BLOG INDEX
We need to talk about academic freedom
Words by Eric Lybeck, Presidential Academic Fellow at the Manchester Institute of Education. Yesterday, Policy Exchange published a report on academic freedom in British universities drawing on a flawed survey with inconclusive results. This did not stop major...
From Regulation to Regime: Are we seeing a government takeover of universities?
Words by Liz Morrish, independent scholar. One thing governments have learned over the last 30 years is not to let a disaster go to waste. In the guise of offering a survival strategy for universities in the pandemic, the Department for Education has issued a...
News round-up: Government “restructuring regime” threatens university autonomy
The government recently published their 'Restructuring Regime' for universities facing financial collapse, causing many to question whether university autonomy is a thing of the past. The petitions committee announced that there will be no automatic tuition fee...
CDBU announces new Chair of Trustees and responds to government “Restructuring Regime”
PRESS RELEASE: July 21, 2020 The Council for the Defence of British Universities is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Rowan Williams (Lord Williams of Oystermouth) as our new Chair of Trustees. We offer a warm welcome to Lord Williams, who we know will...
News round-up: Tensions grow over the return of staff and students to university campuses
Once again, the return of staff and students to university campuses has dominated Higher Education news. UCU insist that the risks of spreading Covid-19 is still far too high, especially without proper Track and Trace and testing protocols in place. Meanwhile, the DfE...
News round-up: A-levels fiasco causes chaos for universities
After thousands of A-level and BTEC students were downgraded on results day, Gavin Williams and Ofqual - in a highly predictable U-turn - scrapped the algorithm and allowed students to use Centre Assessed Grades (teachers' predictions) instead, allowing many to secure...
TEF in the time of pandemic
This blog post was kindly contributed by Professor Dorothy Bishop. It was originally featured on her personal blog, which you can find here. An article in the Times Higher today considers the fate of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). I am a...
News round-up: Government “restructuring regime” threatens university autonomy
The government recently published their 'Restructuring Regime' for universities facing financial collapse, causing many to question whether university autonomy is a thing of the past. The petitions committee announced that there will be no automatic tuition fee...
News round-up: Tensions grow over the return of staff and students to university campuses
Once again, the return of staff and students to university campuses has dominated Higher Education news. UCU insist that the risks of spreading Covid-19 is still far too high, especially without proper Track and Trace and testing protocols in place. Meanwhile, the DfE...
News round-up: Government “restructuring regime” threatens university autonomy
The government recently published their 'Restructuring Regime' for universities facing financial collapse, causing many to question whether university autonomy is a thing of the past. The petitions committee announced that there will be no automatic tuition fee...
CDBU announces new Chair of Trustees and responds to government “Restructuring Regime”
PRESS RELEASE: July 21, 2020 The Council for the Defence of British Universities is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Rowan Williams (Lord Williams of Oystermouth) as our new Chair of Trustees. We offer a warm welcome to Lord Williams, who we know will...
More than ever, university governors need academics as partners
This blog was kindly contributed by Steven Jones, Professor of Higher Education at the University of Manchester. Last month, WonkHE ran a short series of blogs on ‘governance in a time of pandemic’. Developed in partnership with one of the ‘big four’ accountancy...
CDBU Launch Meeting at the British Academy
BY Gordon Campbell (University of leicester) CDBU will be formally launched at an Inaugural Meeting at the British Academy next Tuesday, 13 November. Drawing up the list of those invited to attend this initial meeting has not been easy: the space available to us is...
From Regulation to Regime: Are we seeing a government takeover of universities?
Words by Liz Morrish, independent scholar. One thing governments have learned over the last 30 years is not to let a disaster go to waste. In the guise of offering a survival strategy for universities in the pandemic, the Department for Education has issued a...
‘Don’t frighten the students’: the crisis of academic freedom in the managed university
Liz Morrish had an unblemished record of 30 years in academia without so much as a late library book to her name. That all changed when she publicly voiced her opinions on the terrible toll managerialism was having on academics’ mental health – and she found herself charged with gross misconduct.
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...
Students offered one week window to return home for Christmas
Plans for mass testing and staggered departure dates over a one week period have been laid out by the government in order to allow students to return home for Christmas. The plans have been met with criticism from some universities who say mass testing might be...
