The Wonkhe Show

Team Wonkhe
  • 5.0 (1)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. Erasmus+, student loans, Rhineland study tour

    3D AGO

    Erasmus+, student loans, Rhineland study tour

    This week on the podcast from Nijmegen on the SUs study tour the team discuss the return of the UK to Eramus+. What steps can UK HE take to ensure that UK students take advantage of and get the benefits of mobility? Plus there’s a Private Members’ Bill on student loan timings, and the team share reflections on the associations, student leaders, curricula and food they’ve seen across Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Switzerland. With Abi Taylor, President at Durham SU, Gary Hughes, CEO at Durham SU, Mack Marshall, Community and Policy Officer at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Re-associating with Erasmus+ is only the first step Student Finance (Review of Payment Schedules) Rhineland Study Tour blogs

    1h 12m
  2. REF 2029, franchising crackdown, year in review

    12/11/2025

    REF 2029, franchising crackdown, year in review

    This week on the podcast we examine what the rebooted 2029 Research Excellence Framework will mean for universities’ research strategies, research culture, and future funding – including the new “strategy, people and research environment” element and the renewed focus on contribution to knowledge and understanding through research outputs. Plus we discuss the government’s crackdown on franchised higher education provision and student loan eligibility, and we look back at the defining moments of 2025 in higher education policy – from regulation and finance to admissions, academic freedom and research – and consider what they might signal for universities in 2026 and beyond. With Steph Harris, Director of Policy at Universities UK, Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business at the University of Manchester, Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. On the site: Re-thinking research support for English universities: Research England’s programme of work during the REF 2029 pause Everything you need to know about REF 2029 Study a Bachelors DEGREE without paying a single penny? You’re on Weekend courses can’t get student loans Sub-contractual providers need to register with OfS You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Acast, Amazon Music, Deezer, RadioPublic, Podchaser, Castbox, Player FM, Stitcher,

    59 min
  3. AI, uni finances, civic

    12/04/2025

    AI, uni finances, civic

    This week on the podcast artificial intelligence remains front and centre, with a look at the growing concerns around AI-generated teaching content and the student backlash it's prompted. We also discuss our new project with Kortext on AI in pedagogy and an emerging debate over AI’s place in the REF process. Plus we explore the financial strategies universities in England are adopting in response to mounting pressures, and what does a more ambitious civic university agenda look like in 2025? With James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, Jo Heaton-Marriott, Managing Director at the Authentic Partnership, Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of the Education Practice at Public First and hosted by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe. The end of pretend – AI and the case for universities of formation High quality learning means developing and upskilling educators on the pedagogy of AI Counting the cost of financial challenges in English higher education Civic 2.0 – the civic university agenda but with sustainable impact

    37 min
  4. Budget, R&D, Scotland’s Tertiary Bill

    11/27/2025

    Budget, R&D, Scotland’s Tertiary Bill

    This week on the podcast we examine how Budget 2025 reshapes the university funding model – from the international levy and modest new maintenance grants, to confirmed tuition fee uplifts and changes to pension tax arrangements that will affect institutional costs. We discuss what the package tells us about the government’s approach to public finances, the politics of international recruitment, and the sustainability of cross-subsidy in a tight fiscal environment for higher education. Plus we discuss research and innovation announcements and get across debate in Holyrood on the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill. With Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor and CEO at Harper Adams University, Debbie McVitty, Editor at Wonkhe, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Budget 2025 for universities and students Universities now need to be much clearer about the total cost of a course Student finance changes in the budget – Director’s cut Reclassification ghosts and jam tomorrow at stage 2 of Scotland’s tertiary bill A government running out of road still sets the economic weather for higher education A change in approach means research may never be the same again

    48 min
  5. Reform UK, local skills, students at work

    11/20/2025

    Reform UK, local skills, students at work

    This week on the podcast we examine what the rise of Reform UK – and new insight into its prospective voters – might mean for universities, international education, and the wider public legitimacy of higher education. Plus we discuss Skills England’s new guidance on local skills improvement plans – and the move to place higher education, up to postgraduate level, at the heart of local skills ecosystems – and a new study of student working lives that reveals how paid employment alongside full-time study is reshaping participation, wellbeing, and outcomes. With Sam Roseveare, Director of Regional and National Policy at University of Warwick, Alex Favier, Director at Favier Ltd, Jen Summerton, Operations Director at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Labour takes steps to bring higher education and local skills closer together Long hours and poor working conditions hit students’ outcomes hard The surprising pragmatism of Reform UK voters towards international education Higher education’s civic role has never been more important to get right

    37 min
  6. Access, governance, festival vibes

    11/12/2025

    Access, governance, festival vibes

    This week on the podcast, live from our Festival in London, we discuss access and social mobility as the Office for Students reshuffles its leadership, and the Sutton Trust publishes a new report that paints a sobering picture. Plus we discuss university governance and our new paper for the Post-18 Project, and we capture the vibes from our event, from the best quotes to the big debates shaping the sector’s future. With Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive at Advance HE, Janet Lord, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Michael Salmon, News Editor at Wonkhe – and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Sutton Trust: Degrees of Difference OfS: Director for Fair Access and Participation steps down from regulator Earning the license: How to reform university governance in the UK

    50 min
  7. Banned algorithms, schools curriculum, Wales student finance

    11/06/2025

    Banned algorithms, schools curriculum, Wales student finance

    This week on the podcast we examine the Office for Students’ (OfS) renewed scrutiny of degree classification algorithms and what it means for confidence in standards. We explore the balance between institutional autonomy, transparency for students and employers, and the evidence regulators will expect. Plus we discuss the government’s response to the Francis review of curriculum and assessment in England, and the Welsh government’s plan to lift the undergraduate fee cap in 2026–27 to align with England with a 2 per cent uplift to student support. With Alex Stanley, Vice President for Higher Education of the National Union of Students, Michelle Morgan, Dean of Students at the University of East London, David Kernohan, Deputy Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe. Algorithms aren’t the problem. It’s the classification system they support The Office for Students steps on to shaky ground in an attempt to regulate academic standards Universities in England can’t ignore the curriculum (and students) that are coming Diamond’s a distant memory as Wales plays inflation games with fees and maintenance What we still need to talk about when it comes to the LLE

    33 min
  8. Public attitudes, housing, employability

    10/30/2025

    Public attitudes, housing, employability

    This week on the podcast we discuss fresh polling on public attitudes to UK universities, which shows how a widening graduate/non-graduate divide and sharper political splits are fuelling worries about degree quality and whether universities are focused on the country’s interests. Plus we discuss the housing crunch – the new Renters’ Rights Act, warnings on missed housebuilding targets, and what a forthcoming statement of expectations on student accommodation could require of providers working with local authorities. And we explore employability insights from new research – the language gap between university “attributes” and real job adverts, and how to recognise skills students gain beyond the curriculum. With Ben Ward, CEO at the University of Manchester Students’ Union, Johnny Rich, Chief Executive at the Engineering Professors’ Council and Push, Livia Scott, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and presented by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe. Student accommodation – a tale of two cities, and 2point4 students The Renters’ Rights Act is out of the oven, but the student housing market is still cooked Shared Institutions: The public’s view on the role of universities in national and local life / More in Common and UCL Policy Lab AGCAS: Uncovering Skills Employability: degrees of value / Johnny Rich

    54 min
See All (286)

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Team Wonkhe
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    286
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Wonkhe.com
  • Show Website
    The Wonkhe Show

You Might Also Like