The (long awaited) return of the MAC Last week we finally saw the government commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the Graduate visa. It had been anticipated for some time, following an announcement from the Home Secretary in December that the government were keen to ensure the visa…
The urgent need for long-term funding solutions for higher education across the UK has been the topic of much discussion in recent months between providers and policymakers and in the press. It is a matter which has achieved particular prominence in England, where a number of institutions have announced significant…
In the Summer of 2023, we launched the Initial Decisions for the Research Excellence Framework. In December 2023, in response to input to our Initial Decisions consultation, we published a series of conclusions and importantly included an extension of the assessment period until 2029 to allow more time for institutions…
Student Hubs exists to empower university students to become active citizens, equipping them with the tools, behaviours, and skills they need to make a positive change. Our initiatives are a bridge between students and their communities, operating on a double-benefit model, building connections and mainstreaming student social action to create…
When students choose to talk about themselves and the struggles they may be facing—whether mental health, neurodiversity, disability or wellbeing—it is done with trust. They trust that information will be safely shared and that their needs will be understood and the right support offered. Indeed, the recent ruling of the…
Stand Alone has announced its closure and its higher education work is coming to an end. Will the sector continue to advocate for estranged students and drive policy change? In 2015, Stand Alone, a small charity founded in 2013 to offer support to adults estranged from family, embarked on the…
On Thursday March 14th, 2024, it’s University Mental Health Day (UMHD), the annual student mental health awareness day. It’s hard to believe that this will be its sixteenth year, having started back in 2008 to raise the visibility of student mental health on campus and help break down stigma. Back…
As we know, since October 7th 2023 and the horrific Hamas attack on Israel, we have seen an upsurge in incidences of antisemitism on campuses. Our Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe – both because of an uptick in what might properly be called hate crime, but also because of…
The HEPI/Kortext report on students’ use of generative AI is a wake-up call: students are making extensive use of generative AI in increasingly sophisticated and discriminating ways. For academics and university leaders who are not specialists, it’s hard to appreciate the sophistication of the large language models [LLMs] which underpin…
This is a personal perspective on one of the most enduring challenges facing those of us working to widen university participation (WP). My involvement in this subject dates back to 2007. That year, as Aimhigher East Midlands’ projects manager, I oversaw the launch of an initiative aimed at identifying and…