The Wonkhe Show
Episodes
China, graduate employment, wellbeing, attainment gaps
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss a new report on the relationship between universities and China and ask if UK HE is too close to the superpower. T...
Budget, complaints, pensions, history
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we get across Rishi Sunak’s budget and what it means (and doesn’t mean) for higher education.We also discuss the latest b...
Return to campus again, digital learning, wider experience, examnishambles
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we consider the issues presented by the return to campus for students and their universities. There are new reports on digita...
Free speech, applications, the media
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss Gavin Williamson’s proposals on campus free speech and ask “why now” and whether they’ll work. We also rev...
Regulation, complaints, essay mills, WP
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast our guests dissect the latest letter from Gavin Williamson to the Office for Students, and ask if the regulator is becoming u...
UCAS end of cycle, learning experience, student hardship, free speech
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast there’s the ups and downs of student recruitment to discuss as the UCAS cycle reports. We’ve also launched new research o...
Grade inflation, skills, student housing, care leavers
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast there’s new figures on the impact of the pandemic on students to discuss. Did those studying away from home “stay away”...
Augar response, TEF review, Skills for Jobs, funding
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a special podcast this week Team Wonkhe attempts to make sense of a big release of policy documents from the Department for Education. There's an i...
PODCAST: Gavin Williamson, fair assessment, skills
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we consider the fate of Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, and ask what ministers haver to do to get sacked these days. Th...
PODCAST: Start of term special
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To kick the term off Wonkhe's editorial team gathers to discuss the year ahead - taking in everything from the delayed and constrained "staggered" ret...
Brexit, OfS reset, UCAS figures, free speech.
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the end of term at Wonkhe towers but the policy train is still trundling along, and so on the podcast we’re discussing everything from Brexit...
Transfers, ONS, climate change, brexit
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast there are new figures from the Office for Students on student transfer to understand. There’s also some striking survey dat...
Return to campus, graduate skills, pandemic student experience
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast there’s guidance for England for the return to campus in the new year to get across. We also discuss the skills graduates n...
Spending review, racial harassment, digital, Covid complaints
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week there's the Chancellor's spending review to get across and a new report from Universities UK on tackling racial harassment. There's also wor...
Mickey mouse, international, student protection, Cummings going
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast the panel evaluates proposals on quality, standards and so-called “Mickey Mouse” courses. We also think through the great...
Admissions reform, Demo 2010, Christmas
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the show we discuss admissions reform and what's looking like an impending shift towards post qualifications offers. There's also a look ...
Retention, lockdown two, skills and levelling up
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast the panel looks at Wonkhe's new research on non-continuation. We also think through the implications of the month long lockdo...
Half term retention special
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our usual discussion format is on its half term break, so ahead of our Wonkhe @ Home event on retention on November 4th we’ve got a recording of our...
Future, REF, boomerangs, student support
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss demand for higher education and new reports on the future of the sector. We also consider the phenomenon of the "b...
Christmas lockdown, culture wars, student outcomes
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the proposed student lockdown for Christmas and the latest salvos in the sector's slice of the culture wars.We als...
Disabled students, new providers, diverse governors, Conservative conference
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast the panel reflects on a new report on the experience of disabled students in higher education. There is also discussion on th...
Return to campus, Augar, Black History Month
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the show we check in on the return to campus and the fallout from student self-isolation that’s been dominating all the press coverage....
NSS, campus return, UCAS, student politics
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the impending review of the National Student Survey and what’s going on with the great return to campus. We also...
The Secret Life of Students special
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s special edition of the podcast we’ve got a grab bag of highlights from our Secret Life of Students event - covering everything from...
Return to campus, examnishambles, ministers
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In our first episode of the autumn term we consider the issues surrounding higher education's return to campus and the latest Covid guidance from gove...
Clearing and admissions special
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The podcast is back off its hols for a week with a clearing and admissions special. We wrap up the news from the controversial Scottish Highers result...
Expectations, Donelan, restructuring
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In our end of term podcast, we dive into Wonkhe/Pearson research on student expectations around September and consider how universities should respond...
Recovery, international, applications, 50% target
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the economy, the Government’s recovery plan and why some are claiming that bashing universities is “the new Br...
Bailout 2, social mobility, expectations
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the Government’s package of support for research and ask who it’s for and whether it will work. There’s also...
Graduate Outcomes, fees in Australia, PhD students
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss results from the Graduate Outcomes survey, and evaluate reforms to tuition fees in Australia. We also look at HEPI...
Reassurance, international, admissions, Rhodes will fall
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we evaluate universities' efforts to reassure students about the experience they will have from September.We also discuss Jo ...
Consumers, student experience, China, statues
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss OfS’ new guidance on student consumer protection and wonder whether it’s possible to offer the certainty that ...
Reopening, racism, number controls, cost cutting
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the advice on offer to universities about reopening in September. We also look at the reaction to the murder of Ge...
