Zahir Irani

The Old Royal Naval College building, University of Greenwich, represented as a superhero wearing a cape. As an illustration of a superuniversity.

Will superuniversities save UK HE?

The quasi-merger of the universities of Kent and Greenwich has raised questions about how many other higher education institutions might see an opportunity – or a necessity – to team up as financial pressures bite ever harder. Six experts share their views

By Chris Husbands

13 October

English higher education needs to start taking lifelong learning seriously

When it launches next year, the lifelong learning entitlement could boost both university finances and social mobility, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

6 February

A woman walks in front of a billboard advertising HS2

HE’s social mobility engine will misfire without more student maintenance

The UK government should be doing more to help students survive the cost-of-living crisis, not dissuading them from studying, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

24 October

Concept of a conveyor with graduates falling into waste paper basket to illustrate Traditional degree classifications are no longer fit for purpose

UK degree classifications are no longer fit for purpose

The honours system has too narrow a scope and too few grades. Why not embrace the Hear and the GCSE scale, asks Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

28 February

Students need practical help, not principles, in the cost-of-living crisis

Covid-19 illustrated how universities are not always good at taking responsibility for the practicalities of their policy statements, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

24 September

The rising cost of UK higher education risks pricing out the disadvantaged

Progress on widening participation may go into reverse if mounting scepticism about university’s value isn’t addressed, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

5 May

Scientists and business people discuss a computer component

A science superpower still needs business and management research

Funding is declining but business school research is as vital as science to post-pandemic economic recovery, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

30 June

Taking on community roles is critical for universities’ local profiles

The unique skills that academics bring to local projects underline that they change lives well beyond the lecture theatre, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

23 January

Business schools must dig in and help rebuild local economies

They can teach the practical essentials needed for emerging from lockdown and localising the supply chain, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

16 May

African students shun West for China

China’s growing presence in Africa is causing many students to head to Asia rather than Western universities, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

1 November

We need to play the long game, not lose our cool

Universities must resist the urge to make knee-jerk cuts after disappointing application numbers – better times are on the horizon and we must be prepared, says Zahir Irani

By Zahir Irani

9 February