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Russell Group
@russellgroup.bsky.social
620 followers 150 following 220 posts
The Russell Group represents 24 universities located across the UK.

We work to advance and champion the positive economic, societal & cultural impacts of UK research-intensive universities.

russellgroup.ac.uk
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russellgroup.bsky.social
How can the Budget harness university strengths to deliver for the UK?

🔬protect core R&D capabilities
💷 boost growth by helping universities invest with businesses
❌consult on fee levy to avoid unintended consequences for opportunity

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/submiss...
"our universities have a pivotal role to play in accelerating the UK's industrial capacity" - Russell Group Budget Submission, Autumn 2025.
November 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
Yesterday we joined the Education Select Committee at @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social as part of their inquiry into university funding.

It was great to have the opportunity to discuss challenges facing the sector - & how we can best ensure universities continue to support students & drive growth.
Representatives of the university sector meet members of the House of Commons Education Select Committee at the University of Warwick.
November 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
Key disciplines for Russell Group US partnerships include fields central to the new UK-US technology partnership.

Medicine, engineering, computer science – all were identified by universities as critical to their collaborations now, and in the future.
Graph highlighting survey responses on research themes important to Russell Group university R&D collaborations with partners in the US. Engineering and technology is the most popular research area identified, followed by computing and subjects allied to medicine.
October 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
[3/5]

Since 2010 the real-terms value of QR has fallen by 16.5%.

It's now at its lowest real-terms value since 2021/22.

Equivalent funding streams in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have seen even steeper deterioration.
Line graph showing the real-terms decline of QR funding since 2010/11
September 15, 2025 at 11:51 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
[4/4]

And this work is paying off - 80% of Russell Group graduates are in skilled employment 15 months after they graduate, and 87% work in growth-driving industrial strategy sectors.

Learn more about what our universities offer ➡️ www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/graduat...
Statistics showing 80% of Russell Group graduates are in skilled employment fifteen months after they graduate; 87% of Russell Group first-degree graduate in employment work in growth-driving industrial strategy sectors; and demand for those education beyond a bachelor's degree will increase 53% between 2023 and 2025.
August 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
🗣️ Dr Hollie Chandler, Director of Policy, commented on the updated modelling and what it means for the sector's contributions to government's broader missions.

Find out more about our latest analysis here ➡️ russellgroup.ac.uk/news/univers...
“Universities have the right combination of quality teaching, student support, science and research power, and global and local connections, to make a huge contribution to social mobility and national and regional economic growth. But the gap between the funding we receive, and the cost of delivering these vital activities, could prevent the sector from fulfilling its full potential.
July 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
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At the same time, UK universities received an average of 67% of the cost of research from funders in 2023/24, down from 76% in 2015/16.

This all leads to universities investing more of their own money into publicly-funded research: up from £3.9bn in 2016/17 to £6.2bn in 2023/24.
July 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
🧑‍🎓 This is accompanied by a fall in per-student funding delivered via the Strategic Priorities Grant, which declined by 19% from 2018/19 to 2025/26.

The impact of reduced income and increased costs means the overall sector deficit on teaching UK students hit £2bn in 2023/24.
July 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
📉 The value of tuition fees has fallen over time, declining by around 26% since 2017.

Maximum UG fees are now worth just two-thirds of their value in real terms - an estimated £6,700 compared to the sticker-price of £9,535.
July 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
🩺As the govt unveils a new 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS today, our Chief Executive Dr Tim Bradshaw welcomes the "milestone moment" and explains why universities are a vital partner in making the plan a success.

Read our full response ➡️ www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/governm...
Quote from Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group “Universities stand ready to help government realise [its] ambitions, and want to work in close partnership to deliver the shift to a digital-first, innovation-led NHS. “Universities are already delivering teaching and research that will be crucial to the success of the 10 Year Plan, but we know with the right support – including stable and predictable funding – they could go further, to expand training and deliver more ground-breaking innovations that transform patient care.
July 3, 2025 at 9:09 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
Universities and the NHS - a partnership for the future 🤝

Ahead of the govt's 10 Year Plan for the NHS, heads of some of our medical & dentistry departments met with MPs this week to discuss the role of universities in the NHS workforce and the importance of clinical academics.
Russell Group staff, deans of medical schools and Labour MPs at a meeting
July 2, 2025 at 9:58 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
TRAC data shows the proportion of research costs covered by external funders has decreased over time.

In 2022/23, on average UK universities received 69% of the cost of their research from all funders, down from 75% in 2015/16.

