BLOG INDEX
News round-up: Warnings of admissions chaos as coronavirus hits
Inevitably, this week’s round-up is dominated by one story – the coronavirus’s impact on teaching, exams and admissions Exam cancellations to spark ‘almighty scramble’ in UK admissions Times Higher Education, 20/03/2020, Anna McKie The cancellation of exams caused by...
News round-up: UCU offers an olive branch to end strike – but will universities have to close because of coronavirus?
An end to the academics’ strike may be in sight, but as the death toll from coronavirus rises, Western universities are being urged to close campuses UCU offers ‘significant concessions’ in pay and pensions disputes Times Higher Education, 05/03/2020, Anna McKie...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
A ‘crucible of critique’: a review of The Future of Academic Freedom by Henry Reichman
Professor David Midgley takes a look at a timely new publication that puts the current debates on academic freedom into a historical context In September 2017 it was widely reported that the Attorney General of the USA, Jeff Sessions, had told an audience of...
News round-up: Grim times for universities as overseas students stay away and staff on fixed-term contracts lose their jobs
The coronavirus epidemic has seen lecturers and researchers lose their jobs while students face uncertainty over exams 119 universities in deficit after lecturers go on strike The Times, 03/04/2020, Rosemary Bennett More than 100 universities, including some of...
News round-up: UCU offers an olive branch to end strike – but will universities have to close because of coronavirus?
An end to the academics’ strike may be in sight, but as the death toll from coronavirus rises, Western universities are being urged to close campuses UCU offers ‘significant concessions’ in pay and pensions disputes Times Higher Education, 05/03/2020, Anna McKie...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
News round-up: Academics go on strike over pay and conditions
The strikes at half of the UK’s universities dominate this week’s news round-up – while new figures show that institutions are competing fiercely for a shrinking band of 18-year olds UCU says some universities are using ‘highly questionable tactics’ as...
News round-up: The pensions strike is over, and the OU vice-chancellor resigns
Academic staff have voted to accept an offer to reopen negotiations with employers, and the position of the OU’s vice-chancellor finally becomes untenable Student nurses face financial hardship over loan error, says nursing body The Guardian, 16/04/2018,...
News round-up: A new higher education regulator is launched and pension strikes continue
The pensions dispute rumbles on, the OfS admits to making a mistake over the Toby Young appointment, and the OU vice-chancellor faces a vote of no confidence Universities give out unconditional offers like candy, say head teachers The Times, 31/03/2018,...
News round-up: demand for higher education is set to grow
Demand for university places is going to grow by 300,000, but the rise in tuition fees means fewer people are choosing to study part-time More than 40,000 fewer part-time students go to university due to tuition fees hike, study suggests The Independent online,...
Yes, tuition fees in England are among the highest in the world
It turns out the CDBU were right about tuition fees Prime minister Theresa May has admitted that tuition fees in England are among the highest in the world. It’s good to see an acknowledgement from government of something that we first drew attention to three years...
Radical changes on an international scale: On the parallel ‘reforms’ of British and Czech university systems
On 27 November 2012 Professor Howard Hotson was invited by the Institute of Philosophy to speak at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic on the ‘radical shake-up’ of the UK university system. His lecture attempted briefly to put the ongoing marketisation of...
CDBU Founding Member Lord Rees To Debate Universities Minister David Willetts
One of the Founding Members of the Council for the Defense of British Universities (CDBU), the Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees, is to debate against David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science, on the subject “Can British Universities Keep Ahead in...
The CDBU is launched at the British Academy
What is to be done? This was the leading question aired at the inaugural meeting of the Council for the Defence of British Universities (CDBU) at the British Academy on the evening of Tuesday, 13 November. Such was the consensus amongst Founding Members of the need...
Roundup of Coverage for CDBU Ahead of Tuesday’s Launch
We’re delighted to see that the new Council for the Defence of British Universities (CDBU) has been receiving plenty of press coverage from outlets around the world, ahead of our official launch at the British Academy on Tuesday 13th. Here are some of the highlights:...
News round-up: Warnings of admissions chaos as coronavirus hits
Inevitably, this week’s round-up is dominated by one story – the coronavirus’s impact on teaching, exams and admissions Exam cancellations to spark ‘almighty scramble’ in UK admissions Times Higher Education, 20/03/2020, Anna McKie The cancellation of exams caused by...
News round-up: UCU offers an olive branch to end strike – but will universities have to close because of coronavirus?
