Evolution of devolution: how higher education policy has diverged across the four nations of the UK
This report from UK think tank HEPI examines how higher education policy has diverged across the four nations of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The report 'Evolution of Devolution' examines how higher education policy has diverged across the four nations of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—since the devolution of...
Aligning the lifelong learning entitlement and the growth and skills levy
This report from UK think tank HEPI provides a detailed analysis of these policies, addressing how they may be implemented to reflect the new Labour Government’s priorities. In 2024, Instructure convened a Commission of higher education and lifelong learning experts to assess emerging policies related to skills development, including the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and...
Non-examinable content: Student access to exam scripts
This report from UK think tank HEPI examines student access to exam scripts. Restrictive access policies harm individual students and their institutions by reducing students’ opportunities to learn from past work and undermining confidence in the exam system. GCSE and A-Level exam boards are further ahead of universities in offering access to scripts and offer...
‘No magic bullet’: An investigation into the first-class degree gender awarding gap at Oxford and Cambridge and how to address it
This report from UK think tank HEPI investigates the first-class gender awarding gap at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge for undergraduate degrees. This HEPI report investigates the first-class gender awarding gap at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge for undergraduate degrees. While women represent the majority of students in the UK and in most...
Advancing translational research
This report from UK think tank HEPI explains the crucial role of translational research in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application. This HEPI Policy Note explains the crucial role of translational research in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application and underscores its potential to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, foster innovation...
Student demand to 2035
This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at the various factors which may affect participation in higher education by home students in England up to 2035. This report from Bahram Bekhradnia, HEPI’s President, is the latest in a series of HEPI reports on future demand for higher education. It looks at the various factors...
HEPI Soft-Power Index 2024
This report from UK think tank HEPI publishes the results of its eighth annual Soft-Power Index. The Higher Education Policy Institute has published the results of its eighth annual Soft-Power Index. The Index measures the number of senior serving world leaders – defined as monarchs, presidents and prime ministers – educated at a higher level...
Undergraduate fees revisited
This report from UK think tank HEPI considers the recent history of student finance in England before proposing a 10-point plan for fixing some current weaknesses. Tim Leunig lays out the shortcomings of the current higher education funding model in England and proposes a 10-point action plan to fix the system for the benefit of...
Stronger together: why we need a new and expanded role for universities and university groupings
This report from UK think tank HEPI looks at why we need a new and expanded role for universities and university groupings. As the new Westminster Government shines a light on growth as well as devolution, it is time to ask what contribution can be made by regional groupings of universities. With more sustained investment...
Down with the world-class university: How our business models damage universal higher education
This report from UK think tank HEPI applies business-model thinking to the university sector. What if being world-class is bad for universities? By playing the status game, UK higher education has forfeited public trust and our right to growth. What other sector would stall in an era of surging demand, as our addressable market expands...