Influencing Higher Education Policy

<p>Drawing together a team of expert contributors from across the sector to offer contemporary descriptions and critical reflection of practice in higher education, <i>Influencing Higher Education Policy</i> uncovers the nature of policymaking and interpretation. With a suite of authors whose experiences range from governmental to academic, this book shares insights from professionals working in the field of higher education policy to provide useful, practical, and implementable information.</p><p>Placing focus on professional aspects, and with practical examples bringing to light experiences, insights, and recommendations across policy and public affairs, this book is divided into three sections. It covers concepts and theories for policy influence, regulation and the role of government, and institutions’ engagement with policy. Furthermore, it considers:</p><ul> <p> </p> <li>what it means to work in policy and public affairs in higher education;</li> <p> </p> <li>the increased complexity and fluidity of higher education politics;</li> <p> </p> <li>regulatory reforms in higher education;</li> <p> </p> <li>the position of the student in policy discourses.</li> </ul><p>Offering a contemporary representation, <i>Influencing Higher Education Policy</i> is an indispensable guide for all those who work in higher education, particularly those who work in communications, strategy, planning, and leadership roles. </p> <p>Contributor biographies; Introduction; <strong>Part 1 Concepts and theories for policy influence</strong>; 1. Power and influence in higher education policymaking: who controls the debate?; 2. Preparing for politics with a capital P; 3. Evidence and policy: theoretical approaches for higher education policymaking; 4. Working with think-tanks; 5. International organisations in higher education policymaking: the role of the OECD; 6. Contesting student identities: making sense of students’ positioning in higher education policy; <strong>Part 2 Regulation and the role of government;</strong> 7. Higher education policymaking from the government’s perspective; 8. Lessons from the legislative process: how representative groups shape government policy and legislation; 9. Delivering Diamond: a policy development case study of student funding in Wales; 10. Performance measurement and student information in the UK: adapting to a diverging policy context between Scotland and England; <strong>Part 3 Institutions’ engagement with policy</strong>; 11. A study in imperfection: five lessons on how to influence with impact; 12. Punching above your weight: establishing a policy and public affairs function in a modern university; 13. The influence of universities in a civic context; 14. Influencing policy is core business for universities</p>