In conversation with Professor Dame Sally Mapstone DBE, FRSE

In Conversation with Professor Dame Sally Mapstone DBE, FRSE, President of Universities UK, Chair of the Higher Education Policy Institute, and Vice-Chancellor of St Andrews University.

Since the arrival of a Labour Government the negative rhetoric aimed at our HE sector has largely evaporated, but this has not been accompanied by any major move to shore up university finances. Far from it; Ministers have made it clear that not only do HEIs need to manage their financial affairs more effectively, but they have to respond positively to a new political agenda. We’re expecting a radical package of reforms in the summer, with renewed focus on greater access and better outcomes for disadvantaged sections of society, much more active engagement with place-based skills strategies, and a stronger commitment to collaboration and partnership. Our online conversation with Dame Sally is an opportunity to hear from one of the most prominent HE sector leaders at this time of change.

Dame Sally is a unique figure in the Higher Education landscape. An Oxford graduate, a specialist in Medieval and Renaissance Scottish Literature, and VC of Britain’s most highly rated university for nearly ten years, Dame Sally has found herself representing the UK’s HE sector during one of the most challenging periods in its recent history. As president of UUK since 2023 she has brought a calm, thoughtful and positive quality to an often heated debate and is widely respected for her thorough knowledge of HE – not just in England but in Scotland too - and her unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion and social justice.

As she prepares to hand over the UUK baton, how does Dame Sally evaluate the prospects for the HE sector? Are universities getting to grips with their financial challenge? Is the student loan system fit for purpose, or does it need radical reform? Should we be turning on the taps to increase the flow of international students, or is that making universities too dependent on money from overseas? How does she see the sector responding to the new emphasis on access, partnership and place-based engagement? What is the right balance between universities as generators of knowledge and innovation, and universities as developers of applied skills? And is the introduction of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement in 2026 going to be the “game-changer” politicians are hoping for?

There’s plenty to talk about, and few people better placed to provide interesting answers to the question of the future role of HE in contributing to the economic and social issues that affect us all.