As the new Westminster Government shines a light on growth as well as devolution, it is time to ask what contribution can be made by regional groupings of universities.
As the new Westminster Government shines a light on growth as well as devolution, it is time to ask what contribution can be made by regional groupings of universities. With more sustained investment of leadership, time and convening power, universities can play a vital role. But there is a need…
**Excerpt:** Higher education institutions must address the impact of child poverty on both current and future students, while also improving employment practices to help reduce poverty among their staff and their families.
Facing a funding crisis and demographic challenges, higher education in the UK must consider pragmatic reforms, from index-linking tuition fees to reintroducing student number caps, to ensure its survival and sustainability.
Universities should prioritise student-led sustainability initiatives, empowering students to tackle the climate crisis while developing essential skills for their future careers and contributing to institutional sustainability goals.
As financial pressures on UK higher education intensify, universities face increasing uncertainty, while the political response remains muted, partly due to reforms that have eroded the sector's perceived public role and financial stability.
Generating truly original research ideas is a challenge for academics, and the Observing-Bridging-Challenging (OBC) model offers strategies to foster originality through real-world observation, interdisciplinary exploration, and challenging established assumptions.
The decline in international student numbers poses a significant threat to UK universities, potentially leading to severe financial losses, regional economic damage, and long-term harm to the UK's global reputation and economic stability, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable funding solution.
UK higher education faces a critical juncture, where clinging to traditional degree models could be its 'Kodak Moment'; instead, embracing flexible learning and microcredentials may be key to navigating the sector's evolving demands and financial pressures.
UK and Australian universities face similar challenges, and through shared insights from digital transformation initiatives, UK institutions can learn valuable lessons to enhance student success, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.