Underlining what matters in higher ed and ed tech: news, vendor updates, and commentary from across the field, in one place.https://theunderline.netlify.app/source/wonkhe/https://wonkhe.com/blogs/ministers-dodge-the-question-of-candour-in-universitieshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/ministers-dodge-the-question-of-candour-in-universitiesBaroness Jones asked which university functions the Hillsborough Law covers. Jim Dickinson finds ministers answered none of her questionsMon, 12 Oct 2026 21:04:10 GMTJim DickinsonNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/during-times-of-transformation-emerging-leaders-need-to-be-inside-the-leadership-tenthttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/during-times-of-transformation-emerging-leaders-need-to-be-inside-the-leadership-tentMid-level leaders are carrying a significant weight of change at a tough time for the sector. Alistair Jarvis argues that investing in them, and in a shared leadership culture, will grow our capacity for change now as well as for the futureMon, 12 Oct 2026 02:43:20 GMTAlistair JarvisNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/britain-likes-its-universities-but-not-its-degreeshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/britain-likes-its-universities-but-not-its-degreesPolling suggests the public still values universities but no longer trusts the deal they offer. Jim Dickinson sifts five years of surveys for what’s driving the doubt – and what universities can do about itMon, 12 Oct 2026 00:01:00 GMTJim DickinsonNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/who-pays-the-price-when-universities-cancel-offers-to-protect-refusal-rateshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/who-pays-the-price-when-universities-cancel-offers-to-protect-refusal-ratesAs visa refusal rates climb, universities are revoking offers and cancelling CAS en masse to stay under the new BCA threshold. Jim Dickinson asks whether that’s lawful – and who ends up paying.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 15:17:57 GMTJim DickinsonNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/erasmus-is-back-but-who-gets-left-behindhttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/erasmus-is-back-but-who-gets-left-behindAs the UK swaps Turing for Erasmus+, Jonathan Disley argues the real risk is universities dismantling the support that got disadvantaged students abroadFri, 09 Oct 2026 07:24:23 GMTJonathan DisleyNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/procurement-is-a-collaboration-question-toohttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/procurement-is-a-collaboration-question-tooJames Coe makes the case that procurement can be the start of a new conversation on collaborationFri, 09 Oct 2026 00:19:25 GMTJames CoeNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/higher-education-postcard-rajabai-clock-tower-university-of-mumbaihttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/higher-education-postcard-rajabai-clock-tower-university-of-mumbaiThis week’s card from Hugh Jones’ postbag crosses the world to Mumbai to find yet another university clock towerFri, 09 Oct 2026 00:07:41 GMTHugh JonesNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/podcast-academic-integrity-and-ai-conservative-conferencehttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/podcast-academic-integrity-and-ai-conservative-conferenceThis week on the podcast we examine how universities are rethinking academic integrity in the age of AI.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMTTeam WonkheNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/jo-johnson-i-still-believe-that-student-choice-must-be-the-main-organising-principle-for-higher-educationhttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/jo-johnson-i-still-believe-that-student-choice-must-be-the-main-organising-principle-for-higher-educationTen years on from the white paper that set out the architecture for the current HE system in England, the universities minister who spearheaded it stands by its intentThu, 08 Oct 2026 00:38:26 GMTDebbie McVittyNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/why-universities-keep-forgetting-their-anti-racism-commitmentshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/why-universities-keep-forgetting-their-anti-racism-commitmentsDami Folayan argues that anti-racism pledges fade because universities don’t build them into governance, systems, and budgetsThu, 08 Oct 2026 00:11:36 GMTDami FolayanNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/supporting-students-to-make-their-academic-footprintshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/supporting-students-to-make-their-academic-footprintsZoe Torsney makes the case that supporting students to develop their academic voice starts with universities building a truly inclusive cultureThu, 08 Oct 2026 00:10:42 GMTZoe TorsneyNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/careers-support-should-help-students-decide-not-just-competehttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/careers-support-should-help-students-decide-not-just-competeUniversities help students become employable. Lorenzo Mugnai asks if they help them decide what they actually wantWed, 07 Oct 2026 00:12:41 GMTLorenzo MugnaiNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/if-we-want-social-mobility-fund-the-universities-that-deliver-ithttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/if-we-want-social-mobility-fund-the-universities-that-deliver-itIf