University of London to host major new Festival of Higher Education in partnership with Wonkhe

The festival will take place over two days, on 7 and 8 November 2023, at Senate House. 

Produced and developed by Wonkhe and the University of London, The Festival of Higher Education will bring together higher education leaders, opinion-formers, and wonks of all types to discuss the biggest issues facing universities today.  

The festival website has gone live today at www.thefestivalofhe.com and is open for early bird bookings. 

Over two thought-provoking days, 400+ guests will take part in intimate one-to-one conversations with HE leaders, set-piece debates, and hear insights from journalists, commentators, and policymakers. There will be cutting-edge debate, expert panel sessions, big-name speakers from outside the sector as well as from within, Q&As, interactive masterclasses and, of course, plenty of networking and social opportunities. 

The Festival of Higher Education will provide opportunities for fresh thinking about what’s going on in higher education. Delegates will hear about the latest trends and developments, examine insights and analysis, learning about new research, data and ideas and network with a community of policy wonks and influencers from across higher education – at every level and from every professional background. 

Alistair Jarvis CBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor Partnerships and Governance, said:  

“The Festival of Higher Education will be the most exciting event in the higher education calendar – a place to debate the most pressing issues facing universities, to hear fresh perspectives, to shape policy thinking and examine the latest trends, research and innovations. The University of London shares Wonkhe’s mission to open up the higher education debate and is delighted to launch this partnership to produce and host this festival at the iconic Senate House. The University of London is committed to being at the heart of the higher education debate, driving forward the conversation before, during and after the event.” 

To coincide with the launch of the festival, Alistair Jarvis reflects on the last decade of HE policy and speculates on what the months and years ahead will bring in an op-ed published in WonkHE.