Deferrals, clearing, research, access
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re discussing the possibility of students attempting to defer as we approach September, and consider what the clearing p...
Reopening, mental health, immigration, mergers
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the announcements that universities are starting to make about their approach to September.There's an updated and ...
Science, postgrads, training, student housing
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the relationship between science, society and politics. There's also new report from HEPI on postgrads, a Policy E...
Bailout, social distance, governance, optimism
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we look at the fallout from the Government's support package for universities and students. We also ask whether it's possible...
The Covid-19 support package for universities and students
03 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In a special extra edition of The Wonkhe Show, the editorial team discusses the Government's Covid-19 support package for universities and students.Wo...
Key workers, complaints, international demand, mental health
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we look at the proposal from Universities UK and MillionPlus on attracting government funds to the sector to support current ...
No Buildings from September?
26 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this special extra edition of the Wonkhe Show, we’re looking how universities might prepare for the prospect of having to deliver fully online co...
Bailouts, admissions, September
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we look at UUK's proposed higher education bailout and NUS' proposed student bailout and consider how the proposals are being...
Uni budgets, quality, admissions
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the impact of Covid-19 on university finances, we have a think about maintaining quality and standards in the midd...
Number controls, safety nets, community contribution
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Wonkhe Show we're thinking about student numbers, and the types of regulation and national intervention needed during and after the C...
Covid-19 and admissions, REF, regulation and accommodation
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Wonkhe Show we start to try to make sense of the fall out from the Covid-19 crisis. We discuss admissions and student recruitment, th...
PODCAST: Mental health, universities and Covid-19
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we ask how we maintain our emotional and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. We also process the events of the week j...
PODCAST: Budget, COVID-19, OfS in court, misconduct
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we look at the budget and implications for HE, as well as the impacts on the sector of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office for ...
Graduate premium, careers, levelling up, culture wars
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we go through IFS’ work on the graduate premium, examine HEPI’s take on how graduate employability has changed universiti...
Admissions, coronavirus, number controls, levelling up
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
his week on the podcast we take a look at OfS’ new review of admissions, assess the impact of coronavirus on the sector, and look at whether we’re...
Trinity Hall Cambridge, civic, fair admissions, NSS
20 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss Tortoise’s investigation into sexual misconduct at UK universities, consider UPP’s research into public perception of higher ...
Value indicators, wellbeing, NDAs, student engagement
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast Universities UK is proposing new VFM indicators, there’s new analysis on teaching and learning and mental health, universit...
Student marketing and recruitment special
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s Wonkhe Show is a recruitment special, in association with SMRS.We take a first look at the UCAS data on January deadline application dat...
Access and participation, recruitment, research bureaucracy
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we have a look at the ups and downs of the end of cycle UCAS figures. There's an OfS analysis of access and participation pla...
Augar delay, access, casualisation, grammar schools
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we consider the implications of another delay to the government's response to the Augar review of post-18 fees and funding. ...
Unconditionals, KEF, research culture, racism
16 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we're back in the UK and discussing Nottingham Trent's intervention into the ongoing row about offer making in universities. ...
PODCAST: Harassment regulation, languages, Baltics
09 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we're live from Helsinki where the Wonkhe SUs European Study Tour has been reflecting on meeting friends from across Europe. ...
The Hidden History of HE Box Set: Season 2 Part 2
26 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Wonkhe Show podcast is on its Christmas break, so as a special treat we’ve rolled up Season 2 of the Hidden History of HE into two special box s...
The Hidden History of HE Box Set: Season 2 Part 1
19 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Wonkhe Show podcast is on its Christmas break, so as a special treat we’ve rolled up Season 2 of the Hidden History of HE into two special box s...
PODCAST: The morning after the general election 2019
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the final episode of our podcast this season, we analyse the general election. We take in the result, overall and at the constituency level, and ta...
Free speech, UCAS data, HE SMEs, student data
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the state of independent higher education providers, analyse UCAS’ new self-release function for applications, examine a report...
Applications, nurses, 21st century uni, voter registration
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast (live from Advance HE's governance conference in London) we discuss the release of the first part of UCAS’ data for the mos...
Bolton fire, Oxford Union, election
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the fire that affected student accommodation in Bolton, unpick the incident where a blind international student wa...
Labour, residential HE, PTES, free speech
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we analyse the Labour Party’s plans for education, scrutinise HEPI and UPP’s report on the fact that so many students liv...
Live from Wonkfest 2019
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week live from Wonkfest our guests reflect on two intense days of higher education wonkery. We also chat the coming general election and UCU's im...
OfS reviews applications to get on its register
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week in a half term special Team Wonkhe takes a look at OfS' initial provider registration process, pulling out key themes and asking - is its re...
Racism, grad premium, criminals, VFM
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we dive into the EHRC’s report on racism at British universities, scrutinise HESA’s report on the graduate premium, discu...
Science, TNE, disabled students, demand
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we investigate the government’s plan for a new science agency, discuss transnational education, talk about the Office for S...
