📢 We're hiring a Senior Public Affairs and Policy Manager Join UA to play a leading role in shaping HE policy, delivering political engagement, and raising the profile of the UK's professional and technical universities. Hybrid, London | c.£43,000 | Permanent Apply today: bit.ly/4rHSlrt

“Workforce development is itself a form of excellence.” Brilliantly put by Professor David Mba in HEPI 👇 We need a broader definition of excellence in higher education, one that values employer partnerships, professional education and regional workforce development, alongside research intensity.

Higher Education Policy Institute@hepi-news.bsky.social · 3w ago

New Post: WEEKEND READING: When prestige trumps skills: rethinking excellence in higher education www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/09/27/w...

Today, the Creative Education Coalition launches its new manifesto at Labour Party Conference. Collectively, the Coalition is calling on Government to place creative education at the heart of its growth strategy. Read the manifesto here: bit.ly/4ylVeks

Creative Education Manifesto launches at Labour Party Conference with call to place creativity at the heart of growth strategy

Today (Monday 28 September), at the Labour Party Conference, the Creative Education Coalition is publishing a new Creative Education Manifesto, calling on the government to place creative education at...

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From high-quality teaching and learning from experienced clinicians, to gaining hands-on clinical experience and exploring research, students at Hertfordshire Medical School are supported to develop the skills and confidence they need for a career in medicine. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4z2qN2N

🎓 Real-world learning. Employer connections. Career-ready graduates. That’s why students choose Alliance universities. 📽️ Hear directly from recent graduates below 👇 Read University Alliance's Strategy 2035: First for Students, First for Employers: bit.ly/4hgLwtH

Our Deputy Director of Policy Ellie Russell in @timeshighered.bsky.social this morning urging the government to 'avoid setting up a false dichotomy between technical education and universities.” 👇

Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social · last mo.

Andy Burnham’s “false dichotomy” between technical and higher education risks further undermining degree apprenticeships in England, universities fear. Georgia Louise Luckhurst reports #highered #degreeapprenticeships #edusky https://ow.ly/uF7K50ZJxep

Today we are launching University Alliance's new strategy for 2035 - First for Students, First for Employers - which sets out our vision for professional and technical universities to drive high-level skills, employer partnerships and economic growth. 🔗Read our new strategy here: bit.ly/3SpE0mF

University Alliance Strategy 2035: First for Students, First for Employers

University Alliance Strategy 2035: First for Students, First for Employers

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Recognised for decades of exceptional leadership in governance and student support, Lifetime Achievement Award nominee Sharon Harrison Barker at the university of Hertfordshire has guided institutions and colleagues with integrity, compassion and resilience.

Recognised for his transformative leadership, shaping Coventry University into a distinctive university group in the sector, Professor John Latham CBE of Coventry University is shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's #AllianceAwards2026

Professor Hanifa Shah OBE of @mybcu.bsky.social University is today's Lifetime Achievement Award nominee #AllianceAwards2026 Recognised for over 30 years of leadership pioneering STEAM education, advancing research excellence, and championing diversity in STEM.

Announcing University Alliance's new Board leadership team: Professor Roderick Watkins DL (Anglia Ruskin University) has been appointed Chair, Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL (University of Derby) is Deputy Chair, and Prof Mairi Watson (Glasgow Caledonian University) is Treasurer. bit.ly/461uhWD

University Alliance Announces New Board Leadership Team

Professor Roderick Watkins has been appointed University Alliance Chair, Professor Kathryn Mitchell named Deputy Chair and Professor Mairi Watson elected Treasurer

unialliance.ac.uk

Paul Butler of the University of Greenwich is our next Lifetime Achievement Award shortlisted nominee, recognised for more than 30 years of leadership in digital transformation Watch UA Chair and Greenwich VC Professor Jane Harrington pay tribute to Paul 👇

Professor Alan Winfield of UWE Bristol is nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering contributions to robotics, robot ethics, and the responsible development of AI over a distinguished career. #AllianceAwards #LifetimeAchievementAward #AI #Robotics #UWEBristol

Our next #AllianceAwards26 Lifetime Achievement Award nominee: Prof Paul Croney, VC and Chief Executive of @teessideuni.bsky.social Recognised for more than 40 years of championing student success, widening participation and the transformative power of higher education.