News round-up: UCU deems government’s decision to reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching “unlawful”
UCU have called for a judicial review of the government's decision to ignore calls from its own Sage committee to move all non-essential teaching online and instead reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching. Sage advised the government that coronavirus outbreaks...
Winter closes on the ‘Covid Generation’
Words by Martin Allen, author of Education, Economy and Society. Winter is closing in on the ‘Covid Generation’ – those young people most affected by the pandemic. Youth unemployment, though creeping up significantly, has not yet reached the levels feared in the early...
News round-up: Students report feeling “abandoned” as the government debates their Christmas fate
As Covid cases across the UK rise exponentially, universities have quickly become virus hotspots. Students forced into quarantine have reported feeling "abandoned" by their universities, raising concerns about the mental health crisis that might be triggered by the...
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,...
News round-up: Education secretary backs a review of university admissions
A mixed bag this week: Gavin Williamson supports the OfS review into university admissions, a record number of disadvantaged pupils are winning university places and universities are likely to face delays to funding when the UK leaves the EU Ethicist warns...
News round-up: A review of the admissions system is under way – could this mean the introduction of post-A-level applications?
University admissions, drop-out rates and grade inflation are all in the news – and a vice-chancellor is sacked for gross misconduct Swansea University sack vice chancellor and dean of management school for gross misconduct Wales Online, 26/7/2019, Sion Barry...
News round-up: Two in five school leavers in England apply for university places this year
In England, record numbers of school leavers apply to university – and a record proportion of students are awarded first-class degrees England university applications hit record numbers BBC, 11/07/2019, Anon Record numbers of 18-year-olds in England have...
New DAPs anyone? Is the proposed multiplication of types of degree-awarding powers a good idea?
Preamble: The Higher Education and Research Bill will reach undergo line-by-line examination in the House of Lords on 6th March, when it reaches the Report Stage. This post is the third in a series of opinion pieces by G. R. Evans, reflecting on the Amendments tabled...
The mysterious letters in the library
Opinion Piece by G. R. Evans The Higher Education and Research Bill has now had seven sessions before the Lords in Committee, ending on 30 January. As Lord Willetts acknowledged, it has become ‘famous’ for the sheer number of ‘letters’ promised to various Peers at the...
Uses and Abuses of Economics in the Debate on Universities
Report on CDBU Annual Lecture 2017 by Dorothy Bishop Last night, Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, delivered a splendid lecture with the title “Uses and Abuses of Economics in the Debate on Universities”. It is not possible to do this...
The definition of a university: how many new providers fit the bill?
Rapid reaction to the House of Lords debate on the Higher Education and Research Bill by G.R. Evans The headline-grabbing result of the first session of the House of Lords in Committee on 9 January was a vote which defeated the Government. By a majority of 248-221 the...
What is a university without philosophy?
Words by James Ladyman, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bristol. The University of the West of England plans to close its philosophy degree programmes. It is typical of the way universities are run that the affected academic staff were not involved...
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...
Students offered one week window to return home for Christmas
Plans for mass testing and staggered departure dates over a one week period have been laid out by the government in order to allow students to return home for Christmas. The plans have been met with criticism from some universities who say mass testing might be...
News round-up: UCU deems government’s decision to reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching “unlawful”
UCU have called for a judicial review of the government's decision to ignore calls from its own Sage committee to move all non-essential teaching online and instead reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching. Sage advised the government that coronavirus outbreaks...
News round-up: Students report feeling “abandoned” as the government debates their Christmas fate
As Covid cases across the UK rise exponentially, universities have quickly become virus hotspots. Students forced into quarantine have reported feeling "abandoned" by their universities, raising concerns about the mental health crisis that might be triggered by the...
News round-up: Tensions grow over the return of staff and students to university campuses
Once again, the return of staff and students to university campuses has dominated Higher Education news. UCU insist that the risks of spreading Covid-19 is still far too high, especially without proper Track and Trace and testing protocols in place. Meanwhile, the DfE...
News round-up: UCU deems government’s decision to reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching “unlawful”
UCU have called for a judicial review of the government's decision to ignore calls from its own Sage committee to move all non-essential teaching online and instead reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching. Sage advised the government that coronavirus outbreaks...
