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

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  1. ‘Delivering the Healthcare Workforce of the Future’: University Alliance publishes proposals to help tackle the NHS workforce crisis

    University Alliance, an association of universities which collectively trains 30% of nurses in England, has today (31 January) published a briefing on ‘Delivering the Healthcare Workforce of the Future’. It comes at a time when the NHS is facing a workforce crisis, with over 130,000 vacancies in England and over 46,000 vacant nursing posts – a record high. A key challenge is the need to train more nurses more quickly to the same very high standar…

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  2. 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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  3. University Alliance hosts showcase event in parliament

    On 11 March 2025, University Alliance hosted a parliamentary event showcasing the role of UA’s leading professional and technical universities across four themes: opportunity, community and civic impact, innovation and growth and skills. The event, which was partly intended as an introduction to UA for new parliamentarians following the 2024 general election, was attended by MPs and peers from across the UK. A number of resources and a new short …

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  4. 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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  5. 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
  6. University Alliance responds in support of #ProtectStudentChoice to government decisions in level 3 ‘rapid review’

    Following the results of the government’s ‘rapid review’ of level 3 qualifications, University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “The Protect Student Choice campaign have again succeeded in championing the importance of BTECs: 13 of the AGQs they identified as essential have been saved from defunding in the rapid review of level 3 qualifications. We are proud to stand with the campaign and the Sixth Form Colleges Association as they carry out thi…

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  7. Employers raise the alarm over plans to cut funding for the highest-level apprenticeships

    Read the full letter to the Chancellor here Read over 400 testimonials from letter signatories here A coalition of employers and apprentices spanning sectors including healthcare, science, construction, manufacturing, creative, business and local government have written to the Chancellor to express deep concern over the planned defunding of level 7 apprenticeships Over 600 signatories have backed the letter, including representatives from over 60…

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  8. University Alliance responds to the Government’s announcement on tuition fees and student maintenance

    University Alliance has responded to the Secretary of State for Education’s announcement today (4 November) that tuition fees and the amount of student maintenance loan available would be increased in line with inflation. Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance, said: “As University Alliance, representing professional and technical universities, we welcome this commitment to the financial sustainability of the higher education sector. “We know…

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  9. University Alliance responds to UCAS figures released on A Level Results day

    In response to UCAS figures released today, Vanessa Wilson, University Alliance CEO, said: “It’s fantastic to see an increase in those from disadvantaged backgrounds increasingly applying to university. A university education remains a key pathway to achieve better lifetime earnings and opportunities and we must continue to ensure that students from all backgrounds are able to make the most of those opportunities. It’s great that so many students…

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  10. What you study is more important than where you study, according to new survey of graduate employers

    When hiring, employers tend to value a graduate’s skills, the subject they studied, and vocational experience gained during their degree ahead of grades achieved or whether the graduate studied at a particular university, according to a new survey conducted by CBI Economics. Commissioned by University Alliance, CBI Economics conducted a survey of 252 UK employers across all business sectors, sizes and regions. The research establishes what employ…

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