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The HEPI Blog aims to make brief, incisive contributions to the higher education policy landscape. It is circulated to our subscribers and published online. We welcome guest submissions, which should follow our Instructions for Blog Authors. Submissions should be sent to our Blog Editor, Josh Freeman, at [email protected].

  • Levelling the playing field in UK music conservatoires: diversifying through decolonising

    20 July 2020 by Scott Caizley

    This blog was kindly contributed by Scott Caizley, who is an ESRC funded PhD researcher at Kings College London exploring the lived experiences of underrepresented groups in UK music conservatoires. On Thursday this week, HEPI will be publishing a major new paper about decolonising curricula. This blog explores the concept…

  • WEEKEND READING. A rejoinder to Michelle Donelan: true social mobility and higher education

    18 July 2020 by Graeme Atherton & Peter John

    This blog was kindly contributed by Dr Graeme Atherton, Director, National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) and Professor Peter John, CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of West London. @NEONHE Delegates at the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) event on the 1st July were not only surprised but shocked at the speech delivered by…

  • An unintended consequence of staff casualisation: the effect on student satisfaction

    17 July 2020 by Rhys Williams

    This blog was kindly contributed by Rhys Williams. Rhys is an Economic Consultant at London Economics (@LE_Education) specialising in the Education, Labour Markets and Competition sectors. This blog post is based on a Working Paper, available here. Rhys can be found on Twitter @rys_williams. The financial effects of the COVID-19…

  • More questions than answers: How can we effectively support the careers and employability of research staff and students?

    16 July 2020 by Gabi Binnie

    This blog was kindly contributed by Gabi Birnie, AGCAS Policy and Research Manager. AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) is the expert membership organisation for higher education student career development and graduate employment professionals. @gabi_binnie @AGCAS There is a clear difference between PhD students’ career ambitions and their…

  • Successful reform of tertiary education means looking hard at secondary too

    15 July 2020 by Mary Curnock Cook

    This blog was kindly contributed to HEPI by Mary Curnock Cook, who is a HEPI Trustee, Chair of Council at the Dyson Institute, Chair of Trustees of the Access Project, a Council member at the Open University and a non-exec Director at the Student Loans Company. She can be found…

  • Halfon right: Ofqual has more to do

    14 July 2020 by Dennis Sherwood & Rob Cuthbert

    This blog was kindly contributed by Dennis Sherwood and Rob Cuthbert. Dennis runs the Silver Bullet Consultancy and is a frequent contributor to the HEPI blog. Rob Cuthbert is an independent academic consultant and Emeritus Professor of higher education management. @RobCuthbert On the 11th July, The Education Select Committee, chaired…

  • Steve Smith: Options for higher education in 2020/21 – how choices might change

    13 July 2020 by Steve Smith

    This blog is an edited transcript of a speech delivered to last week’s Festival of Higher Education by Sir Steve Smith, the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter – and the new International Education Champion. May I start by offering my sincere congratulations to Sir Anthony for bringing…

  • WEEKEND READING: A snapshot analysis of UKRI’s Diversity Data

    11 July 2020 by Bethan Cornell

    This blog was written by KCL Physics PhD student and current HEPI intern, Bethan Cornell. Bethan is the author of the recent HEPI publication, PhD Life: The Student Experience. Find Bethan on Twitter @CornellBethan. On Thursday, 16 July 2020, Bethan will be speaking at a free HEPI webinar on PhD…

  • zhōngwén (中文): an opportunity the UK can’t afford to miss

    10 July 2020 by Megan Bowler

    This blog was kindly contributed by Megan Bowler, author of the HEPI Report A Languages Crisis? HEPI’s important and timely new publication UK Universities and China raises important proposals on the need for the UK’s higher education sector to strengthen its collaboration with China and to provide a more welcoming…

  • The challenges to higher education in the coming months and years by Glyn Davis

    9 July 2020 by Glyn Davis

    HEPI is reproducing here the speech that Glyn Davis, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne (from 2005 to 2018), made earlier this week to the fifth Buckingham Festival of HE, which was held with support by Pearson and on which HEPI partnered. Glyn is now the Chief Executive…