Andy Westwood
@andywestwood.bsky.social
Public Policy Prof at University of Manchester. On a mission.
This piece on the dynamics of the English HE market from David Maguire and Alex Bols is excellent. So are the conclusions they draw.
www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/why-uk...
www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/why-uk...
Why the UK’s market for students needs careful curation
There have been more winners than losers since domestic student recruitment was uncapped in England. But without better stewardship, all institutions must do what they can to swing the market in their...
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This piece on the dynamics of the English HE market from David Maguire and Alex Bols is excellent. So are the conclusions they draw.
www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/why-uk...
www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/why-uk...
Reposted by Andy Westwood
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Innovation nation
Europe’s future growth and democratic stability depend on universities stepping up their innovation game
www.ips-journal.eu
November 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Reposted by Andy Westwood
Following yesterday’s Budget, TPI’s @andywestwood.bsky.social @profdaverichards.bsky.social @drdarcyluke.bsky.social @samwarner.bsky.social and Patrick Diamond share insights on the government’s approach to growth and productivity.
Read more: bit.ly/3JVRkLi
Read more: bit.ly/3JVRkLi
Budget 2025: Hyperactive Incrementalism and the Missing Long View - The Productivity Institute
The 2025 UK Budget had a glaring absence of any long-term economic strategy for growth and investment.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Following yesterday’s Budget, TPI’s @andywestwood.bsky.social @profdaverichards.bsky.social @drdarcyluke.bsky.social @samwarner.bsky.social and Patrick Diamond share insights on the government’s approach to growth and productivity.
Read more: bit.ly/3JVRkLi
Read more: bit.ly/3JVRkLi
Reposted by Andy Westwood
NEW on Wonkhe: The UK Standard Skills Classification is a new way to think about the connections between courses and jobs. David Kernohan loves a new coding framework buff.ly/nVlSlHr
November 28, 2025 at 7:05 AM
NEW on Wonkhe: The UK Standard Skills Classification is a new way to think about the connections between courses and jobs. David Kernohan loves a new coding framework buff.ly/nVlSlHr
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Innovation nation
Europe’s future growth and democratic stability depend on universities stepping up their innovation game
www.ips-journal.eu
November 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A blog on innovation, universities and the regions that really, really need them. Written with my very good colleague @jcaustin.bsky.social and published by IPS (International Politics & Society) in Berlin.
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
www.ips-journal.eu/work-and-dig...
Reposted by Andy Westwood
The tax rises in this Budget’s are backloaded.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
The tax rises in this Budget’s are backloaded.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
More Budget chat - from @drdarcyluke.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social, Dave Richards, Patrick Diamond and me for @productivity.bsky.social
Smorgasbords, Pick n Mix, Sticking Plasters etc
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/budget-...
Smorgasbords, Pick n Mix, Sticking Plasters etc
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/budget-...
Budget 2025: Hyperactive Incrementalism and the Missing Long View - The Productivity Institute
The 2025 UK Budget had a glaring absence of any long-term economic strategy for growth and investment.
www.productivity.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:56 AM
More Budget chat - from @drdarcyluke.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social, Dave Richards, Patrick Diamond and me for @productivity.bsky.social
Smorgasbords, Pick n Mix, Sticking Plasters etc
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/budget-...
Smorgasbords, Pick n Mix, Sticking Plasters etc
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/budget-...
This is quite a story for English Higher Education policy. #Budget2025
on.ft.com/4ogqPxZ Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
on.ft.com/4ogqPxZ Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
Surprise move from chancellor means some university graduates in England may have to pay back debts sooner
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:21 AM
This is quite a story for English Higher Education policy. #Budget2025
on.ft.com/4ogqPxZ Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
on.ft.com/4ogqPxZ Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
OK but like inflation link to tuition fees this just locks in current levels of funding. Also scope of both QR and HEIF are presumably in mix for new UKRI approach set out earlier this week?
Block grants for university R&I to rise by £425m over four years.
Treasury confirms real-terms protection of quality-related grants and Higher Education Innovation Funding in autumn budget.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Treasury confirms real-terms protection of quality-related grants and Higher Education Innovation Funding in autumn budget.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
OK but like inflation link to tuition fees this just locks in current levels of funding. Also scope of both QR and HEIF are presumably in mix for new UKRI approach set out earlier this week?
Reposted by Andy Westwood
International student fee levy details confirmed in Budget document: flat fee charged on institutions "of £925 per student per year of study, starting in August 2028 academic year 2028-29".
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
International student fee levy details confirmed in Budget document: flat fee charged on institutions "of £925 per student per year of study, starting in August 2028 academic year 2028-29".
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
Reposted by Andy Westwood
Rachel Reeves can count herself (at least a bit) lucky. OBR productivity downgrade would have knocked £16 billion off tax receipts. But she was saved by £32 billion of *extra* receipts from higher inflation and a shift to more tax-rich growth (lower profits, higher wages).
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Rachel Reeves can count herself (at least a bit) lucky. OBR productivity downgrade would have knocked £16 billion off tax receipts. But she was saved by £32 billion of *extra* receipts from higher inflation and a shift to more tax-rich growth (lower profits, higher wages).
Reposted by Andy Westwood
"It is imperative for democracies to build robust, innovation-driven economies & domestic high-tech industries, especially in those regions undergoing structural change that cannot achieve this on their own. " @andywestwood.bsky.social & I detail how to do this:
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
Hightech Heimat
Die Belebung alter Industrieregionen ist zentral zur Verteidigung der Demokratie. Was Europa von den USA lernen kann.
www.ipg-journal.de
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"It is imperative for democracies to build robust, innovation-driven economies & domestic high-tech industries, especially in those regions undergoing structural change that cannot achieve this on their own. " @andywestwood.bsky.social & I detail how to do this:
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
www.ipg-journal.de/rubriken/arb...
