As the world welcomes a new year, the issues that the coronavirus pandemic has inflicted on higher education remain. Students across the UK have begun rent strikes, university staff face the prospect of returning to unsafe campuses, and debates about the value of online learning rage on. Calls for students to get rent rebates at...Read More

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 their university places. While this is excellent news for students, universities have been left...Read More

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 ‘Manifestos for Change’ from institutions across the UK. NEW on the CDBU blog:...Read More

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 the closure of all schools amid the coronavirus outbreak could hurt the poorest students most, lead...Read More

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 able to join the European Union’s next research programme if its government seeks...Read More

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 has given universities a final warning to guard free speech or face legislation. In an article for The...Read More

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 activists Daily Telegraph, 24/01/2020, Camilla Turner and Ewan Somerville An Oxford University professor has...Read More

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 Morgan The certainty that Brexit will happen, a potential reshaping of the research funding system to...Read More

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 that a general election will be held in December may have finally given some people optimism...Read More

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, 03/10/2019, John Morgan The new president of Universities UK has said that...Read More