COVID
This week, the Minister confirmed that students will be advised to return to campus only when the country enters step 3 of the lockdown exit plan, currently scheduled for 17 May. Letters from the Minister to institutions and students are available on Convene. DfE has updated its guidance accordingly and OfS has updated its student Covid FAQs.
The sector has reacted with disappointment – see for example this response from UUK. There was also an urgent question (UQ) on the subject in the House of Commons yesterday.
For a simple explanation of what is going on with the return to campus, the House of Commons Library has updated its briefing on the subject, Wonkhe has some analysis, or there is this handy BBC explainer.
FINANCE
THE predicts strike action within the sector following proposals to cut benefits from USS.
RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Anyone interested in the proposed Advanced Research and Invention Agency, can follow the process of the enabling legislation through Parliament by watching sessions of the Public Bill Committee and reading the House of Commons Library briefing on the bill.
Former Universities Minister, Chris Skidmore, will be chairing an inquiry for the Higher Education Commission into the role played by universities in helping regional economies to grow.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The University EDI team has a blog post responding to the government’s controversial race report.
HARRASSMENT
There has been media coverage of the potential impact on universities of the expansion to higher education of the Everyone’s Invited website. The Secretary of State has announced (unusually, via the Sun) that OfS will undertake an investigation into sexual harassment and assault in the sector, with an expectation that it will publish guidelines requiring vice-chancellors to show that they are dealing robustly with claims.
Respond
