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, Rose Stephenson, at [email protected].
This blog was kindly contributed by Professor Graham Galbraith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth. What should universities expect in 2021? Quietly, and piece-by-piece, significant changes are emerging. Together, they suggest that the Government might be determined to put short-term labour-market need at the heart of our higher education system.…
This blog was kindly contributed by Julia Pieza, a recent Oxford University graduate with a degree in History and Politics. Julia hopes to pursue a career in public policy with an interest in EU-UK relations, education and social mobility. The end of the Brexit transition period in January 2021 brings…
This blog by Dennis Sherwood considers the latest twists in school and college pupils’ assessments for 2021. Ofqual’s newly-appointed Chief Regulator, Simon Lebus, recently stated his commitment to ‘supporting “innovation” in assessment’. Now that that school exams have been cancelled in England, there is an opportunity for him to do just that. …
This blog was kindly contributed by Professor Sir Chris Husbands and Natalie Day, Sheffield Hallam University and host of the Civic University Network, with Richard Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation. You can find Chris, Natalie and Richard on Twitter @Hallam_VC , @natalieday1 and @richardbrabner. The first week of 2021…
This blog was kindly contributed by Professor Vikki Boliver and Dr Mandy Powell, Department of Sociology, Durham University. You can find Vikki on twitter @VikkiBoliver What do academically selective universities mean by fair admission? In a new research report funded by the Nuffield Foundation, Fair Admission to Universities in England:…
This blog was kindly contributed by Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Pearson. Last term saw the exciting milestone of the first cohort of students enrol on the new T Level programmes in Digital and Construction pathways and in Childcare. Last term also marked the launch of the Department…
The announcement just before Christmas that Lord Wharton has been picked to replace Sir Michael Barber as the Chair of the Office for Students was simultaneously very surprising and totally expected. It was surprising because no one seems to have previously mentioned his name in relation to the role but…
This blog was kindly contributed by Professor David Carter, Head of the International Study and Language Institute at the University of Reading. The UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+ is not a surprise to anyone who follows government announcements from time to time. The Prime Minister said to the House of Commons…
This blog was kindly contributed by Dr Alex Blower, University of Portsmouth. Having worked in university outreach teams since 2012, completed his doctoral research in education and inequality in 2020. You can find Alex on Twitter @EduDetective I began working in university outreach back in 2012. Since then, universities have…
As the Government confirms ‘we will not be asking students to sit GCSE and A Levels’ in 2021 and while we all await further details, the HEPI blog considers the (in)accuracy of the regular grading process. This blog has been kindly contributed by Gabriel Roberts, an English teacher at a…