Home

Publications

Read policy publications and consultation responses by the UA team.

Clear filters

  1. University Alliance responds to Sutton Trust’s report on reforming student maintenance

    March 21, 2024

    Today (21 March), The Sutton Trust released their latest report ‘Reforming Student Maintenance’. The report features modelling from London Economics and recommends: the reintroduction of maintenance grants; for wider eligibility for support by increasing parental income thresholds; increasing the overall amount of maintenance available; changing the repayment terms of the loan to make the system more progressive (meaning lower repayments for lowe…

    Read more of: University Alliance responds to Sutton Trust’s report on reforming student maintenance

  2. University Alliance responds to DfE’s Advanced British Standard consultation

    March 20, 2024

    University Alliance have published their response to the Department for Education’s Advanced British Standard consultation. Summary University Alliance is broadly supportive of the aims of the Advanced British Standard (ABS). As professional and technical universities, we see equal value in both academic and vocational subjects and do not believe students should be forced down one route or another. We also agree that all students need good litera…

    Read more of: University Alliance responds to DfE’s Advanced British Standard consultation

  3. University Alliance responds to the Office for Students’ free speech complaints scheme consultation

    March 11, 2024

    University Alliance has published their response to the Office for Students’ consultation on their free speech complaints scheme. Summary The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 requires the Office for Students (OfS) to operate a free speech complaints scheme. It is imperative that this new scheme runs as effectively and efficiently as possible, ensuring a transparent, fair, and objective process for both complainants and respondents an…

    Read more of: University Alliance responds to the Office for Students’ free speech complaints scheme consultation

  4. UA’s asks ahead of the Spring Budget

    February 27, 2024

    Addressing the immediate challenges facing our universities and their students UK universities now incur losses of £6bn annually on their core activities of research and teaching for UK home students. Our members are making significant changes to adjust to financial pressures, including major restructuring and transformation programmes. Recent analysis by PwC demonstrates that all universities remain extremely vulnerable to scenarios that are not…

    Read more of: UA’s asks ahead of the Spring Budget

  5. UA briefing on international students

    February 7, 2024

    International student numbers have been growing in the UK as part of a government strategy to grow education export income for the UK, provide financial sustainability for universities without increasing the contribution of taxpayers or UK students, and ensure our country remains globally connected. Universities have supported this strategy both because we believe in the power of global connectivity, and because international student fees fill a …

    Read more of: UA briefing on international students

  6. ‘What now?’: how adaptations to assessment during COVID-19 can improve inclusivity

    December 6, 2023

    Pandemic learnings   As the public Covid-19 inquiry grinds painfully on, it is appropriate for us in the Higher Education sector to conduct a little reflection of our own.   There is much about lockdown life we all want to forget: the grim headlines, the concern for our loved ones and ourselves, the questionable Netflix binges and loo roll shortages. But despite the countless negative impacts of lockdown, something interesting happened in our uni…

    Read more of: ‘What now?’: how adaptations to assessment during COVID-19 can improve inclusivity

  8. ‘Let’s Get Technical’: University Alliance publishes five policy asks for the next Government

    September 29, 2023

    Note: in July 2024, following the election of a new Labour government, University Alliance has published an updated publication Let’s Get Technical: The First 100 Days. This sets out our recommendations for the government’s first 100 days in office, and in the long-term. University Alliance, an association of the UK’s leading professional and technical universities, has today (Friday 29 September) published ‘Let’s Get Technical: How to harness th…

    Read more of: ‘Let’s Get Technical’: University Alliance publishes five policy asks for the next Government
    Film students photographed - the Let's Get Technical campaign image

  9. #ArtIsEssential campaign coalition launch Creative Education Manifesto, calling on all political parties to protect the creative arts talent pipeline

    September 21, 2023

    Ahead of party conference season, a coalition of creative and higher education organisations have launched their Creative Education Manifesto, calling on all political parties to commit collectively to restoring creative arts education. The manifesto contains eight key asks which, if actioned, the coalition argues will help protect the critical talent pipeline that feeds the UK’s successful creative economy, and with it the economic backbone and …

    Read more of: #ArtIsEssential campaign coalition launch Creative Education Manifesto, calling on all political parties to protect the creative arts talent pipeline

  10. University Alliance respond to the Department for Education’s consultation on the de-designation of QAA as the Designated Quality Body in England

    March 7, 2023

    University Alliance has responded to the Department for Education’s consultation on the de-designation of QAA as the Designated Quality Body in England. Our full consultation response can be viewed here. Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance commented: “In our consultation response, we highlighted our strong belief that the sector needs an independent Designated Quality Board that is separate and independent from the Office for Students to m…

    Read more of: University Alliance respond to the Department for Education’s consultation on the de-designation of QAA as the Designated Quality Body in England
    UA logo