The Wonkhe Show

Mar 13 2025 253 ep. 43 mins 459

The Wonkhe Show Podcast artwork

Every week the Wonkhe team and guests from across higher education dissect the week's big policy developments, and we also feature interviews, features and views from around the sector.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Government News

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Free speech, graduates, student finance

Mar 13 2025 32 mins

This week on the podcast free speech tsar Arif Ahmed is back as the government presses ahead with the free speech act - we get across the implications. Plus there’s new analysis on how graduates’ importance to the government’s industrial strategy, and we take a closer look at the inequalities baked into student maintenance support.With Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Execut

OfS chair, employment, skills

Mar 06 2025 43 mins

This week on the podcast Nottingham Trent VC Edward Peck has been confirmed as the government’s candidate for Chair of OfS. But what does his focus on “quality improvement” and engagement with governing bodies mean for the regulator’s approach—and how will his skepticism of government bailouts impact struggling institutions?Meanwhile, as the Employment Rights Bill sees si

New leaders, Gen-AI, Visas

Feb 27 2025 33 mins

This week on the podcast UK Research and Innovation and the Office for Students both have new leadership – but what does that mean for the future of regulation, research funding, and sector confidence?Meanwhile, a new report reveals a dramatic rise in student use of generative AI, and as speculation swirls over potential changes to post-study work visas, the sector braces for fur

Wales cuts, mental health, regulation

Feb 20 2025 47 mins

This week on the podcast the Welsh government has announced £18.5m in additional capital funding for universities - but questions remain over reserves, job cuts, competition law and student protection. Meanwhile, new research reveals student mental health difficulties have tripled in the past seven years, and Universities UK warns that OfS’ new strategy risks expanding regulator

REF people and culture, spending review, apprenticeships

Feb 13 2025 42 mins

This week on the podcast universities failing to promote diversity will face funding cuts – so said The Times. We chat through the controversy building around the REF. Plus we look at what the sector is asking for in the spending review, and consider the government’s push for lower-level, shorter apprenticeships.With Shitij Kapur, Vice Chancellor and President at King's College

Protection, visas, commuter students

Feb 06 2025 54 mins

This week on the podcast OfS is introducing new protections for some students - but will they come fast enough and who will they apply to? Plus a Lords committee says UK visa policy for scientists and researchers is an “act of national self-harm”, and we’ve launched a new article series on commuter students.With Omar Khan, Chief Executive at TASO, Charlotte Corrish, Head of P

Cuts, applications, campus climate

Jan 30 2025 41 mins

This week on the podcast as news of further redundancies sweeps the sector, we ask how bad things can get before the government will act or the public notice. Plus UCAS end of cycle applications data has arrived, there’s a new report on the campus encampments, and there’s data futures news to get across.With Alex Stanley, Vice President for Higher Education at the National Unio

Funding, attendance, student hardship

Jan 23 2025 51 mins

This week on the podcast Minister of State for Skills Jacqui Smith helped launch a pamphlet on whether universities are “worth it” - and was notably cold on extra money. But does she mean outlay or eventual return to the Treasury?Plus there’s changes afoot in Scotland, UKVI is cracking down on attendance for international students and students are still feeling the pinch fina

Free speech, uni finances, regional inequality

Jan 16 2025 44 mins

This week on the podcast the government is to press on with implementing parts of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 while seeking to repeal others - we discuss what will (and should) happen next. Plus there’s a report on more resilient and sustainable higher education finances, and NEON has been looking at regional inequality in university admissions.With Richard

Visegrad special

Jan 09 2025 63 mins

This week on the podcast Jim, Mack and team are on a bus around the Visegrad countries where they’ve been exploring student experience, representation and rights, discounted dorms and a set of countries where students have been leading change.Plus Disabled Students UK has its access insights survey out, and we discuss changes to the Renter's Rights Bill.With Katie Jackson, Facult