An end to the academics’ strike may be in sight, but as the death toll from coronavirus rises, Western universities are being urged to close campuses UCU offers ‘significant concessions’ in pay and pensions disputes Times Higher Education, 05/03/2020, Anna McKie...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
News round-up: Oxford University professor accompanied to lectures by security guards
Attacks on free speech at our oldest university – and a revelation that there are no black academics in the most senior managerial ranks in UK higher education Oxford University professor given security guards for lectures after threats from transgender...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
News round-up: House of Lords warns of the impact of tuition fee cuts
Augar’s recommendation of cuts to tuition fees could be devastating unless government makes up the shortfall, says a House of Lords committee – and the OfS could begin fining universities if they carry on making unconditional offers Tuition fees cut could be...
News round-up: A no-deal Brexit would be bad news for British researchers
More discouraging news on Brexit, and UK universities' ties to Saudi Arabia have come under scrutiny Universities’ Saudi ties under scrutiny after Khashoggi killing Times Higher Education, 26/10/2018, Ellie Bothwell Western universities are under increasing...
The Bologna Process – the difference between theory and practice
Professor Judith Marquand has just published Democrats, Authoritarians and the Bologna Process: Universities in Germany, Russia, England and Wales. Here she explains what the Bologna Process has meant in different countries When I told the principal of an Oxford...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
News round-up: Eventually everyone will have a first-class degree
If grade inflation continues at the current rate, by 2030 all students at some universities will graduate with first-class degrees. Plus: regulation is costing universities more than £500k a year First-class degrees for all students by 2030 The Times,...
News round-up: One institution tackles grade inflation – and a headteacher says that ‘any fool’ can get into university
Nottingham Trent University is cutting the number of firsts, while one of their academics has faced a backlash for encouraging students to register to vote Universities ‘central’ to solutions on UK regional inequality Times Higher Education, 15/11/2019, John...
News round-up: Female academics rise through the ranks more slowly
Female academics are less likely to reach senior positions than male ones, and since the referendum, there’s been a big rise in EU academics leaving the UK Gender not children 'holds women academics back' BBC, 17/10/2019, Hannah Richardson Women academics do...
A robust analysis of the crisis in universities
Professor David Midgley reviews English Universities in Crisis: Markets without Competition, by Jefferson Frank, Norman Gowar and Michael Naef The policy objectives against which this book measures the effectiveness of the current system for funding and...
Roll up, roll up for the HERB 2.0 show
The themes playing out in the higher education debates in the houses of parliament seem strangely familiar, writes Professor David Midgley HERB 2.0 (the Higher Education Research Bill) has been playing in both houses of parliament recently. Like HERB 1.0, which...
Update on Amendments to the Higher Education and Research Bill
David Midgley has kindly provided this useful summary of recent developments: The text of the Bill as amended by the Lords in report stage is now available at https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2016-2017/0112/17112.pdf. The most significant changes...
A ‘cohesive and self-critical academic community’: an ideal under threat
Opinion piece G.R.Evans An article in Times Higher Education on 2 March collected suggestions from a ‘panel of university administration experts’ on the best way to frame a job advertisement. Wondering where suitably qualified and ‘excellent’ teachers are going to be...
The managerial humanities: or, why the digital humanities don’t exist
Daniel Allington is a lecturer in English Language and Applied Linguistics at the Open University. The piece below is taken from his blog: http://www.danielallington.net As we all know, the digital humanities are the next big thing. A couple of years ago, I gave a...
The Covid-19 crisis has shown how valuable universities are – but they are hugely in debt
Despite the enormous contribution universities are making to addressing the coronavirus crisis, years of enforced competition have placed them under intense financial pressure. Now is the time for the sector to recover its core purpose, argues Professor James Ladyman...
News round-up: Warnings of admissions chaos as coronavirus hits
Inevitably, this week’s round-up is dominated by one story – the coronavirus’s impact on teaching, exams and admissions Exam cancellations to spark ‘almighty scramble’ in UK admissions Times Higher Education, 20/03/2020, Anna McKie The cancellation of exams caused by...
Academics in UK universities – pressure vessels in a sea of metrics
A huge rise in mental health referrals amongst academics is the result of increasingly stressful working conditions, argues researcher and independent scholar Liz Morrish It is often said that lecturers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions. My...