News round-up: Students report feeling “abandoned” as the government debates their Christmas fate
As Covid cases across the UK rise exponentially, universities have quickly become virus hotspots. Students forced into quarantine have reported feeling "abandoned" by their universities, raising concerns about the mental health crisis that might be triggered by the...
News round-up: Tensions grow over the return of staff and students to university campuses
Once again, the return of staff and students to university campuses has dominated Higher Education news. UCU insist that the risks of spreading Covid-19 is still far too high, especially without proper Track and Trace and testing protocols in place. Meanwhile, the DfE...
News round-up: Universities prepare for the reopening of campuses
As the government scrambles to save face after the A-levels fiasco, universities are preparing to reopen their campuses to staff and students. UCU have called on the government to halt in-person teaching completely, warning that the mass movement of over a million...
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...
News round-up: A review of the admissions system is under way – could this mean the introduction of post-A-level applications?
University admissions, drop-out rates and grade inflation are all in the news – and a vice-chancellor is sacked for gross misconduct Swansea University sack vice chancellor and dean of management school for gross misconduct Wales Online, 26/7/2019, Sion Barry...
Students offered one week window to return home for Christmas
Plans for mass testing and staggered departure dates over a one week period have been laid out by the government in order to allow students to return home for Christmas. The plans have been met with criticism from some universities who say mass testing might be...
News round-up: UCU deems government’s decision to reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching “unlawful”
UCU have called for a judicial review of the government's decision to ignore calls from its own Sage committee to move all non-essential teaching online and instead reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching. Sage advised the government that coronavirus outbreaks...
Winter closes on the ‘Covid Generation’
Words by Martin Allen, author of Education, Economy and Society. Winter is closing in on the ‘Covid Generation’ – those young people most affected by the pandemic. Youth unemployment, though creeping up significantly, has not yet reached the levels feared in the early...
News round-up: Students report feeling “abandoned” as the government debates their Christmas fate
As Covid cases across the UK rise exponentially, universities have quickly become virus hotspots. Students forced into quarantine have reported feeling "abandoned" by their universities, raising concerns about the mental health crisis that might be triggered by the...
News round-up: Imperial takes a bold step to protect it from the worst effects of Brexit
Brexit dominates the headlines this week, as Imperial announces a partnership with a German university and a scientist warns of the ‘catastrophic’ effect leaving the EU could have on cancer research University ‘dual nationality’ plan for Brexit BBC, 10/10/2018,...
University places are up for grabs in Clearing – but students are not the winners
The fall in applications has led to fierce competition between universities, a drop in income and an uncertain future for both students and staff, argues Professor GR Evans The A-level results are out. Applicants are getting to grips with fending for themselves in...
News round-up: Half of all academics suffer from stress-related mental health problems – but there is good news for EU students
More evidence that an academic career is highly stressful, while the UKRI counts the cost as it fails to register as a charity Half of UK academics ‘suffer stress-linked mental health problems’ Times Higher Education, 06/07/2018, Jack Grove About half of all UK...
Part-time students in decline
Opinion piece by Dorothy Bishop My mother came to England after the war, having met my father when working as a translator for the British Forces in allied-occupied Germany. She’d come from an academic family in Gottingen, and it’s hard to imagine her state of mind in...
News round-up: Two in five school leavers in England apply for university places this year
In England, record numbers of school leavers apply to university – and a record proportion of students are awarded first-class degrees England university applications hit record numbers BBC, 11/07/2019, Anon Record numbers of 18-year-olds in England have...
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...
News round-up: Universities’ financial woes deepen – and vice-chancellors fight back against government interference
The number of English universities in financial deficit is on the up, while an increase in fees for EU students could result in universities becoming even worse off Number of English universities in financial deficit increases BBC, 09/05/2019, David Rhodes The...
Denying loans to students with poor grades would only disadvantage the less well-off, argues David Willetts
In this week’s news round-up, the former universities minister attacks funding proposals that would lead to a two-tier system, while universities are becoming increasingly reliant on non-disclosure agreements Research must solve social problems, says top EU...
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...
