Author
Andy Westwood
Vice Dean for Social Responsibility, University of Manchester
47 pieces
Newest first, since April 2012 · page 2 of 3
· Comment
Not dead but stunned: HE policy in the May government
The last few days has changed how universities and research sit in Whitehall and yet the government ploughs on with its reforms to HE. Andy Westwood assesses the new state of the nation.
· Comment
TEF and the importance of university teachers
In all the discussion about the Teaching Excellence Framework, the voice of teachers is getting lost. What can the HE sector learn from schools and their more organic and vibrant community shaping their future?
· Comment
Spending Review: In the Bleak Midwinter?
Reviewing the Spending Review, Andy Westwood looks through George Osborne’s greatest hits and biggest gifts, and also some of his biggest challenges to higher education.
· Analysis
From May to November: is the climate on international students beginning to shift?
With rows at the highest levels of government about international students in play, Andy Westwood looks at the historic tensions within the Conservative Party and why now might be a good time for George Osborne to make h
· Analysis
George’s Marvellous Medicine
Previewing this week’s Emergency Budget, Andy Westwood assesses George Osborne’s long-term economic plan, the short-term pressures on spending, and the grand Northern Powerhouse narrative that will likely shape the legac
· Analysis
DIUS ex Machina? Or whither or wither BIS?
As a government reshuffle is now under way, Andy Westwood looks at the prospect for BIS and the universities and science brief – could they be moved around Whitehall? And what of the likely personalities in the frame to
· People
HE Power List: Haldane, Robbins & Dearing
Reinterpreted, Revisited and Rebooted. Celebrated and definitely remembered. Andy Westwood remembers three giants of higher education and explains why they made it on the 2015 HE Power List.
· Analysis
OECD: whose side are they on?
Amidst the first serious skirmishes of the general election campaign, the OECD’s support – or not – of England’s higher education reforms, has become a source of significant political disagreement. Using OECD data and qu
· Analysis
Autumn Statement: Pain, sorcery and a rabbit called Tim
On the day the Chancellor has made his Autumn Statement for 2014, Andy Westwood reviews the statement and its implications for policy across higher education, science and beyond – both today and over the next Parliament
· Analysis
The legacy of David Willetts
As longstanding higher education and science minister David Willetts steps down from his government post, and from politics in general, Andy Westwood looks back at his time with the brief – from 2005 when in opposition t
· Analysis
RAB and the wizardry of student finance
The last week has seen a political and media frenzy as it has come clear that the RAB charge is now coming very close to the point where the new HE funding system costs around the same as when fees were just above £3k. W
· Comment
Apprenticeships or university – a false choice
As we mark the end of Apprenticeships Week, Andy Westwood looks at how politicians and the media talk about apprenticeships and the false choice they continually present between them and higher education. There are good
· Comment
The narcissism of minor differences
They finally arrived yesterday. BIS published both the HEFCE grant letter and the SFA’s Skills Funding Statement. One was 6 pages and the other 60 but they both delivered roughly the same amount of cash to the FE and HE
· Analysis
A statement that we didn’t expect?
Like everyone else I thought this year’s Autumn Statement was going to focus on the cost of living, energy and fuel prices. For all I know it might have done but I haven’t yet got past the announcement of 30,000 extra un
· Analysis
Black holes and revelations
It’s perhaps fitting that it was the week of Dr Who’s 50th anniversary when a ‘black hole’ reportedly emerged in the BIS higher education budget. Over recruitment of HNDs and HNCs at private colleges has been reported by
· Analysis
Economic vs social conservatism?
On the face of it, the Conservatives should be looking forward to discussing higher education at their party conference in Manchester next week. As we will no doubt hear, the numbers of full time students starting this y
· Analysis
(It’s) Hard Labour?
Labour’s 2015 position on higher education policy – of all the three main political parties – is still probably the hardest to predict. But this is not necessarily because of the affordability of a £6k or even a £5k fee
· Analysis
Whither (or wither) the Lib Dems?
The Liberal Democrats kick off the party conference season in Glasgow next week. Will they develop a firm (and different?) position on higher education as the 2015 General Election approaches? Even after a policy review
· Analysis
Austerity, the Spending Review and a crisis in human capital
We thought the last Spending Review in 2010 was bad enough. But this one – covering 2015-16 and then 2016-2018 is beginning to look a whole lot worse. Alongside this is a growing attack on the knowledge economy and the i
· Comment
The postgraduate problem?
There is little doubt that we have a problem or two in postgraduate policy. Fifty vice chancellors recently wrote to the Observer to say so. BIS ministers have been asking for imaginative suggestions and are clear that t