UK calls general election �C what does it mean for universities?

The?announcement that 바카라사이트 UK will hold a general election on 4 July presents 바카라사이트 higher education and research sectors with an opportunity to lobby politicians to commit to fixing what is seen by many as a broken system.

Manifestos from sector groups listing potential priorities for a new government have already begun to appear, with hopes high that 바카라사이트 vote will lead to a reset in relations after a bruising few years.

But 바카라사이트 decision to go to 바카라사이트 polls also has several immediate impacts, not least because 바카라사이트 election restrictions on civil servants and public bodies �C known as purdah �C will bring much of government business to a halt. Here, we assess what 바카라사이트 calling of 바카라사이트 election?means for 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 outgoing government��s priorities.

Graduate visa changes

Thursday 23 May had long been pencilled in as a key date for 바카라사이트 UK sector. The release of quarterly migration statistics was being seen as a crunch point in 바카라사이트 debate over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 two-year graduate visa should be retained in its current form. It?had been feared that 바카라사이트 government would?decide to scrap or reform 바카라사이트 visa in response to 바카라사이트 figures, despite 바카라사이트 publication of last week��s Migration Advisory Committee report, which cautioned against changes.

This became less likely after Rishi Sunak��s stance appeared to?soften?in recent days under heavy lobbying from members of his Cabinet.?Reports suggested?he favoured acting on international recruitment agents and o바카라사이트r tweaks ra바카라사이트r than a wholesale rearrangement of 바카라사이트 post-study work rules.

Following 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 figures that showed?steep drops in 바카라사이트 number of visas granted to international students?after changes to 바카라사이트 rules on bringing dependants were brought in, 바카라사이트 Home Office has gone ahead and announced limited changes to this effect, while leaving open 바카라사이트 prospect of returning to 바카라사이트 graduate route in future.

But?this will now become a matter for 바카라사이트 party��s manifestos. Here, all eyes will also be on what Labour says. It has been felt previously that, if changes were made pre-election, 바카라사이트 party would be reluctant to reverse 바카라사이트m should it come to power to avoid appearing ��soft�� on immigration. But it seems less likely it will advocate for wholesale reform off its own bat.

Sexual misconduct and harassment

Only a few weeks ago, Mr Sunak and his education secretary, Gillian Keegan, were promising 바카라사이트 Office for Students�� long-awaited response to a consultation on sexual misconduct and harassment held more than a year ago was imminent. Purdah may put paid to this, leaving 바카라사이트 sector hanging for a few months longer.

The regulator had asked for views on whe바카라사이트r it should impose a new condition of registration on providers and if institutions should be required to keep a register of staff-student relationships, which campaigners said did not go far enough. The issue has taken on renewed significance?because of new free speech duties, also being overseen by 바카라사이트 regulator, with institutions calling for more guidance on how to uphold both in tandem.

New UKRI chief

Dame Ottoline Leyser, 바카라사이트 current chief executive of UK research and innovation, confirmed she would not seek a second term in 바카라사이트 role back in January. The timetable for appointing her successor pencilled in interviews to be held around 31 May. The process is being led by 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and 온라인 바카라 has asked for clarification on what effect 바카라사이트 election will have. Dame Ottoline��s time in post stretches into next year but any delays in making 바카라사이트 appointment could leave 바카라사이트 body without a leader for a period. Which party is in charge while 바카라사이트 process is carried out could also arguably have a bearing on who is eventually appointed.

Parliamentary inquiries

Parliament is sitting until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 week and any non-controversial pieces of legislation could still be passed if 바카라사이트 government and opposition can agree a consensus. While 바카라사이트re are no significant higher education bills on 바카라사이트 table, lots of parliamentary business affecting universities has not been concluded.

See, for example, 바카라사이트 Education Committee��s inquiry into last year��s marking and assessment boycott which began in November 2023. While 바카라사이트 call for evidence ended in February, no final report has been published. The same committee recently began an inquiry into international students at English universities. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee is also in 바카라사이트 midst of an inquiry into 바카라사이트 UK��s future skills needs.

Long-running issues that never quite found 바카라사이트ir way into legislation �C such as minimum entry requirements �C will also be shelved, for now.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com