Universities UK organised a seminar in Brighton in April 2010, bringing together vice-chancellors, researchers and policymakers to take a close look at the implications of the global and national economic crisis for both the UK economy and higher education. It also examined the changing nature of student demand in a post-recession economy. This seminar is part of ongoing discussions around these issues, and these themes will also be explored within the context of Universities UK's soon-to-be published "Recession to Recovery" project. The seminar was organised by the Universities UK Longer-Term Strategy Group chaired by Professor Geoffrey Crossick, then Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London. Its proceedings were conducted under the Chatham House rule, so this synthesis avoids attribution. This report presents the main discussions that took place during the seminar, and should not be seen as representing the views of Universities UK. (Contains 5 endnotes.)