There’s no shortage of pressing concerns when we think about the future—climate change, the shifting balance of global power, the rise of populism, and growing economic uncertainty, to name just a few. All of these will undoubtedly shape the way societies and economies function in the decades to come.

But in this post, we want to focus on something closer to home: the future of higher education, particularly in the UK context.

UK universities are facing a growing set of pressures, and the financial sustainability of the sector is one of the most urgent. Many institutions are running deficits, with rising costs and static or declining income from domestic tuition fees, which have not kept pace with inflation. This has created a worrying dependence on international student fees, which, while valuable, are subject to geopolitical shifts, visa policy changes, and global competition.

Alongside financial strain, universities are also grappling with:

Rising student mental health needs, which require more resources and support systems.

Long-term impacts of the digital divide, especially for students from less advantaged backgrounds.

Shifting expectations, with students demanding more support, flexibility, and value for money.

Uncertainty around research funding, particularly post-Brexit and in a changing global academic landscape.

All of this raises fundamental questions: What is the role of the modern university? Who should pay for it? And how can we ensure that higher education remains a public good, not just a private investment?

These are complex issues with no easy answers—but they are too important to ignore.