The prime minister, Theresa May, tops the list of 50 most powerful people in UK higher education this year.
Published by Wonkhe – a thinktank for higher education policy “wonks” – the list is dominated by politicians, but includes the vice-chancellors, journalists and thinkers who are making the most impact on the sector.
Wonkhe editor Mark Leach says: “There is, of course, no scientific way to measure power. Our judging discussions had two overriding themes: who has the power to allocate resources and make the rules? And who is active and effective at trying to influence this?
“Many of the figures work day-in, day-out in our sector. Others may give very little thought to the world of UK universities – but they make the massive decisions that shape the world in which British higher education must operate.”
Top 10 on the power list
(with commentary from Wonkhe)
1 Theresa May, prime minister
As home secretary, May was loathed by universities thanks to her dogged determination to restrict international student recruitment and her zealous implementation of anti-terror legislation. May has previously declared her pride in standing up to university lobbyists on these matters, and said she believes universities need to reform their business models to lessen their dependence on foreign recruitment. Fresh policy being driven from No.10 could have far-reaching consequences for the sector, such as a new wave of grammar schools, and compelling universities to open their own schools. The new PM will define the post-Brexit climate in which higher education institutions will have to learn to operate.
2 Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor
As one of the most influential people on the planet, Angela Merkel scores very highly on this year’s list. The terms of the UK’s exit will have to be approved by the European Union’s member states, but nothing will be agreed without the consent of Germany. We should expect her to play a key role in the negotiating lines for the UK’s exit of the EU, and subsequent deal-making. Bundestag elections will next take place in 2017 and Merkel is said to be politically vulnerable. So this could be a make-or-break year for the quantum-chemist-turned-politician.
3 David Davis and Oliver Robbins, secretary of state and permanent secretary for exiting the European Union
The men running the first ever UK government department to include a present continuous verb literally hold the keys to the kingdom in their hands. It’s a vastly complicated task, and the highly-regarded Oliver Robbins will play a critical role at every twist and turn. The sector has already been in to see the pair and state their case. David Davis has never showed a great deal of interest in universities, and hasn’t given much away yet. But it is in his power to put universities at the centre of a sustainable deal – or to set up a post-Brexit horror show.
4 Carlos Moedas, EU commissioner for research, innovation and science
Moedas will have considerable influence over the finer points of higher education policy during Brexit, and the sector will need to make representations to him to get a good post-Brexit deal with the European research community. Moedas has already been in close communication with Jo Johnson about the status of Horizon 2020 projects involving British researchers, and although he’s offered some reassurance, little action has been taken so far.
5 Philip Hammond, chancellor of the exchequer
A sober public image has led to the chancellor being labelled “an accountant”, but his background is actually in entrepreneurial business, and Hammond was not shy about taking risks. A post-Brexit reset of UK fiscal policy will have a massive impact on higher education. Hammond has hinted that austerity and his predecessor’s fiscal targets may be tweaked or abandoned, and his upcoming autumn statement is hotly anticipated. Hammond is thought to be arguing for a Brexit settlement that maintains as much of the single market as is possible, which should make him an ally for the sector’s broader interests.
6 Xi Jinping, president of China
The growing importance of China to UK higher education (and indeed the wider economy) will be accelerated by Brexit, particularly if there is a decline in EU student numbers. Several UK universities now have campuses in China, including Liverpool and Nottingham. In 2008-09, one in five new international students came from China. In 2012-13, it was one in three. Around a quarter of postgraduate taught students are Chinese. The growing success of China’s own universities in global rankings is also a significant competition area for UK universities. Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK last year saw the red carpet enthusiastically rolled out by UK universities who were desperate to impress the Chinese premier. Amid the pomp and ceremony, it was excruciatingly clear that the Chinese felt that they represented the stronger side of a global partnership.
7 Jo Johnson, minister for universities, science, research and innovation
On his appointment, the sector was pleased that a well-connected and wonkish politician was chosen to represent it. Few anticipated the zeal with which he would take forward a series of reforms that are still only in their early stages, including the paradigm-shifting Teaching Excellence Framework which has been dominating the policy debate. Since the reshuffle, he has to divide his time between two departments and teams, and has been stripped of his own special adviser. He will be judged on his ability to resist Theresa May and Amber Rudd’s mindless assault on universities’ ability to recruit international students and to ensure the best possible deal for universities and science in the Brexit negotiations.
8 Justine Greening, secretary of state for education
The first openly LGBT woman to serve in the cabinet, and the first education secretary to attend a comprehensive school, Greening was welcomed as a safe pair of hands after Michael Gove and Nicky Morgan. The return of higher and further education to the Department for Education puts her in a powerful position. She will be the arbiter in fights for funding between schools, universities and colleges, particularly if the Treasury begins trimming the department’s budget. Greening is a close ally of the prime minister and is tasked with planning the reintroduction of grammar schools.
9 John Kingman, chair, UK Research and Innovation
Recently appointed as the inaugural chair, John Kingman’s already-high stock in the sector is rising further. When UKRI is fully operational, it will have a budget of over £6bn per year. He’ll be combining his UKRI role with that of chairman of Legal & General Group.
10 Greg Clark, secretary of state for business, energy, and industrial strategy
Clark finds himself higher up this year’s list thanks to his wide-ranging new role. It’s not only the research and science policy buck that stops at his desk – his mandate to create a new industrial strategy for the UK could have far-reaching consequences for universities. Many in the sector are pinning their hopes on the strategy mitigating some of the worst effects of Brexit, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The top VCs
University leaders also feature prominently on the power list, particularly vice-chancellors who take the most active roles outside of their own institutions.
Leach comments: “Some, such as Leszek Borysiewicz, Steve Smith and David Eastwood, are veteran ‘big beasts’ of the sector who have had multiple leadership roles in the world of education, science and research. Others, such as Ian Diamond and Anton Muscatelli, have taken an active role in a specific area of government policy. Finally, there are the ‘rising stars’, a new generation of vice chancellors who recognise the importance of being active in public life, such as Janet Beer.”
Here are the top 10 VCs and their rankings:
Leszek Borysiewicz, University of Cambridge (15)
Ian Diamond, University of Aberdeen (20)
Anton Muscatelli, University of Glasgow (21)
Louise Richardson, University of Oxford (22)
David Eastwood, University of Birmingham (25)
Steve Smith, University of Exeter (26)
David Bell, University of Reading (29)
Janet Beer, University of Liverpool (31)
Anthony Seldon, University of Buckingham (35)
Julia Goodfellow, University of Kent (37)
The full list of 50 is available on the Wonkhe site