News round-up: More strikes are on the way as UCU members vote for industrial action
University staff are to strike over pensions, pay and working conditions – and an imminent general election casts uncertainty over higher education policy December election puts UK policy progress on hold Times Higher Education, 01/11/2019, Simon Baker News...
News round-up: Grim times for universities as overseas students stay away and staff on fixed-term contracts lose their jobs
The coronavirus epidemic has seen lecturers and researchers lose their jobs while students face uncertainty over exams 119 universities in deficit after lecturers go on strike The Times, 03/04/2020, Rosemary Bennett More than 100 universities, including some of...
News round-up: Warnings of admissions chaos as coronavirus hits
Inevitably, this week’s round-up is dominated by one story – the coronavirus’s impact on teaching, exams and admissions Exam cancellations to spark ‘almighty scramble’ in UK admissions Times Higher Education, 20/03/2020, Anna McKie The cancellation of exams caused by...
News round-up: UCU offers an olive branch to end strike – but will universities have to close because of coronavirus?
An end to the academics’ strike may be in sight, but as the death toll from coronavirus rises, Western universities are being urged to close campuses UCU offers ‘significant concessions’ in pay and pensions disputes Times Higher Education, 05/03/2020, Anna McKie...
News round-up: Strikes, admissions reform – and anger as the ‘over-zealous’ Prevent programme seizes student essays
This week has seen another round of strikes by academics, while UK universities come under pressure to reform the admissions process UK ‘could only join Horizon Europe with transition extension Times Higher Education, 21/02/2020, John Morgan The UK will only be...
News round-up: What now for universities? Brexit, changes to university funding and (maybe) an increase in R&D spend
The election result could have major implications for the higher education sector, including the possibility of recruitment challenges in the wake of Brexit UK universities face up to Brexit after Tory election win Times Higher Education, 13/12/2019, John...
Higher education and the election: the main party manifestos compared
Professor GR Evans takes a look at what the three major political parties have planned for higher education For those of us interested in higher education, one of the most eagerly-awaited aspects of the manifestos was how they would deal with the...
News round-up: University applications from 18-year olds have reached a record high, despite the demographic dip
As more 18-year olds are applying to university and more gain places through clearing, Labour wants to move to a system of applying to university after A-level results Knowledge exchange framework review before funding link Times Higher Education, 23/08/2019,...
Who regulates the regulator? The Office for Students misses its deadline
The Higher Education Funding Council for England did an excellent job of maintaining a register of providers. So why is the Office for Students struggling, asks Professor G.R.Evans The Office for Students (OfS), fully in operation from 1 August after its...
A conflict of interest: the statutory instruments shaping the Office for Students
On Monday, the Labour Party tried unsuccessfully to block the legislation that would enable the new Office for Students to regulate universities. Professor GR Evans takes a look at the arguments During the debates on the Higher Education and Research Bill, members of...
What is teaching intensity – and how do you measure it?
The government believes that university courses can be rated according to the level of teaching intensity they provide. Professor GR Evans detects a lack of joined-up thinking “Prospective students deserve to know which courses deliver great teaching and great...
Who needs external examiners? We do
UCU has asked external examiners to resign in support of the strike over pensions. But what exactly does an external examiner do? Professor GR Evans reflects on the value of an undersung role On 15 March the University and College Union (UCU) asked external examiners...
Subject level TEF: are the metrics statistically adequate?
Opinion piece by D. V. M. Bishop The Teaching Excellence and Outcomes Framework (TEF) was introduced at an institutional level in 2016. It uses metrics from the National Student Survey, together with information on drop-out rates, and on student outcomes. These are...
Review: A New Vision for Further and Higher Education, edited by Sol Gamsu and Richard Hall
Patrick Ainley, formerly professor of training and education at the University of Greenwich, welcomes an essay collection aiming to rethink the purpose of tertiary level learning but thinks that it does not go far enough The Centre for Labour and Social Studies...
The Augar report: everything you need to know
You might not have had the time to wade through last week’s 200-page Augar Review on higher education. Fortunately, David Midgley, emeritus professor of German literature and intellectual history at the University of Cambridge, has written an essential guide to the...
Saving adult education: how staff and students came to the rescue of a lifelong learning college
When the Vaughan Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester was threatened with closure, a campaign was launched to re-open it as a community-owned college. Founder member Dr Miriam Gill looks forward to a brighter future for adult education in the...
