Westminster Higher Education Forum

Next steps for creative education in England - creative subjects in schools, FE and HEIs, progression, and career development

Morning, Tuesday, 24^th June 2025
Online

From the Westminster Education Forum

Keynote Speakers: Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO, Mulberry Schools Trust; and Member, Curriculum and Assessment Review Group; Jill Cowley, Pro Vice-Chancellor Skills and Training and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities, De Montfort University; Stuart Worden, Principal, The BRIT School and John Yarham, Interim Chief Executive, Careers & Enterprise Company

Next steps for freedom of speech in higher education institutions

the HE Free Speech Act | new statutory duties | regulatory powers & oversight | developing internal frameworks & complaints procedures | institutional governance | campus culture | safeguarding wellbeing

Morning, Thursday, 26^th June 2025
Online

Keynote Speakers: Dr Arif Ahmed, Director, Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, Office for Students; Beth Cooper, Policy Adviser, Universities UK and Dr Russell Skiba, Emeritus Professor and Director, Equity Project, Indiana University

Next steps for international students in the UK

policy priorities | Immigration White Paper proposals | recruitment challenges & opportunities | HEI finances & competitiveness | student experience, employment & further study | application processes

Morning, Thursday, 18^th September 2025
Online

Keynote Speakers: Anne Marie Graham, Chief Executive, UK Council for International Student Affairs and Haleema Masud, Policy Advisor, International Students, UCAS

Helena Vine

Next steps for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement

preparing for rollout & addressing challenges | modular & flexible learning | course design & delivery | stackable qualifications | credit accumulation | financial sustainability | meeting skills needs | boosting uptake

Morning, Friday, 26^th September 2025
Online

Keynote Speaker: Helena Vine, Lead Policy Officer, England, Quality Assurance Agency

Greg Wade

Next steps for universities and their local economies

Morning, Monday, 13^th October 2025
Online

Keynote Speaker: Greg Wade, Head, Innovation Policy, Universities UK

In Production

The Westminster Higher Education Forum is planning a very full programme for the next 12 months.

Please give us a ring on 01344 864796 or email email info@forumsupport.co.uk to discuss future conferences.

We'd be happy to share ideas on areas to focus on, speaker suggestions, and other ways of getting involved.

Parliamentary Patrons of the Forum

The parliamentary patrons of the Westminster Higher Education Forum are:

Debbie Abrahams MP

Rt Hon Lord Baker of Dorking

Rt Hon Lord Bassam of Brighton

Lord Bilimoria

Lord Boswell of Aynho

Baroness Brown of Cambridge

Rt Hon Sir David Davis MP

Baroness Deech KC

Baroness Donaghy

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

Rt Hon Baroness Garden of Frognal

Rt Hon John Glen MP

Chris Green MP

Lord Hannay of Chiswick

Viscount Hanworth

Emma Hardy MP

Lord Holmes of Richmond

Rt Hon Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall

Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes

Baroness Morgan of Huyton

Rt Hon the Baroness Neville-Jones

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve

Lord Norton of Louth

Lord Roberts of Llandudno

Lord Shipley

Lord Storey

Lord Triesman

Lord Turnberg

Rt Hon the Lord Wallace of Tankerness

Lord Watson of Invergowrie

Viscount Younger of Leckie

Daniel Zeichner MP

Note: parliamentary patrons take no financial interest in the Forum.