The Wonkhe Show

Team Wonkhe

Every week the Wonkhe team and guests from across higher education dissect the week's big policy developments, and we also feature views from around the sector.

  1. Labour Conference 2025

    2 OCT

    Labour Conference 2025

    This week on the podcast, as the dust settles on Labour conference in Liverpool, we unpack what Keir Starmer’s new higher education participation target really means – and whether universities have the capacity and funding to meet the moment. We also get into the surprise return of targeted maintenance grants – funded controversially by the levy on international student fees, and we reflect on the wider political atmosphere at the conference – from policy signals to sector perceptions, and what all this might tell us about Labour’s emerging offer and forthcoming White Paper. With Gary Hughes, Chief Executive at Durham Students’ Union, Eve Alcock, Director of Public Affairs at QAA, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and hosted by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. The PM’s announcement on higher level participation is a win for the HE sector The fifty per cent participation target is no more. Again. Grants return, the levy stays Maybe the levy just moves money to where it’s needed most The Augar review is back, baby. Just don’t about talk yourself Students are being othered again – and everyone loses out Have universities got the capacity and cash to respond to the government’s agenda? How much should the new maintenance grant be? Universities should be central to rebuilding communities Students are working harder than ever – because they have to I have a lot of questions about the LLE Who’s ready for a debate at 930am on a Sunday? The education policy trap: will the Augar review avoid the mistakes of the past?

    51 min
  2. Sexual misconduct, international levy, closures

    25 SEPT

    Sexual misconduct, international levy, closures

    This week on the podcast we examine the results of the Office for Students’ first sector-wide survey on sexual misconduct. With over 50,000 responses from final-year undergraduates, the data provides a stark picture of prevalence, reporting, and staff-student relationships in higher education. But with only sector-level results released, questions remain about transparency, accountability, and the regulator’s approach to such a sensitive issue. Plus we discuss the politics and potential consequences of a proposed levy on international student fees – a policy idea that could reshape funding, recruitment, and the UK’s global competitiveness. And we take stock of warnings from the Institute of Physics about possible closures of departments and courses, asking what this says about funding for high-cost subjects and the sector’s capacity to manage contraction and change. With Charlotte Corrish, Head of Public Policy at the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, Mark Bennett, Vice President Research and Insight at Keystone Education Group, and David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe, and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe. The “regulatory burden” on sexual misconduct needs to lift the weight from students What OfS’ data on harassment and sexual misconduct doesn’t tell us IOP: Quarter of UK university physics departments risk closure as funding crisis bites Public First: Counting the cost – Modelling the economic impact of a potential levy on international student fees

    34 min
4.3
out of 5
75 Ratings

About

Every week the Wonkhe team and guests from across higher education dissect the week's big policy developments, and we also feature views from around the sector.

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