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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 4h

Genuinely impressive how quickly the wheels have come off that Badenoch higher education policy.

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Reposted by David Kernohan

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 7h

NEW on Wonkhe: Conservatives have a poor quality higher education policy bit.ly/42vwqIZ

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 16h

For me, the highlight may well be when she inadvertently promises to increase funding for media studies. But it is a strong field.

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 16h

Quite the wild ride, this one: wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/... Badenoch's conservatives have another crack at the "low quality courses" thing.

Conservatives have a poor quality higher education policy

It's back.

wonkhe.com

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Reposted by David Kernohan

Elizabeth Gadd @lizziegadd.bsky.social · 1d

Adding my voice to the chorus battling to retain an increased focus on people, culture, and environment in the next REF... wonkhe.com/blogs/the-ba...

The battle for people, culture and environment

Lizzie Gadd makes the case for embracing People, Culture and Environment and sets out why reverting to REF 2021 would be a mistake

wonkhe.com

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Reposted by David Kernohan

Mike Ratcliffe @mike-rat.bsky.social · 1d

The ‘de-designation’ process was unfair, said the High Court. Hopefully the new regulatory framework for franchises is fairer - particularly to students.
If genuine, 4700 people had their higher education disrupted this year.
Look at the allegations - it’s a big ‘if’

wonkhe.com/blogs/what-t...

What the saga of Oxford Business College tells us about regulation and franchising

The Secretary of State de-designated courses delivered by Oxford Business College through franchise agreements, but a court found that her decision contravened essential requirements of procedural fai...

wonkhe.com

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Reposted by David Kernohan

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 2d

NEW on Wonkhe: After the big policy announcement comes the detail on implementation. David Kernohan runs through the options for targeted grants and an international fee levy buff.ly/jTrKr30

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 2d

Love this!

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 2d

NEW on Wonkhe: The arguments against an international student fee levy have floundered. Michael Salmon is more worried about what it looks like in a decade’s time buff.ly/R7TfP9Y

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 4d

That is very specific advice but very accurate.

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 5d

A new Archbishop of Canterbury is a Reportable Event (wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...)

David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 6d

Rankings in regulation is a failure.

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

Do you ever consider the existence of a parallel universe where Goodwin did get that professorship at Kent and is now a fairly well known and academically esteemed moderate commentator focusing on the dangers of the far right?

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

On the cutting room floor (I think?) I argue that the subject rankings are possibly useful if you happen to agree entirely with what league table compilers think makes a good subject area experience.

But I'm resigned to the fact that the (entirely pointless) whole provider tables will always exist.

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

Wahey, I'm on More or Less talking about league tables!

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

It refers to "young people" (generally taken to be anyone under 25), and any higher education (so not just a traditional degree). So you are right, the target was reached in 2019.

David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

A really enjoyable conversation, and plenty of merger-related fun for all the family.

Tom Richmond @tom-richmond.com · 7d

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨

Does the Higher Education system need more 'super universities'?

@dkernohan.bsky.social and Rachel Hewitt joined me to examine the details and implications of the new collaboration between the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent.

Listen here: insideyoured.com

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Reposted by David Kernohan

David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

wonkhe.com/blogs/the-fi...

The fifty per cent participation target is no more. Again.

Keir Starmer joins the ranks of those to abandon Tony Blair's target of having 50 per cent of young people enter higher education. David Kernohan has the receipts

wonkhe.com

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Reposted by David Kernohan

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 7d

NEW on Wonkhe: The Office for Students is planning to begin using longitudinal educational outcomes (LEO) data in regulation. For Richard Puttock the principal problem is one of lag. buff.ly/LPGW81K

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Reposted by David Kernohan

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 7d

NEW on Wonkhe: Debbie McVitty argues that the new target of two thirds participation in higher level learning finally gives the sector an agenda to rally around buff.ly/JEDHcAd

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 7d

wonkhe.com/blogs/the-fi...

The fifty per cent participation target is no more. Again.

Keir Starmer joins the ranks of those to abandon Tony Blair's target of having 50 per cent of young people enter higher education. David Kernohan has the receipts

wonkhe.com

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 8d

I take it all back, maybe the Labour conference is interesting: wonkhe.com/blogs/grants...

Grants return, the levy stays

An announcement at the Labour Party conference promise the return of targeted student grants, but the cost will be covered by a levy on international student fee income

wonkhe.com

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 9d

Tuned in early to hear Bridget Phillipson's speech. Stayed for the lo-fi microtonal hiphop.

David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 12d

www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t... Yes.

The “Debate Me Bro” Grift: How Trolls Weaponized The Marketplace Of Ideas

Among the attempts to create hagiographic eulogies of Charlie Kirk, I’ve seen more than a few people suggest that Kirk should be respected for being willing to talk to “those who disagree with him”…

www.techdirt.com

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David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 12d

Link to the press release on your website is broken from the linktree page: should be www.ucu.org.uk/article/1419...

Union warns Starmer of nationwide strike ballots if education crisis ignored

Ahead of Labour Party Conference, UCU issued a stark warning to Keir Starmer: fix the crisis in education or face mass strike ballots across the country.

www.ucu.org.uk

David Kernohan @dkernohan.bsky.social · 12d

I'm sad to say the ID card conversation is kicking off again. This from a few years ago is still one of my favourite Wonkhe articles.
wonkhe.com/blogs/for-th...

For the LLE to work we need to get serious about student identifiers

There's some important data plumbing that needs to be done to make the Lifelong Loan Entitlement work. David Kernohan is your man with an adjustable spanner.

wonkhe.com

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