Our work 2022–23

Funding

• Launch of the national conversation on the future of university funding.
• Working with governments, political parties, consumer groups, employers, staff, students and the wider public the conversation is aiming to identify possible long-term approaches to the funding that universities receive for their teaching and research

Lifelong learning

• We continue to be closely involved in the policy development of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement in England, representing the interests of our members.
• The consultation response saw the government commit to the removal of all remaining English Language Qualification (ELQ) restrictions, and to introduce maintenance support for in-person modular study.

Research and innovation

• Commissioned a review of concordats and agreements and led the development of the research culture and practice forum.
• Published Higher education research and innovation in facts and figures and webpage on the contributions of university research and innovation.
• Established a new Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Network to help develop UUK positions on research and innovation policy.
• Engaged in reviews and strategies on the research development and innovation organisational landscape, bureaucracy and people and culture.

Security

• Published case studies and streamlined resources on how universities are managing risk in internationalisation. Facilitated peer learning at domestic and international level on security-related issues.
• Engaged extensively with government departments and arms length bodies to support engagement with the sector and associated guidance.

Growth

• Published the report, Our universities: generating growth and opportunity, which explores ways in which universities can contribute to economic growth. The report highlights the success of University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) projects in Nottingham, Liverpool, Hertfordshire, Bradford and Bristol. It demonstrates how well-placed and crucial universities are to supporting economic growth which is a priority for the UK government.
• Engaged closely with the Labour party to influence developing thinking on innovation policy, including submission to their review of startups, and hosting a roundtable with the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
• Raised awareness of the risks to University research and innovation projects currently supported by European structural funds, resulting in recognition of the issue by the Secretary of States for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Regulation

• Influenced the OfS to take a refined, and less bureaucratic, approach to Access and Participation Plans which should reduce burden for many member institutions.
• Submitted written and gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee inquiry into the Office for Students, setting out a constructive case for reform.
• OfS has already since committed to including regulatory burden in all future consultations, revised its approach to provider engagement, and established a task and finish group on retention of assessment.
• Hosted a Good Regulation Symposium, bringing together higher education and non-higher education regulators, sector leaders, students, and academic experts to explore the performance of the OfS to date and where we can learn from other sectors establishing UUK as a leading voice in these discussions.

Free speech and academic freedom

• Worked with MPs and Lords to influence the contents and implementation of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, including reforms which ensure the tort remains as a legal backstop – only available to individuals after they have exhausted other routes and complaints schemes, rather than a first port of call.

Admissions

• UCAS data showed conditional unconditional offers have almost completely disappeared, driven largely by our sector-led code of practice and avoiding regulatory action.

Quality

• We have worked with the QAA and GuildHE to publish principles around external examining, completing the activity commitments of the UK Standing Committee for Quality Assessment’s (UKSQSA) statement of intent on grade inflation, and took on the secretariat function of the UKSCQA.
• We have worked across the sector to demonstrate the sector’s continued efforts and leadership in addressing the risks associated with grade inflation winning the confidence of students, employers and Government. 118 institutions published degree outcomes statements last year and across the sector there was a 4-point reduction in ‘upper degrees’ following pandemic-related increases.
• Submitted responses to OfS consultations on condition B3, the Teaching Excellence Framework, and the metrics and measures used in the assessment of quality, to shape regulatory approaches in England and, through doing so, secured a revised timeline for the TEF amongst other changes.

Tackling harassment

• Universities UK produced a practice note to help universities respond to reported spiking incidents. The note outlines principles and considerations for universities, along with ‘immediate actions’ checklist to respond to an incident.
• Published practical guidance on Tackling staff-student sexual misconduct.
• In April, we responded to OfS’ consultation on a new approach to regulating harassment and sexual misconduct, stating that we did not see this as a suitable area for OfS regulation.

Student mental health

• In partnership with PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, we published recommendations calling on universities to be more proactive in preventing student suicides, in particular how and when universities should involve families, carers and trusted others when there are serious concerns about the safety or mental health of a student.
• Published a checklist for universities to help them support students in the transition to, during, and upon returning from a placement.

Cost of living

• Universities UK presented data and information on the impact of the cost of living crisis for the student population and welcomed the government’s decision to increase hardship funding for the higher education sector to shore up the support provided by member institutions to their students.

We have responded robustly throughout the year to the speculation that the UK government may look to cut international student numbers, or remove the Graduate route visa.

We have:

• Maintained cross-party support for both the International Education Strategy and Graduate route.
• Worked with Public First to show the public are not in favour of cutting the number of international students.
• Secured concessions which allow postgraduate research students to still bring dependants.
• Published guidance to support the sector to diversify their international recruitment while maintain high levels of compliance with the immigration rules.

Benefits of international education

• Universities UK International, with partners HEPI, Kaplan International Pathways, and London Economics, published a report exploring the impact of international students to the UK economy. The costs and benefits of international higher education students to the UK economy is a follow up to a similar report published in 2021.

#WeAreInternational

• Relaunch of the #WeAreInternational campaign, with universities across the UK celebrating the social, cultural and civic contributions internationals students make, telling their individual stories raising awareness of these individual stories and to further enhance the positive understanding of and sentiment towards international students in the eyes of public, political and media opinion.
• Over 70 universities joined in the campaign on the relaunch day, reaching over 7 million people.