Policy and analysis

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Mental health

We ensure that wellbeing and mental health are a strategic priority for universities.

Brexit and UK universities

We are working with our members, the university sector and government on the implications for universities and students of the UK's vote to leave the EU.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We support and promote life-changing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds at every university.

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Immigration

We want to see an immigration system that helps UK universities to attract international students and highly skilled staff from around the world.

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Innovation, growth and skills

Universities are vital in supporting business and communities, promoting local and national economic growth and innovation, and supplying highly skilled and employable graduates.

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Regulation of higher education

Effective regulation is essential to provide accountability for public funds, protect the interests of students and safeguard the reputation of UK higher education.

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Student experience

The UK’s universities want to provide students with a world-class education so that they can achieve their full potential.

Funding

A sustainable funding environment is essential for universities.

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Efficiency and value for money

Universities across the UK are committed to delivering value for money for students, for government and for the wider public.

Research policy

Our universities lead the world in science and research, but government must invest more if we are to maximise the benefits to the economy, society and people's everyday lives.

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Professional education

Universities are committed to the renewal of the teaching profession through provision of excellent training programmes which produce the teachers our education system needs.

Health

Universities train and educate the healthcare workforce and carry out research which improves the health of the nation and drives growth.

Universities and counter-terrorism

Universities have a role to play in the prevention of terrorism and violent extremism. But they must also be allowed to balance this against their duty to promote freedom of speech within the law.

Pensions

We represent higher education employers in discussions on the future of the USS. We are working to make the scheme sustainable while offering the very best pensions that can be afforded.

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Internationalisation

We want to support the development of UK universities’ influence on the world stage, and ensure that the UK higher education sector remains competitive by international standards.

Blog

What's Up With Everyone? characters Merve, Charlie, Tai, Ashley and Alex

What’s Up With Everyone? Starting a conversation about students’ mental health

4 March 2021

This University Mental Health Day, Professor Paul Crawford of the University of Nottingham discusses the new campaign What’s Up With Everyone? and explains why it is so important to support students’ mental health literacy.

Student reviews tell the story of 2020

1 March 2021

After studying more than 16,000 student reviews, Paul Humphreys, Founder and CEO at StudentCrowd, looks at how students have been experiencing university this year.

News

Increased pension costs risk pricing university staff out of USS

3 March 2021

Employers and scheme members need a stronger and clearer justification from the USS Trustee for its very high pricing decisions

University admissions teams will 'pull out all the stops' this year

25 February 2021

Universities UK's response to the government's announcement on teacher assessed grades for 2021.