Reposted by Andy Westwood
BREAKING: Tourist tax to be introduced across England.
The money raised is intended to be invested in local transport, infrastructure and the visitor economy to attract more tourists
news.sky.com/story/touris...
The money raised is intended to be invested in local transport, infrastructure and the visitor economy to attract more tourists
news.sky.com/story/touris...
Tourist tax to be introduced across England
The new visitor levy will allow mayors to impose a "modest" charge on overnight stays to invest in local transport and infrastructure.
news.sky.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
BREAKING: Tourist tax to be introduced across England.
The money raised is intended to be invested in local transport, infrastructure and the visitor economy to attract more tourists
news.sky.com/story/touris...
The money raised is intended to be invested in local transport, infrastructure and the visitor economy to attract more tourists
news.sky.com/story/touris...
Except in Lincolnshire.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
Statement by Trump administration confirms longstanding suspicions that Musk-led agency is on its way out
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Except in Lincolnshire.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Is this really a headline measure?
#Budget2025
#Budget2025
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Is this really a headline measure?
#Budget2025
#Budget2025
Here is @richardaljones.bsky.social basically telling us how it is. I’ve been thinking about this since listening to him say this stuff out loud at the @royalsociety.org
on Thursday.
softmachines.org?p=3192
on Thursday.
softmachines.org?p=3192
UK Science in a post-liberal world – Soft Machines, by Richard Jones
softmachines.org
November 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Here is @richardaljones.bsky.social basically telling us how it is. I’ve been thinking about this since listening to him say this stuff out loud at the @royalsociety.org
on Thursday.
softmachines.org?p=3192
on Thursday.
softmachines.org?p=3192
Reposted by Andy Westwood
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
Reposted by Andy Westwood
BREAKING: The former leader of Reform in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been sentenced to ten and half years in prison for taking bribes to pump out Russian propaganda.
Gill was paid thousands to make pro-Russia speeches and TV interviews.
Gill was paid thousands to make pro-Russia speeches and TV interviews.
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
BREAKING: The former leader of Reform in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been sentenced to ten and half years in prison for taking bribes to pump out Russian propaganda.
Gill was paid thousands to make pro-Russia speeches and TV interviews.
Gill was paid thousands to make pro-Russia speeches and TV interviews.
Reposted by Andy Westwood
Kathleen Fisher to take over as Aria (the UK’s high risk, high reward innovation agency) CEO in February, joining from RAND. Previous work includes leading DARPA’s Information Innovation Office
ariaresearch.substack.com/p/introducin...
ariaresearch.substack.com/p/introducin...
Introducing ARIA’s next CEO
Kathleen Fisher will join us in February 2026.
ariaresearch.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Kathleen Fisher to take over as Aria (the UK’s high risk, high reward innovation agency) CEO in February, joining from RAND. Previous work includes leading DARPA’s Information Innovation Office
ariaresearch.substack.com/p/introducin...
ariaresearch.substack.com/p/introducin...
Hadn’t realised Larry Ellison was the new landlord at the Eagle & Child.
www.ft.com/content/ae2c...
www.ft.com/content/ae2c...
Larry Ellison scales back £10bn Oxford science institute in leadership rift
Trump-supporting billionaire narrows EIT’s ambitions by cutting initiatives and tightening control
www.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Hadn’t realised Larry Ellison was the new landlord at the Eagle & Child.
www.ft.com/content/ae2c...
www.ft.com/content/ae2c...
👇
Research assessment exercises have turned impact into a means to an end. Instead of writing a good story, do good work for genuine impact: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-get-fourstar-impact-case-study-stop-chasing-one #HigherEd #AcademicSky #EduSky
How to get a four-star impact case study? Stop chasing one
Research assessment exercises have turned impact into a means to an end. Instead of writing a good story, do good work for genuine impact
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:13 PM
👇
Reposted by Andy Westwood
Teesside University and Steve Smith win top prizes as ‘Oscars of higher education’ is held in Scotland for first time #THEAwards
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-higher-education-awards-2025-winners-announced
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-higher-education-awards-2025-winners-announced
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Teesside University and Steve Smith win top prizes as ‘Oscars of higher education’ is held in Scotland for first time #THEAwards
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-higher-education-awards-2025-winners-announced
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-higher-education-awards-2025-winners-announced
Reposted by Andy Westwood
Young adults are growing increasingly economically dislocated on.ft.com/48bAuRE | opinion
Young adults are growing increasingly economically dislocated
A disconnected class is taking shape, but is absent from the headline statistics
on.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Young adults are growing increasingly economically dislocated on.ft.com/48bAuRE | opinion
Good. They were a terrible idea in the first place.
🚨 NEW: The Government will announce the scrapping of Police and Crime Commissioners later today
[@hoffman_noa]
[@hoffman_noa]
November 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Good. They were a terrible idea in the first place.
Reposted by Andy Westwood
An extremely helpful and insightful gloss on the White Paper on @hepi-news.bsky.social from the always well-informed @andywestwood.bsky.social (he knows of what he speaks).
New Post: Our mission – if we choose to accept it… www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/11/13/o...
November 13, 2025 at 7:36 AM
An extremely helpful and insightful gloss on the White Paper on @hepi-news.bsky.social from the always well-informed @andywestwood.bsky.social (he knows of what he speaks).