Since its inception in 2017, the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) has become an integral part of assessing and recognising the quality of undergraduate teaching and learning in the English higher education system. Institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can participate on a voluntary basis. Managed by the Office for…
When I wrote London Higher’s Living and Learning in London report a year ago, we were the first organisation to use HEPI/AdvanceHE’s Student Academic Experience Survey data to investigate how student experience differs in a particular UK region. We looked at London students’ answers to the survey questions, and we…
Degree apprenticeships. They’re Skills Minister Robert Halfon’s “two favourite words in the English language” and we’re at the beginning of a whole week dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating the many benefits of apprenticeships at all levels (yes this year’s National Apprenticeships Week does clash with World Nutella Day, but…
UK higher education has had a strong international reputation for many years. However, increasing competition for international students and recent reputational challenges may hinder UK institutions’ ability to support global higher education growth, and the growing need for upskilling and reskilling. Whilst there are challenges, UK higher education remains in…
I was delivering training to teaching staff this week about the perils and pitfalls of predicted grades. When I gave a statistic about the number of our students that were placed at first or insurance choice university despite missing grades, a colleague thoughtfully asked, ‘but are they happy and succeeding…
***We are hosting General Election Briefings with London Economics and the Nuffield Foundation in the four UK capitals across February and March – you can sign up here.*** Here are a few downsides to joint tenancies for students, and why I consider they should not be compulsory. Sounds complicated? It…
HEPI has previously published two blogs outlining how this Bill might affect student accommodation (here and here). This two-part blog analyses recent developments and suggests that the current proposals will actually reduce rather than enhance housing rights for students. Background Whilst fixed-term tenancy arrangements will remain the norm for purpose-built…
Yesterday’s announcement from Robert Halfon, Minister for Higher Education, confirmed the expected news that student maintenance loans will be increased by just 2.5%. This announcement also confirms the Russell Group’s recent projected analysis, which shows that students entitled to the maximum loan will now be almost £2000 worse off than…
Just over a month ago, our Prime Minister, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, made a statement in his speech to the Conservative party conference. He said that: “The false dream of 50 per cent of children going to university […] was one of the great mistakes of the last 30 years.”…
UK universities are set to lose more than £17bn in real income over the next four years as persistent inflation erodes the value of tuition fees, according to newly released research. Higher education software provider TechnologyOne modelled the total amount universities will lose to inflation each year up until 2026-27,…