Author
Martin McQuillan
Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Kingston University
Martin McQuillan is a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Kingston University, London.
37 pieces
Newest first, since April 2012 · page 1 of 2
· Comment
Embrace the chaos, time to choose
The election result suddenly seems more unpredictable than previously thought, and the polls are all over the place. But both major parties’ manifestos suggest plenty of post-election chaos for universities, says Martin
· Comment
Gambling on higher education: When the fun stops, stop
As the LEO data about to be published could be framed as a huge bet against the future of students, Martin McQuillan weighs up the odds on the general election that stands in its way.
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This election will test the laws (and patience) of the wonkiverse
There are four fundamental laws of the higher education universe. Not even a general election can break them, or can it? Martin McQuillan looks behind the already mind-numbing sloganeering.
· Comment
How do you solve a problem like REF 2021?
‘Whole staff submission’ to the next REF is reputedly a red line for the universities minister. How is this to be reconciled with a sector that believes it is unworkable and undesirable? Martin McQuillan investigates.
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La La Land: not a normal by-election, not a normal university town
As UKIP surge in Labour heartlands and a by-election is called in Stoke, Martin McQuillan makes a plea to the town he worked in not to send Paul Nuttall to the UK Parliament.
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Stern times ahead for REF game players
As the REF2021 consultation gets into gear, Martin McQuillan argues that tnstitutions and academics who support Stern’s reforms to the REF will soon regret their masochism.
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2016 was bad but we need to brace for an even worse 2017
As 2017 looms, Martin McQuillan points to everything we have to worry about for next year which he thinks will be even worse for UK universities than the last twelve months.
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Trump it voluntary
Liberal academia was in meltdown following the election of Donald Trump, but Martin McQuillan argues that universities need to look beyond despair and ensure that our values outlast Trump’s unwelcome presidency.
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Conservative Party Conference 2016: The Day of the Brexiteers
As the Conservative Party Conference draws to a close in Birmingham, Martin McQuillan considers a torrid few days for universities – as the party spent a week lining up a nightmare vision for before and after Brexit.
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Labour Party Conference 2016: Four Days that Shook the Wirral
The Labour Party conference has come to an end and the HE wonks that were there have headed home. Despite the awkwardness, Martin McQuillan stayed in the house during the family domestic to get a grip on The World Transf
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Taking back control not just banging on about Europe
Martin McQuillan reviews the last crazy week which has reshaped politics and thrown up all sorts of new challenges and opportunities – not least for her new cast of players now bestriding Whitehall.
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Votey McVolte-Face – why Britain will not leave the EU
There are numerous different political scenarios that might play out over the coming months and years. Martin McQuillan argues that after the battles to come, a full Brexit seems increasingly unlikely.
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The morning after the referendum the night before
The decision to Brexit is inimical to the very values of university life and much that we take for granted, argues Martin McQuillan.
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What still remains: the lesson of Jo Cox
Following the tragic murder of Joe Cox MP and the awful state of politics thanks to the EU Referendum, Martin McQuillan argues that we need universities and education: now more than ever.
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Taking a Leave of our senses in the EU referendum
Martin McQuillan issues a stark warning to universities: we’re leaving the European Union. And when we do, universities may tumble down the political agenda faster than you can say ‘Brexit’.
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Lost Labour’s love is not higher education
Martin McQuillan argues that with an HE White Paper and a Bill heading to Parliament, the Labour party’s opposition has never been more important. But they’ve been nowhere on HE in quite some time.
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The Tragedy of Dave, Prince of Europe
Martin McQuillan argues that to win the EU Referendum, David Cameron now relies on the votes of the same people who have suffered most under his policies. But the alternative could be even worse.
· Comment
Mrs. Johnson’s Boys: the university years
Universities now find themselves between the Scylla of Boris’s out campaign and the Charybdis of Jo’s Green Paper. Martin McQuillan on the Johnson brothers and their outsized impact on UK universities today.
· Comment
Keep calm and speculate wildly
Does anyone really know what’s going on? Martin McQuillan thinks not, warns against believing in false prophets and wonders if there are bigger things in the world for universities to worry about than the outcomes of Gre
· Analysis
Spending Review: there may be trouble ahead
Martin McQuillan looks at the Chancellor’s plan for spending over the next five years and the potential pitfalls that might be on the horizon. As any university finance director knows, the further the prediction made, th