The Australian government recently established a national regulator with responsibilities of registration and accreditation of all kinds of higher education providers including universities. The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) subsumes the functions of the previous Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) with…

Student Engagement is the investment of time, effort and other relevant resources by both students and their institutions intended to optimise the student experience and enhance the learning outcomes and development of students, and the performance and reputation of the institution. As such, it has affective, behavioural and cognitive dimensions,…

This paper assesses the growing UK private sector in education and questions whether it is, as its supporters suggest, a valuable addition to an already diverse national system. An earlier "Perspectives" paper (Woodfield et al 2011) explored the emerging partnerships between public and private sectors. This follow-up explores the roles that the…

The author has been asked by the Editor-in-Chief to write about the impact of fees on the sector. He does so with concern for the impact on and implications for applicants, students, graduates and their families. Home and European Union undergraduate tuition fees are of course only part of the fee picture for higher education institutions (HEIs),…

There is limited literature that looks at the evolution of student services in the UK and their effectiveness in providing student support. Student support is broadly defined as all services that support students to learn. Academic and non-academic support are essential mechanisms in providing holistic student support. In this article, the author…

"Tick Off to Take Off (TOTTO)" is an online pre-departure guide for UK undergraduates intending to study abroad. It aims to simplify the application process, centralise information, increase efficiency and improve retention rates. TOTTO responds to the changing climate surrounding study abroad in UK universities and offers one way to address calls…

This article explores the issues facing practitioners working in the field of student complaints and appeals (including academic appeals). It is a reflective study which examines some general and historical issues, using anonymised case studies where appropriate and highlighting the diversity of practice across the sector. The author observes that…

This is Part 2 of Professor Eastwood's paper given as the AUA Annual Guest Lecture on 24 October 2007. In Part 1 he summarised the historical development of British higher education and reflected on five topics which appear to be settled in the HE debate: desirability of mass HE; desirability of sector diversity; a mixed economy for funding;…

The introduction of tuition fees in 1998 has transferred more of the cost of higher education (HE) onto students and inevitably their families. As students make a greater contribution towards their education, they have increased expectations regarding the services and facilities that higher education institutions (HEIs) provide in support of their…

Traditionally, universities were seen as academic communities in which students and staff were engaged in a scholarly partnership. As is well known, this view has substantially given way to the student being considered as a "customer" or "consumer," with all that it implies--including higher risks (Palfreyman 2003). The law has reflected this…