Insights and analysis

Catch up on the latest insight, analysis and opinion from UUK staff and a range of voices from across the higher education sector.

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30 April 2025 Opinion

30 April 2025 Opinion

'Win-win-win': how the University of Exeter is driving solutions to prior attainment challenges

Lee Elliot Major, Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter explains how a pioneering model of tutoring developed at the university can help support attainment in schools and the students of the future.
31 March 2026 Opinion

31 March 2026 Opinion

5 Principles to Maintain and Enhance Quality in Challenging Times

Chair and Deputy Chair of the Quality Council Professor Nic Beech and Professor Clare Peddie explore how the current financial context may provide opportunity for universities, with examples from Queen's University Belfast and Bangor University.
28 August 2025 Opinion

28 August 2025 Opinion

A new national supercomputer for Edinburgh: why it matters for UK research

Professor Mark Parsons, Director of EPCC based at the University of Edinburgh, explains why the government’s decision to invest in a new supercomputer at Edinburgh is welcome news to the UK research community.
6 May 2026 Opinion

6 May 2026 Opinion

Actions not words: Universities and antisemitism

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of UUK, on how to address rising antisemitism following attendance at a Downing Street summit. Universities can be part of a solution to counter extremism through education while safeguarding free speech and academic freedom.
30 January 2024 Explainer

30 January 2024 Explainer

Are universities letting international students in on lower grades?

Recent headlines have argued that international students are buying their way into UK universities through back door routes. But is this true? Director of Universities UK International, Jamie Arrowsmith, fact checks these claims.
30 April 2026 Opinion

30 April 2026 Opinion

Autonomy is not enough: a hard truth for UK higher education

Professor Amanda J Broderick, Vice Chancellor and President at UEL shares how protecting and strengthening higher education will require renewal driven from within, with universities willing to listen and evolve how they operate.
27 September 2021 Opinion

27 September 2021 Opinion

Being the first one: attending university as a first-generation student

How can universities work to make the transition to university as smooth as possible for first-generation students?
1 March 2023 Explainer

1 March 2023 Explainer

Can we save the research and innovation projects currently supported by European structural funds?

Over the coming weeks and months, we will begin to see 166 university led research and innovation projects across the UK put at risk as EU structural funding comes to an end.
7 September 2023 Opinion

7 September 2023 Opinion

Does the university funding system work well?

We asked experts in the sector whether they think the university funding system works well and what could be improved.
28 April 2025 Opinion

28 April 2025 Opinion

Enabling care-experienced and estranged students to access and thrive at university

Fiona Ellison, Director of the Unite Foundation shares the importance of providing opportunity for care leavers.
2 February 2024 Explainer

2 February 2024 Explainer

Fair admissions and Clearing: how does it work?

Deputy Director of Policy and admissions expert Dan Hurley breaks down how universities keep admissions fair.
24 July 2025 Data

24 July 2025 Data

Graduate outcomes: What the latest data reveals about employment, pay and job quality

In the last month, the government and HE sector have published new data offering fresh insight into graduate activity after leaving university.

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