HIGHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

A collection of videos from a recent keynote event, from the Festival of Social Sciences

One of the keynote events of the Festival of Social Sciences was 'Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities' in which there were three key speakers; Professor Mike Shattock, Professor Robin Naylor and Registrar, Jon Baldwin. The event focussed on a range of key questions about recent changes in Higher Education: how do the current changes compare with reforms and cuts imposed in the 1980s? How might institutions respond to the challenges they confront? What about the students? Is a degree going to be worth the fee? All three videos from the event are now available for you to watch below.

Comparing Cuts in Public Expenditure 1981-2011: the implications for Higher Education

In the first of the speeches Professor Michael Shattock presents 'Comparing Cuts in Public Expenditure 1981-2011: the implications for Higher Education' at the Festival of Social Sciences 2011.

Professor Michael Shattock (OBE) is a former Registrar at the University of Warwick and is now a visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London. Professor Shattock is widely published on the topics of university management and Higher Education. In 1998 he was awarded an OBE for services to Higher Education and has also received honorary degrees from the University of Reading as well as from here at the University of Warwick.

Higher Education: Evidence of student incomes

The second of the talks, by Professor Robin Naylor, Department of Economics, focussed on 'Higher Education: Evidence of student incomes'.

Professor Robin Naylor is Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Economics. His research interests include the economics of Higher Education, intergenerational mobility and social customs in the labour market. Professor Naylor is widely published in the area of Higher Education and has presented at a variety of seminars over recent years.

What makes a successful University? Defining Success in Higher Education

The final talk came from current University Registrar, Jon Baldwin with his talk 'What makes a successful University? Defining Success in Higher Education'.

Jon Baldwin joined Warwick as Registrar in 2004 and is responsible for the administration of the University under the direction of the Vice-Chancellor. Prior to his appointment at Warwick, he was Secretary and Registrar at UMIST from 2000 to 2004 and Registrar at the University of Wolverhampton from 1995 to 2000. He has also held management, teaching and administration posts at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh and Lancashire Polytechnic, as well as teaching at the Open University and in Further Education and publishing papers and articles on a wide range of education-related topics.

This article forms part of our coverage of the Festival of Social Sciences taking place at the University throughout May 2011. The festival is designed to celebrate the vibrancy and innovation of research and teaching in the social sciences at Warwick. The theme for 2011 is 'Public Engagement, Communication and Impact'.