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The UK's only independent think tank devoted to higher education.

Blog

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].

  • Not a CEO

    22 September 2023 by Gill Evans

    New Vice-Chancellors have taken office in Oxford and Cambridge since the beginning of 2023, Oxford’s in January and Cambridge’s on 5 July.  The Committee of University Chairs’ Code of Governance requires a governing body ‘to appoint the Head of Institution as Chief Executive’. Oxford and Cambridge do not belong to…

  • Is bigger really better? GuildHE launch new report on the impact of knowledge exchange at smaller and specialist institutions

    21 September 2023 by Dana Gamble

    Smaller and specialist universities miss out on vital flexible and sustainable funding to forge and nurture partnerships with local and global businesses, communities, councils, charities and the general public. Today, GuildHE has launched a new report, Expertise in Action: the real-world impact of knowledge exchange funding at smaller and specialist…

  • Promoting the benefits, and ease, of employing international students

    19 September 2023

    International students make a huge contribution to the UK and bring with them a range of skills and experiences, drawn directly from their studies and from their lived experience in their home country. In 2022, the UK hosted over 600,000 international students from all over the world.  Many are studying…

  • Beyond Employability part 2: We know more than we can tell

    18 September 2023 by Doug Cole and Jon Down

    “We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience.” John Dewey In our previous article we argue that employability is much more than simply about gaining a job or a set of generic and ambiguous skills. We suggest the importance of a more holistic approach to…

  • Are on-campus food banks the new staple?

    14 September 2023 by Leo Hanna

    HEPI’s latest report on how institutions are responding to the cost-of-living crisis showcases sobering statistics: more than a quarter of universities (27%) have a food bank, including one-third (33%) of Russell Group universities and nearly two-thirds (63%) of universities in Wales. One-in-ten (11%) also distributes food vouchers. Sadly this comes…

  • How can we support first-in-family students to succeed in higher education?

    13 September 2023 by Maddy Godin

    For thousands of young people each year, the decision to attend university is not obvious. Instead, it poses a set of challenges that these students must face. Financial concerns, informational constraints, and a lack of preparation or support may impact or disadvantage first-generation students – those with parents who did…

  • Are research company ‘spinouts’ the key to levelling up?

    12 September 2023 by Iain Gillespie

    The most compelling argument that we in Higher Education can make for public funding is that we deliver a strong return on taxpayers’ money. One of the most straightforward ways we can do this is by pointing to the economic impact of ‘spinouts’ – companies that are formed based on…