Skip to content
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].

  • Who might be England’s new free speech champion?

    16 November 2021 by Nick Hillman

    There are various important roles in English higher education that are either vacant or close to becoming so – for example, in the last few days, we’ve heard that the Chief Executive of the Office for Students will soon stand down and the new Director for Fair Access and Participation…

  • Fair equality of opportunity means a fair chance to succeed

    15 November 2021 by Chris Millward

    This blog was contributed by Chris Millward, Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students. Next month I will make my final trip to meet staff and students as Director for Fair Access and Participation in England. These visits, punctuated of course by the pandemic, have crossed the…

  • The Lifelong Learning Century

    11 November 2021 by Nick Hillman

    Yesterday, the Learning and Work Institute celebrated its centenary at CityLit college in Holborn in the presence of their Patron, HRH the Princess Royal. Nick Hillman, HEPI Director, spoke at the event. Your Royal Highness, ladies and gentlemen, it is a huge pleasure to speak at this important event marking your 100th anniversary…

  • Why choose to study a joint honours degree?

    10 November 2021 by Louise Pigden and Garford Moore

    This blog was contributed by Louise Pigden (@elouisepigden), Deputy Dean in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Derby and Dr Garford Moore (@GarfordMoore), Policy and Insights Analyst at the University of Derby. Both would welcome dialogue around joint honours students, social mobility, and graduate outcomes. Leading…

  • The Climate Emergency and Universities: Our Chance, Our Challenge, Our Change

    9 November 2021 by Susan Lea

    This blog was contributed by Professor Susan Lea, University of Hull Vice Chancellor. COP26 aims to unite the world to tackle climate change. Surely nothing can be more important: ‘A code red for humanity’ is how UN Secretary General António Guterres described the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)…

  • Aiming global, affecting local: London’s universities and the green agenda

    8 November 2021 by Diana Beech and Amanda Broderick

    This blog has been kindly contributed by Dr Diana Beech, Chief Executive Officer of London Higher and London Higher Chair (@dianajbeech) and Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of East London (@ProfBroderick). With a membership of over 40 universities and higher education colleges, London Higher is the…

  • How to make higher education admissions fairer, quicker and better

    5 November 2021 by Rob Cuthbert

    This blog was contributed by Rob Cuthbert, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education Management at the University of the West of England and Managing Partner of the Practical Academics consultancy. He wrote the 2020 HEPI blog ‘A-levels 2020: What students and parents need to know’ (which has had more hits than…

  • The problem of positioning international students as cash cows

    4 November 2021

    This blog was contributed by Jenna Mittelmeier and Sylvie Lomer of the University of Manchester International students are often seen as ‘cash cows’ for the UK higher education sector, providing a steady stream of income to universities and the country. The UK Government’s briefing on the financial impact of COVID-19,…

  • Aim Lower: Social Mobility and Higher Education in the Levelling Up Era

    3 November 2021 by Chris Jones

    This blog was contributed by Dr Chris Jones,  Lecturer in History and Widening Participation (WP) Academic Officer at the University of East Anglia. The appointment of Katharine Birbalsingh as chair of the Social Mobility Commission has caused some concern that the culture wars are far from over. A recent paper…