Podcast: Student protest, TNE, Tory conference
This week on the podcast as pro-Palestinian student protests mark the anniversary of October 7, an intervention from Keir Starmer sparks a national debate on campus safety, antisemitism, and free speech.
Podcasts|
News, analysis and explanation of higher education issues from our leading team of wonks
This week on the podcast as pro-Palestinian student protests mark the anniversary of October 7, an intervention from Keir Starmer sparks a national debate on campus safety, antisemitism, and free speech.
Plus the Prime Minister is leading a trade delegation to India alongside sector leaders, we explore the growing opportunities in transnational education and ask whether UK universities are ready for a TNE surge – and at Conservative Party Conference, Kemi Badenoch announces plans to slash student numbers and redirect funding.
With Jess Lister, Director (Education) at Public First, Liz Hutchinson, Chief Executive at London Higher, James Coe, Associate Editor at Wonkhe and hosted by Mark Leach, Editor-in-Chief at Wonkhe.
OfS rebalances the free speech/harassment see-saw on antisemitism
Conservatives have a poor quality higher education policy
A TNE policy primer for anyone seeking new funding streams
You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Acast, Amazon Music, Deezer, RadioPublic, Podchaser, Castbox, Player FM, Stitcher, TuneIn, Luminary or via your favourite app with the RSS feed.
Comments · 1
New comments will come back with sign-in later this year.
Itamar Kastner · 10 Oct 2025
The final comments on the opening piece were more helpful than the initial framing, which seemed to assume that the purpose of Palestine solidarity protests was to physically harm Jews. It would’ve been good to break this down a bit right at the start, rather than leave it to the end – there are so many nuances there. But it also seems to me that a crucial voice here is missing: what about all the Jewish students who take part in (and even organise) the protests? Are they being antisemitic? Do they feel unsafe? Do Bridget Phillipson, Mark Leach et al care what they think?
Related articles
Podcast: International recruitment, graduate social mobility
Team Wonkhe | Podcasts | 25/09/26
Podcast: Loans, Free speech
Team Wonkhe | Podcasts | 18/09/26
Podcast: Future jobs, uni closures
Team Wonkhe | Podcasts | 11/09/26
Podcast: Burnham, SUs, Year ahead
Team Wonkhe | Podcasts | 4/09/26
Podcast: The end of the year show
Team Wonkhe | Podcasts | 17/07/26
Podcast: Funding, student loans, NSSmass
Team Wonkhe | Podcasts | 10/07/26