Phil Baty

🔊 Today Universities UK have published a blueprint for change in the Higher Education sector. I welcome this package of reforms, which would stabilise, mobilise and maximise the contribution of UK universities to economic growth and widening opportunity.  💪 All the evidence shows the UK economy of the future needs more graduates not fewer. Doing nothing is not an option - the Government and sector must come together to ensure we have a higher education system that is fit for the future. Collaboration is the essential component in this conversation.  💷 We need to support students and put universities on a firm financial footing. For example, it’s clear that maintenance grants for students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds should be reintroduced to reverse what is currently a very regressive approach. The challenging financial situation that many universities are in needs addressing through a re-evaluation of direct funding and appropriate changes to tuition fees, in order to create a more sustainable funding model. 🏫 This is not a one way conversation: Universities need to play our part too. At Sheffield Hallam University we are already taking the difficult decisions needed to ensure we are financially sustainable for the future, reducing our costs and looking at new ways to grow income. We’re prioritising delivering for our region, working closely with partners to meet local skills and innovation needs.  💗 Universities are uniquely placed to help drive economic and social benefits across the UK, particularly here in South Yorkshire. I’m proud that Sheffield Hallam continues to make a positive impact on our local area, working with partners to create a better place to live, work and study. But the Government and sector must now commit to the actions needed to stabilise the sector and ensure universities can continue to be a force for public good in the places they serve.  https://lnkd.in/e5hEuii5

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Universities power the UK economy! As a sector we need to be even more effective in delivering value, while also communicating our contribution in a consistent and compelling manner.

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At this important time for the university sector, I’m pleased to have played a part in shaping the new Universities UK report ‘Opportunity, growth, and partnership: a blueprint for change for the UK’s universities’.  This is a bold plan to widen opportunities for all who benefit from teaching, learning, research and innovation, working strategically with the government. Universities are essential to driving economic growth, innovation, and productivity across the UK. By equipping graduates with the skills needed for the jobs of the future, universities have a direct impact on productivity and competitiveness, and drive forward new industries, create sustainable employment, and ensure that the UK remains globally competitive. Locally, universities act as anchor institutions: creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting thriving communities. This blueprint provides a clear and ambitious path forward, and I encourage you all to join us in delivering on this vision for the future of our country. I look forward to continuing the conversation about how universities can not only drive economic growth and support the government’s priorities, but also help individuals achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background, through access to education and opportunity. All credit to UUK’s Chief Executive, Vivienne Stern and her team, and our President, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, for their leadership here. #highereducation #economicgrowth #opportunity #reform #partnerships #socialmobility #universities Callum Patterson

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After nearly a year of careful consultation and debate, Universities UK have published their blueprint for the future of the higher education sector: 'Opportunity, growth and partnership.' I had the privilege of being one of the commissioners of the report with particular responsibility, with John Rushforth, for the chapter on Financial Sustainability. Our proposal is straightforward - enough unit of resource per student to support the cost of teaching. Universities currently incur a loss teaching UK undergraduate students. We ask for tuition fees to be kept steady in real terms, in other words, adjusted for inflation, with government help to meet the remaining shortfall through teaching grants per student. UK universities provide the best graduation completion rates in the OECD. We are proud of that achievement and are committed to working with the government to keep it so for the future generation of students.

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The new report published this week by Universities Wales makes for some incredibly encouraging reading with regard to the value that Wales’ higher education sector adds to the wider economy. Some of the highlights include that Welsh universities’teaching, research and innovation activities makes an impact of £10.97 billion to the UK economy. And not only that – every £1 of public money put into universities across Wales generates over £13 of economic impact.That’s a cost to benefit ratio of 13.1 to 1 – an enviable ratio for most industries. At a time of immense challenge for the sector, this report strongly evidences the economic impact of Welsh universities and demonstrates the value that universities add – not only benefiting our local communities but also contributing to the national economy. Welsh institutions are crucial in driving forward innovation and economic growth, as well as shaping the future of individuals and wider society. I’m enormously proud of the highly skilled graduates that we produce here at Wrexham University, as well as our important research and our support of other sectors through our knowledge transfers. Our universities here in Wales hold the keys to unlocking future potential, opportunities, as well as addressing some of our biggest challenges in society.

