Subscribe

Briefings

Daily BriefingEvery weekday · by 8amHigher education's essential morning read.Monday BriefingWeekly · MondaysThe full week ahead in HE policy.Friday ReviewWeekly · Friday lunchtimesWhat you need to know about the week just gone.

Newsletters & more

HE InfluencePolitics and policy and the way the sector is seen.HE CounselNewGovernance, law and regulation for anyone following legal developments.Policy RadarThe monthly live policy briefing – watch live or catch the replay on the portal.

Services

Wonkhe PassFull access for your whole institution.Wonkhe SUs PassFor students' unions – briefings, recordings and training.Free briefingThe Monday Briefing, Lite edition – free.
About Us+
About WonkhePeopleOur partnersWrite for WonkheContact us
Events
Latest+
Explore the whole archiveDataWonkhe researchLong readsAnalysisCommentWonk Corner
Podcast
SUs
Friday 25 September 2026Home of the higher education debate

Copyright © 2026 Thesis House Ltd.

Wonkhe is published by Thesis House Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no. 08784934), 31–35 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TE.

  • Moderation policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

PODCAST: More Hidden History of HE

On the podcast in the second of two Christmassy “Hidden History” box sets Mike Ratcliffe looks back at the CATs, the execution of university chancellors and when we had our own MPs

This article is more than 6 years old

Podcasts|26/12/19
Team Wonkhe

Team Wonkhe

News, analysis and explanation of higher education issues from our leading team of wonks
Tags
  • Hidden history
  • Wonks
Team Wonkhe
News, analysis and explanation of higher education issues from our leading team of wonks

The Wonkhe Show podcast is on its Christmas break, so as a special treat we’ve rolled up Season 2 of the Hidden History of HE into two special box sets.

Every week Nottingham Trent’s Academic Registrar Mike Ratcliffe delves deep into the sector’s past to find out how things were and how things came to be.

This week in part 2 Mike looks at the development of the doctorate, the regular execution of university chancellors, the origins of public funding of universities in the UK, the era of university MPs, when VCs met the PM, and the creation of the CATs.

Part 1 is still available.

Get involved

To get involved in the Wonkhe Show, email team@wonkhe.com

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

Comments

New comments will come back with sign-in later this year.