Universities are not like banks: why Sir Michael Barber is wrong
Sir Michael Barber, head of the Office for Students, has said that the regulator will not come to the aid of failing universities. It’s a policy that could have disastrous consequences for students, argues Professor DVM Bishop In a much-publicised speech on...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
News round-up: Eventually everyone will have a first-class degree
If grade inflation continues at the current rate, by 2030 all students at some universities will graduate with first-class degrees. Plus: regulation is costing universities more than £500k a year First-class degrees for all students by 2030 The Times,...
News round-up: More strikes are on the way as UCU members vote for industrial action
University staff are to strike over pensions, pay and working conditions – and an imminent general election casts uncertainty over higher education policy December election puts UK policy progress on hold Times Higher Education, 01/11/2019, Simon Baker News...
News round-up: Jo Johnson resigns – and another strike could be on the way
Once again, the country finds itself without a universities minister, while plans to allow EU nationals to stay for only three years in the event of no deal could hit student recruitment Ucas accused of abusing its position with debt firm advert The Guardian,...
Educating for unemployment
by Prof. Patrick Ainley (University of Greenwich) Ken Roberts (pictured), Professor of Sociology at Liverpool University, described ‘The real trend in social mobility from upward to downward’ at the latest seminar in a series on precarious labour hosted by the...
German media coverage of the CDBU
Continuing our coverage of overseas reactions to the foundation of the Council for the Defence of British Universities, Germany’s leading newspaper and radio news outlets have also picked up the story. Germany’s most celebrated daily newspaper, the Frankfurter...
Ross McKibbin Advises Opposing Marketeers on Their Own Ground
One of the leading historians of twentieth-century Britain, Dr Ross McKibbin of St John's College Oxford, has greeted the foundation of the CDBU with an insightful piece 'In Defence of British Universities' in the London Review of Books. Those who would defend...
Salford VC Martin Hall joins CDBU
Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford and historical archaeologist, has written a piece in support of CDBU on his personal blog, which has also been reproduced on the higher education blog Wonkhe. Here are a few excerpts: The CDBU is...
It’s time to abolish the REF – here’s how to do it
The REF is partly responsible for universities’ present ills, but if we get rid of it, we need to find an alternative model for allocating research funding. Norman Gowar, former principal of Royal Holloway, University of London, suggests a way forward As always it was...
News round-up: Oxford University professor accompanied to lectures by security guards
Attacks on free speech at our oldest university – and a revelation that there are no black academics in the most senior managerial ranks in UK higher education Oxford University professor given security guards for lectures after threats from transgender...
News round-up: Another £12bn added to the deficit as ONS changes the way student loans are recorded
Student loans will now be reclassified as public spending – and the Office for Students issues universities with a warning about grade inflation Philosophers urge Hull to think again over course cuts Times Higher Education, 21/12/2018, Matthew Reisz Leading...
What are metrics good for?
Last week, the CDBU's Professor Dorothy Bishop gave a terrific lecture looking at what metrics can offer in evaluating universities - and where they fail. If you were unlucky to miss it, here's your chance to listen to the lecture....
The Bill on the Governance of Scottish Universities
The Bill before the Scottish Parliament on the governance of Scottish Universities has implications not only for Scotland but anybody interested in the relationship of governments to the universities in their territories. Here are some weblinks to this debate:...
It’s time to abolish the REF – here’s how to do it
The REF is partly responsible for universities’ present ills, but if we get rid of it, we need to find an alternative model for allocating research funding. Norman Gowar, former principal of Royal Holloway, University of London, suggests a way forward As always it was...
News round-up: More strikes are on the way as UCU members vote for industrial action
University staff are to strike over pensions, pay and working conditions – and an imminent general election casts uncertainty over higher education policy December election puts UK policy progress on hold Times Higher Education, 01/11/2019, Simon Baker News...
News round-up: Reading halves the workforce at its Malaysia campus, and a benefactor showers money on lucky Oxford
The University of Reading is the latest to find that overseas campuses aren’t as lucrative as hoped, while Oxford has been blessed with a gift of £150m to create a new centre for the humanities Reading halves Malaysia campus workforce after £27 million loss...
The Augar report: everything you need to know
You might not have had the time to wade through last week’s 200-page Augar Review on higher education. Fortunately, David Midgley, emeritus professor of German literature and intellectual history at the University of Cambridge, has written an essential guide to the...
News round-up: What now for universities? Brexit, changes to university funding and (maybe) an increase in R&D spend
The election result could have major implications for the higher education sector, including the possibility of recruitment challenges in the wake of Brexit UK universities face up to Brexit after Tory election win Times Higher Education, 13/12/2019, John...
