Learn more about The Future of Higher Education 2021 online event, taking place 27th – 29th April.

Universities are a key contributor to the UK economy, generating more than £95 billion per year and over 940,000 full-time equivalent jobs. They also strengthen the UK’s place in the world through international partnerships, attracting the world’s top talent and contributing £13.1 billion in export earnings.

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact in the academic year 2019-20 with a loss of income amounting to £790 million. 

This sets the scene for the Future of Higher Education 2021 event, taking place via our online platform 27th – 29th April. 

The impact of Covid-19 on Higher Education

The current challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic are numerous and require an urgent response by universities.

The impact of students in lockdown has presented mental health challenges for students facing anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Universities have had to make their campuses as safe as possible and use technology to change the way they deliver learning. 

During the conference, attendees will examine how the Government and Academia are tackling the wide range of issues they are faced with. It will give an insight into what the future may look like post COVID-19 and how to manage the transition.

What’s on the agenda?

Across the three days, attendees will join experts and senior leaders from across higher education, Government, academia and the wider public sector to hear the latest policy updates across the industry and address the challenges facing the sector in these unprecedented times.

Highlights include:

Keynote Address: The Future Of Higher Education Post Covid-19
by Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice Chancellor, University of East London

• Funding: the cost implications of stabilising the sector in the short and medium-term
• Using government funding to increase R&D and upgrade research facilities
• The future of delivering courses using a blended learning approach
• The importance of student wellbeing and diversity and inclusion

Keynote Address: Analysing The Impact Of Covid-19 On University Admissions In The UK And The Outlook For The Future
by Clare Marchant, Chief Executive, UCAS

• The increase in the number of undergraduate students from outside the UK and the EU and the outlook post Brexit
• Observing record numbers of first-year students coming from disadvantage areas in the UK
• Setting a new record for the overall proportion of the UK’s 18-year-olds entering higher education following three years of falling enrolments
• Increasing access to lifelong learning and managing the future impact of COVID-19
• Analysing patterns and trends in demographics to predict future admissions patterns

Higher Education After COVID: Assessing The Impact And Considering The Changes That May Occur
by Nick Hillman, Director, Higher Education Policy Institute

• Recognising that COVID is not the only big change affecting higher education: the impact of Brexit
• Considering the many changes that have affected higher education over the last five years
• The impact of the crisis in further weakening institutions that were previously financially weak
• The reduction in money for teaching each student and the change in student expectations for their higher education experience
• The effect on the residential model and the student accommodation market

Keynote Address: Maximising Universities’ Contribution To The Economy, Communities And Post Virus Recovery
by Chris Hale, Director of Policy, Universities UK

• The need for investment from government to protect the student interest, maintain research capacity and ensure that universities can play a central role in the UK’s economic and social recovery following the crisis
• Providing stability to UK students entering in 2020-21 by introducing a one-year stability measure
• Mitigating the impact on the supply of highly skilled employees and preserving student choice
• Maximising value to the taxpayer and meeting the skills need of the economy

Case Study: Developing Student Accommodation Arrangements To Support Students Living And Studying Together During The Pandemic
by Liz Barnes, Vice Chancellor, Staffordshire University

• Ensuring that students can be kept in small groups of regular interaction and reducing the number of students living in student accommodation
• Waiving final-term accommodation fees for students who chose to return to their family homes and reducing fees for those who chose to stay
• Working together with the Students’ Union to support private sector student tenants and signpost relevant advice and support services
• Working with contractors and liaising with private landlords to manage essential repairs and maintenance and deal with queries related to student finances
• Organising virtual events and activities for students living on campus or near the university

View the full agenda here.

Making the most of the event

There will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to connect and engage with other delegates and speakers throughout the event. 

The meeting hub is a great place to introduce yourself to industry colleagues and start conversations that can lead to meaningful collaborations in the sector. 

During speaker sessions, delegates can get involved with live polls, submit questions for the speakers in the dedicated Q&A sessions, and share a deeper insight during the live consultation on day 3.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with our event partners at the virtual exhibition. 

Poly, previously Plantronics and Polycom, are the global communications company that enable a consistent learning experience across all environments. Poly headsets, software, desk phones, audio and video conferencing, analytics and centralized management are used worldwide to connect students with educators, simply and securely. 

Celcat offer the most comprehensive and easy-to-integrate products on the market, specifically designed to encourage engagement with the timetable and enhance student and staff experience. They are the architects of the popular Timetabler product and provide intuitive, feature-rich solutions for creating and publishing timetables, monitoring student attendance, managing room bookings, generating pay claims, reporting and much more.

Learn more about the event, view the full agenda, and secure your tickets here.

Keep up to date

You’ll find the latest event and related resource announcements, discussions, and other information by following IGPP on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.