the funding debate is about value, Sharanya Sivarajah argues that the universities that serve their places deserve more of the conversationWed, 07 Oct 2026 00:11:56 GMTSharanya SivarajahNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/unlocking-the-potential-of-working-with-charity-and-community-groupshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/unlocking-the-potential-of-working-with-charity-and-community-groupsWorking with the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector can change universities for the better. Fiona Walsh McDonnell argues they should be seen as strategic assetsTue, 06 Oct 2026 01:21:26 GMTFiona Walsh McDonnellNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/universities-have-a-bigger-role-to-play-in-preventing-homelessnesshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/universities-have-a-bigger-role-to-play-in-preventing-homelessnessFour years after first raising the alarm, Greg Hurst argues student homelessness remains under-researched and poorly understood and sets out what universities could do about itTue, 06 Oct 2026 00:56:30 GMTGreg HurstNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/students-just-need-to-know-where-they-stand-on-aihttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/students-just-need-to-know-where-they-stand-on-aiAs AI use becomes routine, Gracie Otley argues that the real academic integrity challenge is student confidenceMon, 05 Oct 2026 00:08:39 GMTGracie OtleyNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/keeping-the-learning-real-in-the-ai-age-requires-coordination-and-open-communicationhttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/keeping-the-learning-real-in-the-ai-age-requires-coordination-and-open-communicationWonkhe and Studiosity’s Keeping the Learning Real project asked what happens when AI rips up the rulebook on academic misconduct. Lisa Abrahams and Debbie McVitty explain why coherence matters to securing academic integrity in the age of AISun, 04 Oct 2026 19:17:06 GMTLisa AbrahamsNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/autonomy-for-the-peoplehttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/autonomy-for-the-peopleUK universities are protective over their autonomy. But what is autonomy, why is it so important, and what does it mean in practice? David Kernohan asks the questions.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:05:14 GMTDavid KernohanNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/one-year-of-leading-ukrihttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/one-year-of-leading-ukriChief executive Ian Chapman reflects on his first year at the wheel – and what comes nextSat, 03 Oct 2026 00:23:15 GMTIan ChapmanNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/podcast-hope-again-mi5https://wonkhe.com/blogs/podcast-hope-again-mi5This week on the podcast we examine what Labour Party conference told us about the government’s plans for higher educationFri, 02 Oct 2026 07:14:20 GMTTeam WonkheNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/navigating-the-storms-of-student-successhttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/navigating-the-storms-of-student-successKate Newby argues that the storms of the student journey aren’t a distraction from learning, they’re where it really happensFri, 02 Oct 2026 00:45:11 GMTKate NewbyNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/higher-education-postcard-the-queens-tower-imperial-collegehttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/higher-education-postcard-the-queens-tower-imperial-collegeThis week’s card from Hugh Jones’ postbag takes us to another university bell towerFri, 02 Oct 2026 00:06:12 GMTHugh JonesNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/a-supplier-shouldnt-be-able-to-rewrite-who-owns-students-essayshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/a-supplier-shouldnt-be-able-to-rewrite-who-owns-students-essaysSam Dickinson looks at Turnitin’s paused plan to put student essays to work on AI – and finds that neither anonymisation nor university regulations answer the copyright questionFri, 02 Oct 2026 00:05:59 GMTSam DickinsonNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/emeritus-honorary-and-visiting-professors-are-an-untapped-resourcehttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/emeritus-honorary-and-visiting-professors-are-an-untapped-resourceRoger Watson, Kenneth Eaton, and Anne-Maria Brennan argue the sector is missing by not paying attention to its emeritus, honorary and visiting professorsThu, 01 Oct 2026 00:51:40 GMTRoger WatsonNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/he-data-doesnt-need-another-taskforce-it-needs-good-governancehttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/he-data-doesnt-need-another-taskforce-it-needs-good-governanceAndy Youell asks why the HE data landscape is still so chaotic, and argues that what’s missing is someone actually in chargeThu, 01 Oct 2026 00:22:43 GMTAndy YouellNewshttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/higher-education-can-become-more-collaborative-in-course-provision-but-the-onus-is-on-institutions-to-work-out-howhttps://wonkhe.com/blogs/higher-education-can-become-more-collaborative-in-course-provision-but-the-onus-is-on-institutions-to-work-out-howMinisters want the sector to move forward with regional collaboration around skills and economic priorities. Poppy Short and Kate Newman explain that it’s possible, but it takes workWed, 30 Sep 2026 02:14:54 GMTPoppy ShortNews