheme to grow to 1,000 young people a year.
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December 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Best of 2025: The UK government launched a "gap year" scheme aimed at school and college leavers, providing a taste of military life in the Army, Royal Navy, or RAF without long-term commitment.
Best of 2025: Reporting on focus groups with students in Nottingham for the UPP Foundation's latest report, Will Yates found a new belt-tightening normal.
Today’s students are scrimpers, not spendthrifts
Reporting on focus groups with students in Nottingham for the UPP Foundation's latest report, Will Yates finds a new belt-tightening normal
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December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Best of 2025: Reporting on focus groups with students in Nottingham for the UPP Foundation's latest report, Will Yates found a new belt-tightening normal.
Best of 2025: As universities were urged to provide support to struggling students, Jim Dickinson reviewed the evidence and found that the system of rapid graduate production had a key potential role in causing pressure and harm.
Our drop-out and pace miracle is harming students’ health and learning
As universities are again urged to provide support to struggling students, Jim Dickinson reviews the evidence - and finds our system of rapid graduate production a key potential cause of pressure and...
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December 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Best of 2025: As universities were urged to provide support to struggling students, Jim Dickinson reviewed the evidence and found that the system of rapid graduate production had a key potential role in causing pressure and harm.
Best of 2025: The government quietly revised its definition of a duty of care in universities, as Bob Abrahart argued it needed more clarity.
There's nothing certain about the circumstances when a duty of care applies to students
The government has quietly revised its definition of a duty of care in universities. Bob Abrahart argues it needs more clarity
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December 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Best of 2025: The government quietly revised its definition of a duty of care in universities, as Bob Abrahart argued it needed more clarity.
Best of 2025: An eye-catching headline about institutional governance got Simon Varwell thinking about the roles that students played.
A sea change in student partnership
An eye-catching headline about institutional governance gets Simon Varwell thinking about the roles that students play An eye-catching headline about institutional governance gets Simon Varwell thinking...
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December 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Best of 2025: An eye-catching headline about institutional governance got Simon Varwell thinking about the roles that students played.
Best of 2025: James Coe examined what could be done about those annoying, frustrating, slightly wrong, but not entirely terrible issues that accumulated to make for a bad student experience.
The rubbish bin theory of the student experience
James Coe takes a look at what can be done about those annoying, frustrating, slightly wrong, but not entirely terrible issues that accumulate to make for a bad student experience
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December 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Best of 2025: James Coe examined what could be done about those annoying, frustrating, slightly wrong, but not entirely terrible issues that accumulated to make for a bad student experience.
Best of 2025: The postgraduate population grew significantly, yet there was a noticeable lack of interest in regulating this area of higher education and ensuring equitable outcomes. Katharine Hubbard urged the sector to pay more attention.
Why aren’t we addressing inequity of outcomes for postgraduates?
The postgraduate population is growing, but there appears to be less interest in regulating this area of higher education, much less how equitable outcomes are. Katharine Hubbard asks the sector to pay...
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December 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Best of 2025: The postgraduate population grew significantly, yet there was a noticeable lack of interest in regulating this area of higher education and ensuring equitable outcomes. Katharine Hubbard urged the sector to pay more attention.
Best of 2025: Debbie McVitty argued that successful governance needed to manage tensions between the academic and business ends of institutions.
Higher education governance needs the conflict between academic and business imperatives to be successful
Debbie McVitty argues that successful governance needs to manage tensions between the academic and business ends of institutions
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December 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Best of 2025: Debbie McVitty argued that successful governance needed to manage tensions between the academic and business ends of institutions.
Best of 2025: A new DSIT report shed light on the connection between an unequal workforce and economic growth, revealing key insights from James Coe.
The economic cost of an unequal R&D workforce
A new DSIT report shines a light on the link between an unequal workforce and economic growth. James Coe has the details.
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December 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Best of 2025: A new DSIT report shed light on the connection between an unequal workforce and economic growth, revealing key insights from James Coe.
Best of 2025: Molly Pemberton reflected on how active student citizens successfully lobbied for improved transport for commuter students.
Students making changes on transport
Molly Pemberton reflects on how to create active student citizens to lobby for improved transport for commuter students.
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December 30, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Best of 2025: Molly Pemberton reflected on how active student citizens successfully lobbied for improved transport for commuter students.