John Morgan
@johnmorgan3.bsky.social
310 followers 420 following 260 posts
Managing editor, @resprofnews.bsky.social
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johnmorgan3.bsky.social
If the UK has a greater share of people going to university than, say, Germany, then that would be because Germany has a different kind of economy/labour market to the UK.

Higher education expanded in UK partly because of choices made, largely in the 80s, about the kind of economy we would have.
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
When people say too many people go to university, the important question is: ok, what kind of jobs will they get if they don't go to university?

It's the nature of our economy that shapes the choices people make about their post-school education, not vice versa.
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
I wonder if this Conservative announcement will be seen as saying, "Don't vote for us if you want your children to go to university".

Not convinced the dislike of expanded higher education in some political circles is widely evident among voters.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Tories would slash university places by 100,000 - Research Professional News
Student numbers cap plan billed as saving £3 billion to invest in “doubled” apprenticeship funding
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
Starmer in Labour conference speech the latest in a long line of politicians to "scrap" the Blair target for 50% of young people to enter higher education. When was the last time it actually applied in any real sense in public policy?
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
UK-US tech deal includes "historic research collaboration" on AI. @chrisjparr.bsky.social with the details.

Unfortunate that when it comes to "Britain’s booming AI sector" as Liz Kendall describes it, 2 out of 3 companies mentioned now foreign owned

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
‘Historic research collaboration’ promised in US-UK tech deal - Research Professional News
Pact covering AI, quantum and nuclear technology announced as Donald Trump arrives on state visit
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
And here's Ian Chapman's opinion piece for @resprofnews.bsky.social, setting out stall for leading UKRI - including on responsibility not just for curiosity-driven research, but research "required to address govt priorities", notably economic growth

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Ian Chapman: ‘I join UKRI at a crucial and exciting time’ - Research Professional News
Funder’s role is amplifying and accelerating the impact of UK researchers, says new chief executive
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
Comments from UUK president that seem like a harbinger of things to come.

Govt doesn't want funding going to "areas of research where we don’t have the quality".

Unis can't afford "hobbyist research", Malcolm Press tells @harrietswain.bsky.social

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Ministers ‘want to shift funds away from low-quality research’ - Research Professional News
Universities UK president says institutions cannot afford “unfunded hobbyist research”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
That moving of skills to DWP might firm up plan for a levy on universities' international student income - govt has said the levy will fund "higher education and skills" or just "skills".

If skills going to different dept, under heavyweight minister, adds to sense it will be given bigger budget.
Reposted by John Morgan
robinbisson.bsky.social
Big changes afoot after REF pause

Explicit from Research England that the pause is to “ensure alignment with the UK government’s priorities and vision for higher education”

Changes may include RE rewarding collaboration and specialisation - exactly direction of HE reforms expected in white paper
Reposted by John Morgan
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'RPN understands that one option on the table is for smaller institutions to get core funding without having to submit a REF return, to guard against the cost of submitting a return outweighing the funding they receive.' 1/3
chrisjparr.bsky.social
Yet more REF news.

The Research Excellence Framework team is exploring the possibility of a “multi-track” approach, meaning that less research-intensive institutions could be subject to a lighter touch approach to assessment.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
REF team exploring ‘two-track’ approach to research assessment - Research Professional News
Research England says approach could offer light-touch assessment for some universities
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
Alan Turing Institute chief executive to step down after science secretary's intervention - latest development in a very significant running story about the national data and AI institute, and the extent of govt power over publicly funded research.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Head of Turing institute to step down after political pressure - Research Professional News
National AI institute looks for new chief executive to “step up its work on defence”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
johnmorgan3.bsky.social
Vallance announces three-month pause in REF at UUK conference.
Reposted by John Morgan
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'More than 20 disgruntled Labour backbenchers signed a letter sent to the Home Office and Department for Education, suggesting there is significant worry in Labour ranks about the implications of a levy for R&D funding levels.'