Higher education and the election: the main party manifestos compared
Professor GR Evans takes a look at what the three major political parties have planned for higher education For those of us interested in higher education, one of the most eagerly-awaited aspects of the manifestos was how they would deal with the...
Augar was a damp squib – here’s a better way to manage student finance
Norman Gowar was unimpressed by the Augar Review’s recommendations on student finance. He lays out an alternative proposal that would work for students, universities and taxpayers It is sad that the government’s attempts to marketise universities received scant...
News round-up: Labour could cap number of private school students going to university
As figures show that half of young people now go to university, Labour has announced plans to limit the number of students universities can accept from private schools UUK president aims to show degree value ‘not all about money’ Times Higher Education,...
UKRI and OfS: happy marriage or uneasy alliance?
The roles of the previous higher education regulator, Hefce, have been split between two new bodies: UKRI and OfS. The two organisations were meant to collaborate – but how’s it working out in practice? Professor GR Evans investigates Higher Education and...
Universities UK – who does it represent and what does it do?
Professor GR Evans looks at the history of an organisation that has rarely been out of the news in recent weeks – and asks what powers it really has Universities UK has been in the news recently during the upset caused by the proposals to make major changes to...
News round-up: Grim times for universities as overseas students stay away and staff on fixed-term contracts lose their jobs
The coronavirus epidemic has seen lecturers and researchers lose their jobs while students face uncertainty over exams 119 universities in deficit after lecturers go on strike The Times, 03/04/2020, Rosemary Bennett More than 100 universities, including some of...
News round-up: What now for universities? Brexit, changes to university funding and (maybe) an increase in R&D spend
The election result could have major implications for the higher education sector, including the possibility of recruitment challenges in the wake of Brexit UK universities face up to Brexit after Tory election win Times Higher Education, 13/12/2019, John...
News round-up: Academics go on strike over pay and conditions
The strikes at half of the UK’s universities dominate this week’s news round-up – while new figures show that institutions are competing fiercely for a shrinking band of 18-year olds UCU says some universities are using ‘highly questionable tactics’ as...
Higher education and the election: the main party manifestos compared
Professor GR Evans takes a look at what the three major political parties have planned for higher education For those of us interested in higher education, one of the most eagerly-awaited aspects of the manifestos was how they would deal with the...
Shared governance – can universities move on from a top-down management system?
Professor David Midgley concludes his discussion of The Governance of British Higher Education by Michael Shattock and Aniko Horvath Like other analysts of the current situation, Shattock and Horvath bring out very clearly the deleterious effects of...
The spirit of subservience: how the change in governance has affected academics’ autonomy
Professor David Midgley continues his look at The Governance of British Higher Education by Michael Shattock and Aniko Horvath The impact of the developments described in section I has been far from uniform. In addition to the differences in governance...
The governance of British universities: how we got from there to here
In the first of three blogposts, Professor David Midgley offers some reflections on The Governance of British Higher Education by Michael Shattock and Aniko Horvath, and what it tells us about the recent history of the university The question of how the state...
Who regulates the regulator? The Office for Students misses its deadline
The Higher Education Funding Council for England did an excellent job of maintaining a register of providers. So why is the Office for Students struggling, asks Professor G.R.Evans The Office for Students (OfS), fully in operation from 1 August after its...
Widening access
News round-up: Warnings of admissions chaos as coronavirus hits
Inevitably, this week’s round-up is dominated by one story – the coronavirus’s impact on teaching, exams and admissions Exam cancellations to spark ‘almighty scramble’ in UK admissions Times Higher Education, 20/03/2020, Anna McKie The cancellation of exams caused by...
News round-up: Strikes, admissions reform – and anger as the ‘over-zealous’ Prevent programme seizes student essays
This week has seen another round of strikes by academics, while UK universities come under pressure to reform the admissions process UK ‘could only join Horizon Europe with transition extension Times Higher Education, 21/02/2020, John Morgan The UK will only be...
News round-up: Universities must make clear that intimidation of academics is unacceptable, Gavin Williamson warns
Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary...
News round-up: Oxford University professor accompanied to lectures by security guards
Attacks on free speech at our oldest university – and a revelation that there are no black academics in the most senior managerial ranks in UK higher education Oxford University professor given security guards for lectures after threats from transgender...
