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The latest announcements, press releases and media coverage from University Alliance.

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  1. University Alliance responds to OfS consultation on the future approach to quality regulation

    University Alliance has responded to the Office for Students’ consultation on the future approach to quality regulation. UA welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Office for Students (OfS) consultation on the future approach to quality regulation. As teaching-intensive institutions, Alliance universities are proud of their long history of teaching excellence. They are committed to delivering high quality, inclusive, and professionally oriente…

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  2. University Alliance responds to Autumn budget measures impacting skills and higher education

    University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson has responded to the government’s latest budget measures impacting skills and higher education:  “Today, the government announced a budget to secure the economy: with public services and investment at its heart.” On the Growth and Skills Levy “We welcome the government’s commitment to support young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). Making apprenticeship training completely fre…

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  3. University Alliance responds to the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper

    Responding to the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “Having long called for a joined-up vision and strategy for the future of post-16 education and skills, we welcome the government’s white paper. It sets a helpful trajectory for further and higher education, with a much-needed focus on the value of high-level skills.  Whilst there are many policies in the paper which will empower universities …

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  4. University Alliance’s submission to the Autumn budget 2025

    University Alliance have made their submission to the Autumn budget, which will be announced in November this year. Read UA’s full submission The submission highlights how professional and technical universities are a crucial component of the education skills system and have a vital role to play in kickstarting economic growth and other key government priorities. To enable universities to achieve their full potential in contributing to the UK’s c…

    Read more of: University Alliance’s submission to the Autumn budget 2025
  5. University Alliance responds to proposed pause to REF 2029

    Responding to Minister Vallance’s announcement today on the three-month pause to REF 2029, University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “Shortening the REF runway at this stage presents real challenges for the sector and this ‘pause’ should be as short as possible. The Autumn 2028 submission deadline might appear at a comfortable distance, but within institutions this is a critical phase of the cycle where they need the certainty and time to plan…

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  6. University Alliance responds to the increase in OfS registration fees

    Responding to the 3.9% increase in registration fees from the Office for Students, University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “Increased fees from the Office for Students smacks of a regulator living in a parallel universe to that of the sector it is regulating. At a time when everyone else is focused on tightening their belts, the Office for Students continues to expand and put up costs – a far cry from the government’s promised ‘bonfire of th…

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  7. UA responds to the Immigration White Paper

    In response to the government’s Immigration White Paper, released today (12 May 2025), University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “What the country and our economy needs at the moment is stability, and whilst we recognise the political imperative to bring down net migration, this kind of ‘finger in the air’ policy making is risky. We agree that visa compliance is important, and the immigration white paper correctly states that the higher educat…

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  8. University Alliance respond to OfS strategy consultation for 2025-2030

    University Alliance have submitted their response to the Office for Students strategy consultation for the years 2025 – 2030. Find the full submission here. Overview of the response Whilst University Alliance supports many of the priorities set out in the proposed strategy, we were dismayed to see a lack of focus on cutting the cost and burden of higher education regulation. In fact, many of the proposals seek to expand the OfS’s regulatory remit…

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  9. University Alliance’s submission to the Spending Review

    University Alliance has made its submission to the Treasury ahead of this year’s Spending Review. Read UA’s full submission The submission highlights how professional and technical universities are critical to delivering the government’s decade of renewal, and focuses on three of the government’s missions: kickstarting economic growth, building an NHS fit for the future and breaking down the barriers to opportunity. Mindful of the extremely tight…

    Read more of: University Alliance’s submission to the Spending Review
  10. University Alliance release ‘Let’s Get Technical: The First 100 Days’ 

    In a new publication, University Alliance has set out a range of impactful priority actions for the government to take in their first 100 days in power. UA’s latest policy briefing ‘Let’s Get Technical: The First 100 Days’ identifies policies that are cost-neutral or low-cost to deliver that could help professional and technical universities deliver the government’s agenda. In partnership with government and industry, University Alliance argue th…

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    'Let's Get Technical: The First 100 Days'