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Very interested to learn more tomorrow about #StrikingTheBalance.

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Pleased to share an initial Birkbeck, University of London response to the Universities UK 'blueprint for change' Priority asks which we'll be pushing - - Government must look at the potential of a graduate contribution as opposed to a loan system. - The growing regulatory burden is in danger of stifling innovation, and time and thought is needed to ensure that the Office for Students operates in a proportionate manner informed by risk. - There is also a need to build funding and regulatory arrangements that support, rather than penalise, flexibility and lifelong learning. It is imperative that gaps that impede progression between different funding and regulatory regimes under which adults can access education and skills are eradicated.

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Bravo to the International Higher Education Commission (IHEC) Oxford International Education Group Rt Hon Chris Skidmore & all those involved in this report. It is worth noting that there has been no, Non-EU #graduateoutcomes data from HESA: Higher Education Statistics Agency since 2019, & at that point knowing how critical this data would be to the sector Asia Careers Group SDN BHD stepped in immediately to fill this significant data gap. Since then ACG has collected over 70,000 UK international graduate’s #career journeys, for over 60 UK universities & has undertaken this work unfunded by government &/or sector bodies. This data is now readily available to all UK #universities committed to “investing in international #futures” & data can be collected retrospectively for institutions if needed. The annual institution subscription cost is £9,950. Alternatively a report on the entire data set 70,000+ UK Non-EU graduates, could be made available to government &/or sector bodies for £350,000, if there is in fact a appetite to invest on behalf of a UK #highereducation sector under significant financial pressure at the present time. As one can imagine this has been a significant financial undertaking & one #hesa has been unwilling to take on. Let us hope the UK sector is now truly committed to understanding Non-EU #graduateoutcomes & supporting the transition of their #overseasstudents to the workforce both in the UK & even more importantly back in their home countries. Data also exists for all 40 #Australian universities should governments & or sector bodies wish to benchmark UK graduate outcomes against another English speaking study destination. “Graduate outcomes data was also a big part of the report – or the lack of it, which has been highlighted before by other organisations. “HESA stopped calling international students to save costs; the UK government mandated a 10% efficiency saving for HESA, & telephone follow-up… was a significant expense,” the report said, adding that such a decision was a concern for institutions & student bodies. Low response rates also mean a lack of evidence of the #employability of the UK’s #internationalstudents, – a critical decision-making factor for #students who are looking to the UK as a #study destination.” A Universities UK International report found just 3% of international student’s said they’re university #careersservice helped them find a job, up from just 2% in 2019. We all have to do a far better job in making good on our promise to international students & their successful transition to the workforce. Asia Careers Group SDN BHD AGCAS AUIDF British Council BUILA Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Jisc Office for Students National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (NAGCAS) Russell Group of Universities UCAS UKCISA Universities Australia Universities Scotland Universities UK

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Are you interested in finding out more about the influences that shape young people's choices for university applications in the UK? Do students rely more on their informal networks - peers and parents - rather than formal sources like admissions guides and university websites? How does this exacerbate social inequalities, as students have very different networks and social capital? Join this webinar, on Monday 30 September, 4 pm UK time, and hear from MIT Department of Economics researchers Kartik Vira and Nagisa Tadjfar - there are opportunities for schools to join the study, with direct benefits to your students and to the advice that you provide them. If you are advising students about university choices, or supporting young people, this is likely to be of interest. Do share with others who may be interested.

