‘If you could change one thing about higher education policy, what would be it be?’

With the Party Conference season upon us, HEPI is enjoying the thought-provoking higher education policy debates.

At the June 2026 HEPI Annual Conference, we asked colleagues: ‘If you could change one thing about higher education policy, what would be it be?’. Selection of their responses are available below:

Simon To, Director of Policy, Governance & Advocacy at Students’​ Union UCL

Professor Momna Hejmadi, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Bath

Professor Randall S Whittaker, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at Rose Bruford College

Rachel Sandby-Thomas CB, Registrar at the University of Warwick

So, we want to hear from you. If you could change just one thing about higher education policy, what would it be? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on LinkedIn.

You can also continue the discussion at HEPI’s Party Conference fringe events, taking place at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Monday 28 September and the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham on Monday 5 October. With events exploring the key challenges and opportunities facing universities and the role of higher education in the UK’s global influence, we hope to see you there.