David Kernohan is Deputy Editor of Wonkhe. Until June 2016, he worked at Jisc as a programme manager and senior codesign manager, after being seconded from HEFCE in 2006. He has also worked for the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales). As Associate Editor, David has responsibility for the development and delivery of a variety of editorial content. His key areas of wonkishness include higher education data, graduate employment, teaching quality enhancement policy, funding policy, sector agency politics and history, and the use of technology in higher education
1,584 pieces
Newest first, since February 2011 · page 1 of 80
· Wonk Corner
Is action on graduate repayments really a priority for government?
Looks like help for plan 2 graduates is not at the top of the cabinet’s in-tray, whatever Lucy Powell says
· Wonk Corner
£125m of student loan repayment refunds last year
New data from SLC shows the work involved in dealing with PAYE inflexibility and poor information from employers
· Wonk Corner
UCAS October deadline data suggests pessimism ahead
It’s not many, and it is not representative. But October application declines are a worry.
· Wonk Corner
Jisc explains procuring AI the sensible way
A new “call to suppliers” encourages providers to treat buying AI like buying anything else
· Wonk Corner
OfS must pay full legal costs to Sussex
The High Court has determined that there will be no discount for the regulator
· Comment
If not university then what?
New data from DfE shows just how limited the options outside of higher education really are for young people. David Kernohan reads along
· Wonk Corner
A slightly better outlook for graduate jobs
ISE’s 2026 student recruitment survey paints a picture of a graduate job market in flux
· Comment
Educational needs are a higher education issue
As the schools system tries to get to grips with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, it turns out the higher education sector might have a lot to say. David Kernohan tracks learning needs into high
· Wonk Corner
Another reminder about in-year student data
It is coming, and people would really like you to be ready
· Explainer
Autonomy for the people
UK 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.
· Wonk Corner
Academic redundancy and the University Commissioners
The first ever academic redundancy happend as recently as 1988
· Wonk Corner
Finances still are tight in Scotland too
New SFC reports paint a bleak picture
· Wonk Corner
Espionage alert sees MI5 take an interest in Chinese research collaboration
The security services put links between the China General Technology Research Institution and Chinese espionage into the public domain
· Wonk Corner
Burnham’s quiet pledge
Was there something more substantial in the PM’s big speech for the sector?
· Wonk Corner
Graduates now cover 84 per cent of the cost of a degree
The effects of little-noticed threshold freezes
· Wonk Corner
A reinstated Unionlearn might be the missing piece of the LLE puzzle
It turns out that the people that advocate for workers rights might also be good at advocating for worker reskilling.
· Wonk Corner
Mission impossible?
Has a long-standing truce in the relationships of our mission groups broken down?
· Comment
It turns out the English higher education market is pretty strange
How does our market based higher education system in England work – as a market? David Kernohan gets into the detail
· Policy Watch
Counting the cost of teaching higher education in England
Last seen around the time of the Augar review, KPMG has updated work on the costs of teaching. DK finds evidence of cost cutting everywhere
· Data
Can a dashboard solve higher education planning?
OfS has built one dashboard to rule them all – DK has thoughts