CDBU in the International Herald Tribune
The CDBU was recently featured in an article in the International Herald Tribune. The piece was subsequently reprinted in the New York Times. Here’s an excerpt: “Universities are among the U.K.’s most successful institutions,” Howard Hotson, chair of the council’s...
Melvyn Bragg writes about CDBU’s launch in the Telegraph
Writer, broadcaster and CDBU Founding Member Melvyn Bragg (pictured here on the right) recently wrote a short piece in the Telegraph about the CDBU’s launch last week. Here’s an excerpt: The meeting – which lasted precisely one and a half hours, as it was billed to do...
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....
News round-up: Universities receive record number of applications during lockdown, but many are pushing ahead with cuts
Ucas recently announced that UK universities had received a record number of applications over the lockdown period, despite growing concerns about the impacts of coronavirus on the higher education sector. Many universities are pushing ahead with devastating cuts, and...
News round-up: Philosophy and Literature programmes suffer from Covid cuts
This week, LSE launched their 'SHAPE' campaign which strives to promote the humanities and social sciences, students and staff joined forces to condemn the closure of the Philosophy programme at the University of the West of England and devastating cuts to the...
News round-up: Online learning raises questions and issues of accessibility become a growing concern
This week, universities continued to come to grips with the prospect of shifting online, raising questions about quality and accessibility. CDBU also expressed their support for disabled students who feel left behind amid Covid-19 chaos, and we have issued a call for...
News round-up: Universities fear the worst after government refuses multi-billion bailout
The government's rejection of the multi-billion pound bailout needed to save universities has raised serious concerns for the future of higher education. Voluntary severance schemes have been introduced, graduate prospects look bleak, and the shift to online learning...
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...
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...
A fair deal for students: thoughts on the upcoming Augar Review
The government’s attempt to marketise universities has gone woefully wrong, argues Professor Norman Gowar, former principal of Royal Holloway, University of London. It’s time for a radical rethink of student funding The long-awaited Augar Review was...
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,...
News round-up: Casual academics are doing huge amounts of unpaid work
Academic staff on casual contracts do twice the amount of work they are paid for, and a member of the House of Lords hopes to outlaw essay mills Scientists quit Nobel-winning project over authorship dispute Times Higher Education, 05/07/2019, David Matthews A...
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News round-up: Universities plead for financial bailout as they brace for huge losses from Covid-19
The repercussions of Covid-19 are being felt across the higher education sector as Universities UK warn that without support some institutions risk collapse, students go on rent strike, and the REF and TEF are postponed indefinitely Universities UK: state bailout...
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: University staff and students bear the brunt of Covid-19
As Covid-19 continues to inflict damage across the higher education sector and with the plea for a financial bailout falling on deaf ears, students and staff have come out in full force to highlight "inhumane" management practices and responses to the pandemic. NEW on...
News round-up: Universities plead for financial bailout as they brace for huge losses from Covid-19
The repercussions of Covid-19 are being felt across the higher education sector as Universities UK warn that without support some institutions risk collapse, students go on rent strike, and the REF and TEF are postponed indefinitely Universities UK: state bailout...
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...
An alternative vision for the future of Roehampton
This report was contributed to CDBU by Vision for Roehampton, a grassroots campaign organized by members of the UCU Roehampton branch. It is the third in our series titled 'Manifestos for Change', in which we are seeking forward-thinking responses to the present...
More than ever, university governors need academics as partners
This blog was kindly contributed by Steven Jones, Professor of Higher Education at the University of Manchester. Last month, WonkHE ran a short series of blogs on ‘governance in a time of pandemic’. Developed in partnership with one of the ‘big four’ accountancy...
News round-up: Online learning raises questions and issues of accessibility become a growing concern
This week, universities continued to come to grips with the prospect of shifting online, raising questions about quality and accessibility. CDBU also expressed their support for disabled students who feel left behind amid Covid-19 chaos, and we have issued a call for...
News round-up: Universities fear the worst after government refuses multi-billion bailout
The government's rejection of the multi-billion pound bailout needed to save universities has raised serious concerns for the future of higher education. Voluntary severance schemes have been introduced, graduate prospects look bleak, and the shift to online learning...
Widening access
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...
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...