Student housing, research funding, sexual misconduct, Augar
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the podcast this week we talk about Chris Skidmore’s intervention into student accommodation not ready for the new term, and his letter to Resear...
Private schools, RORI, care leavers, VC pay
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the podcast this week we discuss Labour's party conference resolution on capping the percentage of kids from private schools going to uni. We also ...
TUNDRA, fees, initiations, midwives
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we talk about equality, privilege, and TUNDRA; and the shelving of £7,500 fees. We also chat UUK’s new guidance on initiat...
Mental health, BME gap, freshers
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we dive into Unite Students and HEPI’s new insights report, discuss Gavin Williamson’s letter to the Office for Students, look at the ba...
UUK Conference, International Students, Discover Uni
12 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The podcast is back for its autumn season, and we're chatting all the gossip and speeches from Universities UK's annual conference in Birmingham. Ther...
Higher technical, Warwick, clearing
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On our final podcast of the season we dive into the Department for Education’s technical review of level 4 and 5 qualifications and the results of a...
NSS, DMU, new SU officers
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we dive into the Office for Students’ annual report and look at wider issues of governance surrounding the OfS investigation into De Montf...
Private schools, LEO, REF, free speech
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss the Sutton Trust and Social Mobility Commission’s report on the educational backgrounds of Britain’s leaders a...
S3 Ep8: VC pay, mental health, TEF4, graduation
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the show we chat the results of UCU's FOI requests to universities about VC membership of remuneration committees, and the PM’s prevent...
S3 Ep7: Student experience, safeguarding, mobility, Tories
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the annual student academic experience survey produced by HEPI and Advance HE to dissect students’ perceptions of value for mon...
S3 Ep5: Augar special
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The long awaited Augar review is finally out, and this week our top wonks discuss the proposals, implications for the sector and politics of the revie...
The education policy trap: will the Augar review avoid the mistakes of the past?
25 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the eve of the expected publication of the Augar review of Post-18 Education and Funding, Mark Leach asks if it will avoid the education policy tra...
S3 Ep4: Staff well being, degree classification, student health
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the Higher Education Policy Institute’s report on staff mental health and the University of Oxford’s programme to widen acces...
S3 Ep3: Research, anti-semitism, social mobility, car parking
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the government’s strategy on research and innovation and the Minister’s intervention on anti-semitism. Duncan Exley, former D...
S3 Ep2: NDAs, ministers and offers, wellbeing
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the Minister’s intervention on non-disclosure agreements and research, and get up to speed with the latest in the row over cond...
EU students, over-education, BME attainment, Cambridge and slavery
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The amount that EU students may have to pay to come to a UK university has been across the news this week, and our podcast guests analyse the debate. ...
The Hidden History of HE
24 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve been on our Easter break at Wonkhe towers, so this week we’ve got a special treat - the whole season of the Hidden History of HE in one podc...
Non disclosures, access, pro-life, a levels
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the last podcast before our Easter break, we discuss the rise of non-disclosure agreements for university staff, the state of the Office for Studen...
Kirsty Williams
17 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus edition of the podcast, Wonkhe's editor Debbie McVitty sits down with Wales' Education Secretary Kirsty Williams to discuss high...
Tories, NUS, stalking, rent guarantors
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A centre-right think tank has a new report out on generational differences. We also discuss NUS' conference, data on stalking and a fascinating rent g...
Financial forecasts, cybersecurity, apps
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
OfS has finally published its assessment of English providers' finances - and the forecasts look shaky. Our guests discuss the implications, along wit...
Grade inflation, loneliness, mergers, Peterson
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is grade inflation the problem that Damian Hinds claims it is? This week on the podcast we discuss DfE’s “intervention” on the issue, as well as...
International, cheating, skills, demography
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The government has published a new international education strategy - but is it enough given the competition? On the podcast this week we discuss the ...
Data, housing, funding and cheating
14 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the podcast this week we discuss the impact of recent political developments on higher education, data futures, and new research on student accommo...
Uni bailouts, subsidies and teaching excellence
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is the real cost to the taxpayer of funding higher education? This week on the podcast we look at report trying to answer that question, as well ...
Strike complaints, access, harassment
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the show this week we discuss student complaints about last year's strike action and compensation. The Office for Students has new guidance out on ...
Labour, decolonisation, housing
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we discuss Labour's emerging policy on higher education. There's also a look at curriculum decolonisation campaigns getting t...
VC pay, civic, staff on TEF
15 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast the Office for Students has released data on senior pay, and there’s a major report on the civic role of universities. The...
Michael Barber live at Wonkfest18
10 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The full recording of Michael Barber live at Wonkfest18. Accompanying slides can be found here: https://wonkhe.com/wp-content/wonkhe-uploads/2018/11/W...
Sam Gyimah in conversation - live at Wonkfest18
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The full recording of Sam Gyimah in conversation - live at Wonkfest18. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.