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

    January 31, 2023

    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 reacts to the NHS Ten Year Health Plan

    July 3, 2025

    In reaction to the NHS Ten Year Health Plan, Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance said:  “The government’s NHS Ten Year Heath Plan represents a significant stride forward in meeting the country’s evolving healthcare needs. “It’s encouraging to see recognition that nurses and allied health professionals must be highly trained. Unfortunately, this is at odds with the recent removal of apprenticeship levy funding for the high-level healthcare …

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  3. University Alliance responds to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy

    June 23, 2025

    Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance has commented in response to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published today (Monday 23 June)  “We welcome the publication of the government’s much anticipated and needed industrial strategy, which rightly emphasises skills, innovation and the university sector’s critical role in the UK’s growth prospects. As anchor institutions across our nations and regions, the professional and technical universi…

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  4. University Alliance welcomes additional teacher training capacity

    June 13, 2025

    University Alliance has responded to the government’s provisional accreditation of an additional twelve teacher training providers. Responding to the announcement, Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance, said: I’m delighted that the government has granted twelve additional providers provisional accreditation to deliver teacher training from September. I’m particularly pleased that the list of provisionally accredited providers includes two Un…

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    Vanessa Wilson

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

    June 3, 2025

    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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  6. University Alliance responds to DfE’s Level 7 apprenticeships funding announcement

    May 28, 2025

    In response to the Department for Education’s announcements on a ‘radical skills revolution’, University Alliance have commented on the limitations placed on Level 7 apprenticeships. University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said: “Limiting funding for the highest level of apprenticeships to 16–21-year-olds, an age group that only rarely has enough experience to be eligible for them outside a few select subjects, is a nonsense. Given the impact this…

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  7. UA/UKCGE Professional Doctorates survey: initial results revealed

    May 20, 2025

    The Professional Doctorates Survey, which was run jointly by UKCGE and University Alliance, has now closed. The survey sought to understand in more detail what is happening in the sector regarding Professional Doctorates and will inform wider research undertaken to understand the perspectives of institutions, funders, employers and the candidates themselves. It also sought to understand the different professional doctoral programmes offered, thei…

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  8. UA responds to the Immigration White Paper

    May 12, 2025

    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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  9. University Alliance hosts showcase event in parliament

    March 18, 2025

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

    February 21, 2025

    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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