Global BUzz

The HEA has agreed with HEFCE that it will commence a one-year pilot approach to the UK Engagement Survey (UKES) by including the National Student Survey (NSS) as an optional section. The UKES – based on North America’s National Survey of Student Engagement – is the only UK undergraduate survey which focuses on student engagement.  It… Read more » about The HEA’s UK Engagement Survey to Include the National Student Survey

Two pieces of research have been published today: HEPI’s report on developing the TEF and University Alliance’s insight into the role of universities in city regions particularly within a localism and devolution of power context.  Although focusing on separate issues, both publications provide strong guidance as to how UK HE will evolve and develop by recognising the… Read more » about Publications from HEPI and University Alliance

Earlier this month, research jointly conducted by the New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative was published in The NMC Horizon Report: 2016 Higher Education Edition.  The report considers how rapid developments in technology, and other emerging trends, will help shape education; it also proposes proactive strategies to mitigate potential challenges.  The aim of the report is… Read more » about Preparations for the Fourth Revolution

An article published in The Telegraph today questions whether students are better off studying in an American university instead of a UK university.  The title, perhaps questionably, suggests that students should study in the US should they have any ambitions to be leaders.  The author claims that American universities are more interested in the individual, rather than academic… Read more » about Should we be ranking HE systems?

Last Saturday, PM Cameron came back to the UK, EU deal in hand.  He announced the 23rd June 2016 as the date the referendum will be held.  The official question – accepted by MPs – that will be on the ballot is: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European… Read more » about PM Cameron Announces Date for Referendum

The HEFCE has published ‘Ensuring the integrity of National Student Survey data: Reporting and investigating concerns about institutional data quality, including attempts to influence results inappropriately‘, which aims to deal with concerns raised about the quality of the NSS’s results through taking measures to ensure the data collection processes, and thus data, are ‘robust’. The report notes… Read more » about HEFCE’s Investigation about the NSS’s Data Quality Published

On 11 February 2016, BIS published Open access to research publications: independent advice which sets out advice by Prof Tickell on open access to research policy. The independent advice was requested by Jo Johnson in July 2015. A Response to independent advice on open access research: letter from Jo Johnson MP to Prof Tickell on… Read more » about Moving towards Open Access

A few days ago on the 12th of February, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed students in Canada. Although there were specific references to the alumni and repute of the university itself, the message he gave was clearly about the real need to empower young people so that they can proactively change and build the future, rather… Read more » about UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on “Threats & Opportunities: The Power of Young People to Shape a New Future”

The Government published its Joint Repayment Strategy document, Student Loan Repayment for Sustainable Higher Education.  The new strategy will see the BIS, the Student Loans Company, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and the Devolved Administrations of Wales, Scotland, and N. Ireland work together to share responsibility in collecting ‘loan repayments in order to protect the taxpayer’.  The document… Read more » about Student Loan Repayment for Sustainable Higher Education

In last year’s CSR, the Government announced that it will implement the recommendations set out in Sir Paul Nurse’s Review to pull our current seven Research Councils together under a new overarching body, Research UK.  The Government will also explore the integration of Innovate UK into the new body, aiming to improve collaboration between the research and business community. On… Read more » about Innovate UK’s Integration with Research UK