Strive Higher’s latest sector insights report, Highlighting innovation in our sector, reveals how UK universities are creatively tackling today’s biggest challenges – from transforming services and reimagining experiences to reshaping culture and developing future talent.

Our first sector insights report examines the role of innovation within the regulatory framework for English HEIs. Using the institutional capabilities required to respond to regulatory change as a lens, we examine the relationship between regulation and innovation within this part of the sector.

The conversation reaffirmed something many of us feel instinctively: the old language of 'students as customers' simply doesn’t capture the depth, complexity, or potential of the student–university relationship. Yes, the consumer-rights framing sharpened standards and transparency, but as Jo noted, it has always felt a bit clunky, and it doesn’t speak to the personal transformation at the heart of higher education. Learning isn’t a transaction; it’s a developmental, human par

In this fast-paced world with increasing cost of living, advancements in technology, such as generative AI, and changing student expectations, is it time to consider how the student experience is changing, how far it might change and where our attention needs to focus?

We cannot think of AI in terms of efficiency alone. If adoption is transactional, we could lose the qualities that make higher education transformative: empathy, trust, and human connection. The real challenge is not whether to adopt AI, but how to integrate it in ways that amplify the human experience.

The student–university relationship is too important to be reduced to a service contract. In a world where challenges are complex and change is constant, partnership is not just an ideal; it’s a necessity.

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement represents both opportunity and challenge. Success requires strategic thinking, operational excellence, and commitment to transformation. With the right preparation and support, institutions can position themselves as leaders in the evolving landscape of professional and lifelong learning, creating value for learners, employers, and their communities while building sustainable futures for their organisations.

Comprehensive and accessible disability services are essential to remove barriers and support diverse needs throughout the student journey.

Moving to a service culture with a clearly defined service catalogue enables everyone to understand the ‘what, how, who and when’.

Higher education students’ identities are constructed in different ways, by them individually, by higher education institutions and within society. This article introduces different ways of thinking about student identities, considers what this might mean for student expectations, and finally reflects on what this might say about different forms of student engagement.

This article outlines issues relating to defining belonging, explains why belonging is important and highlights the work Strive Higher has done to foster belonging in practice.

The student journey is marked by diverse experiences, intellectual growth, and needs. As higher education institutions face increasingly high expectations from students, the role of technology is pivotal in enhancing the educational experience and supporting students throughout their journey to have a positive outcome.

A student's sense of belonging is intrinsically linked to their student experience. It is well established that engagement, surroundings, and personal space are key facets of fostering student belonging.

Being able to accurately forecast student numbers and recruit students is vital for the financial health of any university. As such, universities must look beyond how student recruitment teams operate to consider how the wider ecosystem across functions can be nurtured to support overall recruitment ambitions.