For older teenagers, the COVID-19 pandemic has come at a key moment in the transition to adulthood. In “normal” times, this age group are becoming more independent and are taking steps towards their futures – sitting exams, beginning new studies, and entering the workforce. In 2020, things have been rather different. In this blog Dr […]
Augar and higher education in Greater Manchester
In this blog, Andy Westwood, Vice Dean for Social Responsibility in the Faculty of Humanities and Professor of Government Practice looks at what the recommendations within the Augar Review could mean for Greater Manchester. Many news headlines on the recent Augar Review focused on tuition fee cuts and extended repayment terms. But alongside those recommendations […]
What do the general election manifestos mean for higher education?
As people up and down the country prepare to return to the polls for Thursday’s general election, Dr Sylvie Lomer reviews the manifestos and what they mean for higher education policy. The Conservatives want to create institutes of technology and review funding and access to tertiary education Labour would abolish tuition fees, reintroduce maintenance grants […]
Universities must listen to working class voices in the debate on social mobility
Earlier this month, the award-winning social leadership charity RECLAIM launched their new report into social mobility in higher education. ‘Educating All’ is the result of a youth-led research project which enables working class young people to explore the barriers faced at some of the top universities in the country. One of the report’s authors, Martha […]
Public engagement must not be a soft option
In the wake of the Brexit vote, universities must redouble their efforts to demonstrate how they are using public money to improve society and people’s lives, argues Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. Universities must do more to encourage, support and reward public engagement. As public institutions in receipt of millions of pounds of taxpayer funds, this […]
Success as a Knowledge Economy? It’s Complicated
The Government announced its higher education reform plans this week, publishing a white paper ‘Success as a Knowledge Economy’. But will it really deliver a better deal for students and is it making an already complex system even more so, asks Andy Westwood? Let’s begin with the title. Every part of it is contested in […]
Huge changes in education on way, says Willetts
The next generation will see greater changes in education than we have seen over the previous 500 years, says Lord David Willetts, the former Minister for Universities and Science. Jim Pendrill reports. Delivering the keynote address at the start of Policy Week on how emerging technology will impact education, Willetts began by questioning whether the […]
A Tale of Two Speeches?
What does the Conservative election victory mean for the North of England and higher education? Professor Andy Westwood interprets the signals. Just in case you didn’t know, the Northern Powerhouse is ‘GO’ and was confirmed in today’s Queens Speech. George Osborne reaffirmed his commitment to the idea almost immediately after he and the Conservatives won […]