There has been considerable discussion in recent months on social media and at fringe events at this year’s political conferences about the proposal that a future UK Government might introduce tertiary education reforms in England (Hazelkorn, 2023; Millward, 2023; Stephenson, 2023; Westwood, 2023). The impetus behind this discussion can be traced back in most instances to recent developments in other countries, notably Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales (Cannicott, 2016; Scottish Government, 2021; Government of Ireland, 2022; Welsh Government, 2022; Australian Government, 2023). A review of the policy proposals and changes in practice within these nations reveals that although the term tertiary is being used with increasing frequency, it is not clear that the people proposing this way forward have yet defined what they mean by this term, nor considered the form that tertiary education might take in particular states and regions in the future. Interest in tertiary education is not wholly new. There have been a number of occasions in the past when academics and policy makers have become interested in a variety of proposed arrangements that they have termed tertiary education (e.g., Cotterell and Heley, 1980; OECD, 1998; Duke, 2005). This session will consider the range of ways in which tertiary education has been defined in the past as well as the ways in which it is being defined at present before considering how the term might be used in the future. Drawing on the texts of academic and policy debate, as well as interviews with key policy advisers in the four nations of the UK, the session will outline a typology of definitions which might help to guide future debate. The session is intended to prompt discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches as well as the challenges of implementing these types of change.
Huw Morris is Honorary Professor of Tertiary Education at the Institute of Education, University College London. Between 2013 and 2022 he was Director of Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning within the Welsh Government where he was responsible with colleagues for the oversight of universities, colleges, apprenticeship providers and Careers Wales. Between 2015 and 2022 he worked with colleagues on the development and introduction of the Tertiary Education and Research Act (2022). Before working in Welsh Government he held academic posts in a number of universities in the UK.
