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].

  • REF 2028? Think Again

    10 May 2022 by Peter Mandler

    This blog was written by Peter Mandler, Professor of Modern Cultural History at the University of Cambridge. Peter is on Twitter @PeterMandler1. This is the fourth in a series of blogs reflecting on the REF. The full list of blogs in the series can be found here. Following the announcement of…

  • REF2021: The Research General Election

    9 May 2022 by Andrew Wathey

    This blog was written by Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Northumbria University, Newcastle. This is the third in a series of blogs reflecting on the REF, following Professor Geoff Rodgers’ blog yesterday which you can read here and Nick Hillman’s blog from Saturday. By repute, research assessment – once…

  • REF2021: Reflections on purpose before the big reveal

    8 May 2022 by Geoff Rodgers

    This blog was written by Professor Geoff Rodgers, Vice Provost (Research) at Brunel University London. This is the second in a series of blogs reflecting on the REF, following HEPI Director Nick Hillman’s blog yesterday which you can read here. As REF results day approaches, feelings of anxiety before the big reveal begin…

  • For the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to deliver on its promise, maybe we need some new ideas

    5 May 2022 by Annie Bell

    This blog was written by Annie Bell, Head of External Affairs and Communications, University Alliance. Annie is on Twitter @AnnieVBell. With the consultation deadline for the Department for Education’s Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) proposal closing on Friday, so approaches the opportunity to completely transform the face of higher education. No…

  • What my experience in Whitehall taught me about higher education policy

    3 May 2022 by Diana Beech

    This guest blog has been kindly written by Dr Diana Beech, Chief Executive Officer of London Higher and former Policy Adviser to the last three Universities and Science Ministers. Diana is on Twitter @dianajbeech. It is a summary of remarks made as part of a panel discussion at the HEPI University Partners’ Policy…

  • Employability Blog Series: Getting on, not just getting in

    29 April 2022 by Saskia Loer Hansen and Kathy Daniels

    The eighth in this weekly series of blogs on employability was written by Saskia Loer Hansen, Interim Vice Chancellor and Professor Kathy Daniels, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, Aston University. Over recent months we have received news of proposed changes to metrics used by the Office for Students, the contents of Access and Participation Plans,…