Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The rise and fall of the ivory tower
#HigherEducationCrisis
#UKUniversities
#AcademicFreedom
#educationreform
The UK’s higher-education sector is in crisis, with 40 per cent of universities and other higher-education institutions expected to run a loss this financial year. Fewer 18-year-olds are electing to go to university. Courses are closing, academic redundancies are on the rise, students are dissatisfied, staff are demoralised, bureaucracy is increasing, and, if you believe the hype, standards are falling. More universities are at risk of bankruptcy.
Will the new Labour government be able to turn things around? Is this an inevitable corrective for a sector that expanded too far – or are we in danger of losing valuable departments, institutions and educational opportunities?
In this session, the speakers are:
Jennie Bristow - reader in sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University; author, The Corona Generation: coming of age in a crisis and Growing up in Lockdown
Maeve Halligan - student; musician; member, The Hooligans; student representative, Academic for Academic Freedom (AFAF)
Dr Neil Thin - author; honorary research fellow, social and political science, University of Edinburgh; former director of teaching, SPS Undergraduate School
The chair is:
Austin Williams - director, Future Cities Project; honorary research fellow, XJTLU, Suzhou, China; author, China’s Urban Revolution; series editor, Five Critical Essays.
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
The rise and fall of the ivory tower
#HigherEducationCrisis
#UKUniversities
#AcademicFreedom
#educationreform
The UK’s higher-education sector is in crisis, with 40 per cent of universities and other higher-education institutions expected to run a loss this financial year. Fewer 18-year-olds are electing to go to university. Courses are closing, academic redundancies are on the rise, students are dissatisfied, staff are demoralised, bureaucracy is increasing, and, if you believe the hype, standards are falling. More universities are at risk of bankruptcy.
Will the new Labour government be able to turn things around? Is this an inevitable corrective for a sector that expanded too far – or are we in danger of losing valuable departments, institutions and educational opportunities?
In this session, the speakers are:
Jennie Bristow - reader in sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University; author, The Corona Generation: coming of age in a crisis and Growing up in Lockdown
Maeve Halligan - student; musician; member, The Hooligans; student representative, Academic for Academic Freedom (AFAF)
Dr Neil Thin - author; honorary research fellow, social and political science, University of Edinburgh; former director of teaching, SPS Undergraduate School
The chair is:
Austin Williams - director, Future Cities Project; honorary research fellow, XJTLU, Suzhou, China; author, China’s Urban Revolution; series editor, Five Critical Essays.
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