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For all who work in UK international education or who have seen its benefits over many years both at home and overseas, one important aspect of today’s Universities UK Blueprint is that international education underpins almost every chapter of this report, not only the one on Global Reach. British research is cross-subsidised by international fees, but also carried out by international teams including researchers who have worked all over the world, or perhaps came to British universities first as international students. Our leading PIs are often international as are our partners and collaborators. Civic impact is also underpinned by international students and staff. There would be no Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (and related apprenticeship training centre) in South Yorkshire without international industrial partners and the first engineer placed in a local company — daughter of a Vietnamese boat refugee. Economic impacts are well rehearsed but regional hospitals and dentists practices are sustained by international students undertaking placements. And NHS consultants are often international and on joint contracts with universities, like the Indian consultant who treated my son Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust Universities need help, but have so much to offer. That will only truly succeed though as The Royal Society has noted if scholars, teachers, support staff and students from overseas are welcome in word and deed. British universities are international to their core and global leaders because of it. Universities UK International National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK University World News Pie News Higher Education Policy Institute Study Group UKCISA #WeAreInternational

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Clear, concise budget analysis from The Conversation UK and Phil Tomlinson provides his usual expert commentary on what this means for investment and the emerging industrial strategy 👏

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Will be interesting to see how the government responds to Universities UK's blueprint for higher education; I will be checking the detail of the autumn budget! There is a lot of potential if, as the report says, 'stable and effective incentives for universities to collaborate' are put in place.

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Really excited to see that the issue of why women leave PR is finally getting more attention; other sectors have been active in exploring this - PR less so. I interviewed women about this topic a few years ago and you can read about it in Dr Martina Topić, FHEA's excellent book 'Towards a new understanding of masculine habitus and women and leadership in public relations.' https://lnkd.in/e7msp7jR The title of my chapter, '“It’s Trivial, Bitchy and Dull.” Why women leave public relations and the renegotiation of identities' is a bit of a spoiler for one of the reasons why women leave PR (the other is being sidelined for promotion or pushed into boring roles when returning to work after having kids, either because of a lack of time for office socials/informal chats where a lot of decisions are made or because assumptions were made by management about the time they had available or what they'd like to do). Will be interesting to see if the latest research has similar findings. Sadly I suspect little will have changed but it's good to explore the reasons why women exit the industry to shine a mirror on workplace practices. These can include assumptions about what women with childcare responsibilities want/don't want to do (top tip - ALWAYS ask, never assume) and ties in with recent discussions about areas such as flexible working and salary transparency.

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Was fantastic to welcome Darlington Economic Campus colleagues to Teesside University yesterday for a workshop on Place-Based Cultural Change and Creative Policy Making led by my fantastic colleagues Professor Azadeh Fatehrad, Prof Antonia Liguori, Prof Matthew Cotton, Dr Sally Blackburn-Daniels and Dr Michael Mulvihill. Drawing on our interdisciplinary research on public policy and place leadership, we explored how creative tools and visual metaphors can shape our understanding of the North East, focusing on challenges, opportunities, and connections. ✨ Key Highlights: • Participants shared personal reflections using the Pepeha method, connecting themselves to their local landscapes and building a shared understanding of place. • Through interactive activities, we mapped out perceptions of living in the NE, discussing how media and policy shape these views. • Using creative materials, participants visualized opportunities (balloons), challenges (stones), and bridges to symbolize connections for growth. • We ended the day with a powerful reflection session, gathering key takeaways and discussing how these insights can inform future strategies. #PolicyMaking #PlaceBasedApproaches #NorthEast #CommunityEngagement #CreativeStrategies #Leadership #PlaceMaking #DEC #TeessideUniversity #CollectivePlaceLeadership Zak Anderson-Watt Ellie Moir Beth Russell Matthew Watson Dr. Laura Sillars

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Another highly positive report of the work we do and the value the creative sector brings Please read, take note of its findings, but action is required from policy makers to ensure we are thriving in 10 yrs (….and not just surviving!)

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Fab opportunity in a rapidly developing area

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➡️How to fix the primary maths curriculum What should Labour do with primary maths? Prioritise fluency and pleasure, say Peter Foulds and David Thomas OBE - and here is their blueprint to do it. A must read for primary and maths teachers and leaders! https://lnkd.in/eEY9FS7U

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The first 5 episodes of series 2 of #TheSoundOfPolitics with Professor Stephen Coleman are out. This series focuses on communication around #elections, including several mini-pod episodes looking at the #UKelection. The series will continue later this month with episodes on the French, U.S. and other elections around the world. https://lnkd.in/dNC_Axi5

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