Share

cover art for Cuts, applications, campus climate

The Wonkhe Show

Cuts, applications, campus climate

Season 19, Ep. 4

This week on the podcast as news of further redundancies sweeps the sector, we ask how bad things can get before the government will act or the public notice.


Plus UCAS end of cycle applications data has arrived, there’s a new report on the campus encampments, and there’s data futures news to get across.


With Alex Stanley, Vice President for Higher Education at the National Union of Students, Eve Alcock, Director of Public Affairs at the Quality Assurance Agency, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe. 


An early look at 2023–24 financial returns shows providers working hard to balance the books.

Lessons for leaders from the campus encampments.

UCAS End of Cycle provider data, 2024.

Data futures, reviewed.


More episodes

View all episodes

  • 7. Wales cuts, mental health, regulation

    47:55||Season 19, Ep. 7
    This week on the podcast the Welsh government has announced £18.5m in additional capital funding for universities - but questions remain over reserves, job cuts, competition law and student protection. Meanwhile, new research reveals student mental health difficulties have tripled in the past seven years, and Universities UK warns that OfS’ new strategy risks expanding regulatory burden rather than focusing on priorities.With Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Manchester, Emma Maslin, Senior Policy and Research Officer at AMOSSHE, Livia Scott, Partnerships Coordinator at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.The government’s in a pickle over fees and fundingAs the cuts rain down in Wales, whatever happened to learner protection?Partnership and promises are not incompatibleStudent mental health difficulties are on the rise, and so are inequalities
  • 6. REF people and culture, spending review, apprenticeships

    42:06||Season 19, Ep. 6
    This week on the podcast universities failing to promote diversity will face funding cuts – so said The Times. We chat through the controversy building around the REF. Plus we look at what the sector is asking for in the spending review, and consider the government’s push for lower-level, shorter apprenticeships.With Shitij Kapur, Vice Chancellor and President at King's College London, Jess Lister, Director (Education) at Public First, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Universities UK submits to spending reviewThe barriers that must be removed for degree apprenticeships to meet NHS workforce targetsHigher education institutions have invested time, effort and money in level 7 apprenticeshipsSocieties that are humane are thoughtful about promoting equality, diversity and inclusionPredictably bad education
  • 5. Protection, visas, commuter students

    54:15||Season 19, Ep. 5
    This week on the podcast OfS is introducing new protections for some students - but will they come fast enough and who will they apply to? Plus a Lords committee says UK visa policy for scientists and researchers is an “act of national self-harm”, and we’ve launched a new article series on commuter students.With Omar Khan, Chief Executive at TASO, Charlotte Corrish, Head of Public Policy at the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkh and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.This week on the podcast OfS is introducing new protections for some students - but will they come fast enough and who will they apply to? Plus a Lords committee says UK visa policy for scientists and researchers is an “act of national self-harm”, and we’ve launched a new article series on commuter students.With Omar Khan, Chief Executive at TASO, Charlotte Corrish, Head of Public Policy at the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkh and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Fairness and protection for students is coming – but not for those that need it nowShaping higher education for commuter studentsFilling their boots? The rationale for growing loss-making home student numbersHonesty and accuracy is about to get even more importantFlow - Official TrailerOIA- Student transfersAnother way of thinking about the national assessment of people, culture, and environment
  • 3. Funding, attendance, student hardship

    51:03||Season 19, Ep. 3
    This week on the podcast Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith helped launch a pamphlet on whether universities are “worth it” - and was notably cold on extra money. But does she mean outlay or eventual return to the Treasury?Plus there’s changes afoot in Scotland, UKVI is cracking down on attendance for international students and students are still feeling the pinch financially - is a return to maintenance grants a lost possibility?With Ben Vulliamy, Executive Director at the Association of Heads of University Administration, Dani Payne, Senior Researcher at the Social Market Foundation, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.Jacqui Smith rules out (much) more money while her department assesses the impactsThe Scottish government wants its own post-study work offerA new funding body landscape emerges in ScotlandUKVI is tightening the rules on international student attendanceHigher education should lift students out of poverty – not trap them within it
  • 2. Free speech, uni finances, regional inequality

    44:56||Season 19, Ep. 2
    This week on the podcast the government is to press on with implementing parts of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 while seeking to repeal others - we discuss what will (and should) happen next. Plus there’s a report on more resilient and sustainable higher education finances, and NEON has been looking at regional inequality in university admissions.With Richard Sykes, Partner at Mills & Reeve, Paul Greatrix, HE expert and until recently Registrar at the University of Nottingham, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.Bridget Phillipson reaffirms commitment to free speechResolving the tensions in campus culture requires leadership from withinConnect more: creating the conditions for a more resilient and sustainable HE sector in EnglandNew NEON research shows widening regional inequalities in university admission for poorer studentsWidening access needs more flexibility
  • 1. Visegrad special

    01:03:25||Season 19, Ep. 1
    This week on the podcast Jim, Mack and team are on a bus around the Visegrad countries where they’ve been exploring student experience, representation and rights, discounted dorms and a set of countries where students have been leading change.Plus Disabled Students UK has its access insights survey out, and we discuss changes to the Renter's Rights Bill.With Katie Jackson, Faculty of Humanities Officer at the University of Manchester SU, Seán Keaney, Academic Officer at University of Limerick Student Life, Gary Hughes, CEO at Durham SU, Mack Marshall, Community and Policy Officer at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe.On Day -1 of this year’s magical mystery tour around Europe and students, the team come across plenty of protests for democracy, on Day 0 of the tour we find students in the centre of both the past and the future for Hungary, on Day 1 the team put down some roots and build some belonging at camp, on the second evening the team try to work out if they have enough points for a dorm in Slovakia, and on Day 2 the team get community building and pot roasting.
  • 16. Special: Writing for Wonkhe

    51:49||Season 18, Ep. 16
    In this special seasonal edition of the Wonkhe Show, we discuss how you can contribute to the higher education debate by writing for the site, the importance of communicating academic and professional insights to wider audiences, and we take you inside our editorial process - which is all about clear arguments and diverse perspectives.With Adam Matthews, Senior Research Fellow at the School of Education at the University of Birmingham, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe.Higher Education Policy into Practice (Online) PGCertWriting for Wonkhe
  • 15. Students at work, transfers, spending review

    57:18||Season 18, Ep. 15
    This week on our final proper show before the break, we’ve published polling on students experience of earning while learning - is a return to “full time” study possible? Plus OfS has a new strategy, the OIA has some learning from complaints, and we look ahead to the 2025 spending review.With Shahid Omer, Director of Policy at Universities UK, Diana Beech, Chief Executive Officer at London Higher, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, Mike Ratcliffe, Academic Registrar at City St George’s University of London, and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. And keep an ear out over the break for a special edition of the show.Latest from Belong – students are earning, but what are we learning?Every student on every placement should be paid for their labourThe realities of student transferThe OIA rides to the rescue on university restructuresComplex and insufficient – Scottish student income doesn’t match the expenditureThe Office for Students’ proposed new strategy for 2025–30