2/4
July 1, 2025 at 9:56 AM
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Russell Group facilities like @bristoluni.bsky.social's Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre are helping entrepreneurs turn tech breakthroughs in growth sectors into new businesses that are driving growth across the UK.

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/brist...

#IndustrialStrategy
June 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
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New: our CEO Dr Tim Bradshaw has announced he is planning to step down at Easter next year.

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/russell...
Dr Tim Bradshaw: “The UK is incredibly fortunate to have so many genuinely world-class universities contributing to its economy, knowledge base, culture and communities right across the country. However, that cannot be taken for granted. Financial, regulatory and other pressures are weighing heavily on the sector, and research-intensive universities are not immune. "From developments in social policy to advanced engineering, from city-scale regeneration projects to AI skills, the UK needs its universities more than ever, so this will be a challenging but also very exciting time for my successor.”
June 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
Next week the government is expected to set out plans for a new Industrial Strategy based around high growth sectors like life sciences & advanced manufacturing.

Russell Group universities are a key delivery partner for govt in these crucial areas of the economy🧵

#IndustrialStrategy
Four engineers working in an advanced manufacturing facility.
June 19, 2025 at 11:24 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
🗣️our CEO Dr Tim Bradshaw responds to the Spending Review:

“As details are confirmed on how funding will be delivered it’s vital that we see UKRI’s core budget protected with robust investment in the pipeline of discovery-led research"

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/respons...
Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group: “It is encouraging to hear the Chancellor today confirming plans to boost innovation to help new businesses start up and scale up, and to build the UK’s AI and computing capabilities. The 20-fold expansion of the AI Research Resource and confirmed funding for a world-leading supercomputer are very welcome investments in critical infrastructure for the UK. The Chancellor also signalled that research and innovation will be front and centre of the government’s Industrial Strategy, with investment to drive growth in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green energy and life sciences. “As details are settled on how the funding will be delivered, it’s vital that we see UKRI’s core budget protected, with robust investment in the pipeline of discovery-led research and support to commercialise new technologies and ideas. This will be crucial to creating new industries, leveraging private investment and delivering high-value jobs across the country."
June 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
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🗣️@sheffielduni.bsky.social international graduate & COO of Future Greens Gabrielė Barteškaitė:

“We’re inventing a new way to grow food, independent of the climate”

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/futur...

#WeAreInternational
May 22, 2025 at 8:34 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
International graduate Dr Johnson Fernandes, from India, used expertise gained studying for his PhD at
@newcastleuni.bsky.social to set up Equiwatt - a business with an energy-saving app that helps people cut electricity bills.

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/equiw...
May 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
International @uniofmanchester.bsky.social graduate Vivek Koncherry's business develops & produces premium green products using advanced 2D materials, including graphene-enhanced GIM Concrete that does not need cement or water.

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/graph...
Vivek Koncherry, founder of Graphene Innovations Manchester.
May 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
What links seaweed-based plastic alternatives & organic salad grown through hi tech vertical farming?

They are both products developed by businesses founded by graduates who came to the UK as international students.

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/policy/polic...
Rodrigo Garcia, international graduate of Imperial and co-founder of Notpla.
May 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
International graduate Dr Johnson Fernandes, from India, used expertise gained studying for his PhD at @newcastleuni.bsky.social to set up Equiwatt - a business with an energy-saving app that helps people cut electricity bills.

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/equiw...
May 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
🗣️ @sheffielduni.bsky.social international graduate & COO of Future Greens Gabrielė Barteškaitė:

“We’re inventing a new way to grow food, independent of the climate”

Find out more:

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/impact/futur...
May 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
Joanna Burton, Head of Policy (HE), joined colleagues from our member universities and @microsoft.com at @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social's AI forum last week - for some great discussions about the ways AI could transform our sector and the challenges we can tackle together.
warwick.ac.uk/newsandevent...
April 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
russellgroup.bsky.social
[6/6] Find out more about the positive impact our 24 universities are having across the UK: t.co/BdfAcDjs7C
A group of young apprentices at work
April 9, 2025 at 1:37 PM
russellgroup.bsky.social
[1/6] Yesterday our Director of Policy, Dr Hollie Chandler, gave evidence to the House of Commons Education Committee on the financial challenges facing the higher education sector.

Watch the full session here and read some of the key points below 🧵

t.co/xkkLTHeza7
Hollie Chandler, Russell Group, delivering evidence at the Education Committee
April 9, 2025 at 1:37 PM