Lifetime Achievement Award nominee Professor William Schabas (Middlesex University) is recognised for 45+ years of impact in international law, human rights and higher education. #AllianceAwards2026

Nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor Socrates Karidis (@covunilondon) has spent more than 30 years shaping HE: from transforming Coventry University London into a high-performing campus to championing the value of international students. #AllianceAwards2026

Congratulations to Professor Michael Sweet (University of Derby), shortlisted for the #AllianceAwards2026 Research Communications Award for highlighting coral science to global audiences. 🪸🌍

Congratulations to Dr Rachel Moseley (@bournemouthuni.bsky.social) shortlisted for the #AllianceAwards2026 Research Communications Award - for raising awareness of suicide prevention among autistic people. Learn more in her video below👇

Congrats Polly Wyatt, shortlisted for the Research Communications Award at the #AllianceAwards2026. Her campaign on research into visually impaired swimmers reached millions and helped drive lasting impact beyond academia. A fantastic example of research comms making a difference.👏

Congratulations to Prof Iakovos Tzankais on being shortlisted for the Research Communications Award at #AllianceAwards2026. He's helped audiences understand his research on the challenges of PFAS "forever chemicals" and the solutions he's developing to tackle them 👏

Alliance unis are leaders in professional and technical HE, offering hands-on degrees, employer partnerships and practical learning that helps students develop the skills employers need. 📞 Call one all our members' clearing hotlines today: www.unialliance.ac.uk/2026/08/13/g...

Congrats Dr Julie Armoogum of @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social, shortlisted for the Industry Partnerships Award. As co-founder of the #ACCEND programme, Julie has helped create national standards for cancer workforce education, improving career pathways, skills and patient care across the NHS.

The Teesside Aviation Skills Academy is shortlisted for the Industry Partnerships Award. Set up by Teesside University, working with Teesside International Airport and Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Academy tackles skills shortages through immersive learning in a live airport setting.

Congrats to Coventry University's Prof Marcos Kauffman on being shortlisted for the Industry Partnerships Award. Through his leadership, he's helped support 39 SMEs, attract £129.6m in co-investment, strengthen regional supply chains and accelerate clean transport innovation in the West Midlands.

The final nominee in our DTA Alumni Award shortlist is Shehani Pigera. From award-winning science communication to impactful digital health research and student leadership at @teessideuni.bsky.social, Shehani continues to make a positive difference through research, engagement and inclusivity 👇

Congratulations to Dr. Maria Turda, shortlisted for the DTA Alumni Award. A former DTA3 COFUND Fellow and now a Research Associate at @manchester.ac.uk, Maria's research and community leadership have helped shape conversations on trafficking, exploitation, and social justice in the UK and beyond.

Dr. Kumar Shantanu Prasad was shortlisted for the DTA Alumni Award at the Alliance Awards 2026. He was nominated for his commitment to knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary research and connecting academic research with real-world application 👇

Jake Milner has been shortlisted for the DTA Alumni Award for supporting both researcher development and the wider PhD community. Jake represented the DTA during a speech at a parliamentary event, trained doctoral researchers & cultivated a positive research culture at @teessideuni.bsky.social.

“Before introducing new charges or restructuring the fee model, the OfS should demonstrate greater transparency, efficiency and accountability for how those fees are spent." UA Director of Policy Susanna Kalitowski quoted in THE today 👇

Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Universities have called for a complete overhaul of the English sector watchdog’s fees, arguing that proposed changes fail to demonstrate value for money and a risk-based approach. Helen Packer reports https://ow.ly/9WZO50ZtmCH

Shortlisted for the Heroes Award (sponsored by Duolingo English Test): the Black Women Research Collective at the University of Hertfordshire. The initiative is supporting confidence, collaboration and progression for Black women across the institution. 🎥