This briefing is intended to support Universities UK (UUK) members ahead of the implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. The government introduced the Act with the intention of strengthening freedom of speech and academic freedom in higher education in England, and received Royal Assent in May 2023. The legislation will have…

Are some graduates going on to do non-graduate jobs? Evidence collected from interviews with universities careers services shows many have in fact seen an improvement in graduate employment -- specifically, in more graduates entering 'high skilled professions' and unemployment rates going down. Many universities have implemented a mandatory work…

The National Health Service (NHS) celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. Its founding principles of care for all, free at point of need, funded from general taxation, a source of British pride. However the public has growing concerns about the standard of care and is pessimistic about the future. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (LTWP),…

This framework was developed to to support universities in England to identify courses where value or quality might be a problem and act on it. It aims to: (1) address concerns about low-value courses; (2) build public and government confidence in the quality and value of courses; and (3) show Universities UK's commitment to being consistent and…

Recognising growing concerns about the incidence of staff-to-student sexual misconduct in higher education, this guidance aims to change the culture of higher education to one that prevents sexual misconduct from occurring and ensures high standards of behaviour and safety for all members of the university community. The guidance was developed by…

An effective higher education admissions system is key to ensuring the stability of the education sector and commanding public confidence in the ability of universities and colleges to deliver the best outcomes for students. Universities and colleges are autonomous in their admissions processes, but these processes are delivered in line with…

As the new academic year begins, higher education providers (HEPs) are building on their experience of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic--including key partnerships with public health--to mitigate possible risks of monkeypox. This briefing provides principles for the prevention and case management of monkeypox infections in UK higher education…

The challenges to education brought about by the pandemic provide an opportunity to take a fresh look at how universities in England can best deliver on access and participation and accelerate education recovery. With John Blake due to start as the new Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS) in early 2022, we…

The UK government has been called on to reform the Visitor immigration route by increasing the length of time short-term exchange students are permitted to stay in the UK from six months to one academic year. The contribution of international students to the UK is celebrated and discussed within the higher education sector. However, not as much…

The wide-ranging agreement reached between the UK government and the European Union on a future relationship has several implications for universities, their staff and students, and an initial summary of these is provided in this report. The terms of agreement relating to the following topics are detailed herein: (1) Research collaboration:…

The University and College Union (UCU) has been in dispute with 69 universities over the latest valuation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) -- the largest private sector pension scheme in the UK. Over 50,000 members of staff were balloted for strike action by UCU in opposition to the outcome of the 2018 valuation, which determined…

The UK's universities are a global success story; world-renowned for high-quality teaching and for supporting social mobility and economic growth across the UK. In February 2018, the prime minister launched the government's review of post-18 education and funding in England. The review aims to 'ensure that the education system for those aged 18…

As highlighted in the report of the McMillan Group in 2016, "University Knowledge Exchange (KE) Framework: good practice in technology transfer" (ED574177) there is no single profile of knowledge exchange that is appropriate to all universities. What is best for a given university is very context driven through the discipline portfolio…

This briefing sets out how the government can secure an effective post-Brexit settlement where universities can maximise their contribution to a globally-successful UK. Putting universities at the heart of any post-Brexit settlement will help create opportunities for trade, build networks and partnerships and create opportunities to expand…

Hiring people with a higher-level education is an increasingly urgent priority for business. This is because our economy and the world of work is changing, making more flexible and new routes to higher-level education more important than ever. The Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) most recent education and skills survey found as a result…