BU Research Blog

Anti-lobbying clause

A controversial piece of legislation that would have seen publicly-funded organisations prevented from lobbying the UK government and parliament has been revised to exclude academics and researchers. You can view Jo Johnson’s statement here.

Leaked document

Notes for a Number 10 meeting caught on camera reveal ministers believe there is a “problem” that some universities are charging the highest tuition fees rate despite not proving their worth. Top universities not good enough to charge £9,000, ministers believe, according to leaked document (The Telegraph).

Impact

A new discussion paper sets out to determine what works and what doesn’t when researchers seek to make an impact on policy. The paper gives tips for engaging with policy-makers including a suggestion to “capture your audience mid-morning or after lunch, when some office workers are active on social networks”. You can view the report here.

HE White Paper

The White Paper is thought to have reached the stage of a “write round” – a consultation process in which Cabinet ministers are asked to give the views of their departments on potential legislation and grant clearance for it to go ahead. White Paper could kill off Hefce quality plans. (THE). 

Social work

The Frontline social work training programme’s shift to in-house rather than university-led education could harm the research base that underpins the profession, the Commons education committee was told. MPs told to keep social work training in universities. (Research Professional).

Office for Fair Access

The Office for Fair Access, which oversees progress in ensuring students from non-traditional backgrounds succeed at English universities, is to have its office staff cut from 18 to 6, according to Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Students. The plans are reportedly contained in a confidential document entitled “BIS 2020 – Finance and Headcount outline”. Office for Fair Access to be cut. (Research Professional).

NUS

Students at the University of Oxford are threatening to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students following the election of Malia Bouattia as its president. Oxford threatens to dump student union in antisemitism row (The Times).

EU Referendum

A House of Lords report has conceded that the UK science community draws vital benefits from EU membership and could lose influence in the event of Brexit. Concern over Brexit’s impact on science (BBC).

 A blog post on Global BUzz looks into the impact of leaving the EU for higher education. What would be the impact of a vote to leave on Higher Education?