Coming Soon: UK Higher-Education Governance White Paper

In recent months, I have been developing a white paper examining structural vulnerabilities in the United Kingdom’s doctoral research system. One breakdown exposed risks far bigger than a single case, risks that cut across researchers, universities, funders, and the UK’s research system.

The upcoming White Paper, Rebuilding Trust: A Framework for Governance, Student Protections, and Research Integrity in UK Higher Education, sets out:

• Why UK doctoral researchers sit in a legal grey zone between employee and consumer — a position that contrasts with the clearer employment frameworks used across much of the EU.

• How fragmented regulatory mandates create gaps no regulator is empowered to fill.

• The systemic risks that arise when multi-actor agreements lack clear accountability.

• The economic and reputational implications for funders and global research partners.

• Practical reforms to strengthen accountability, transparency, and long-term system reliability.

Fair Comment Stage

Before public release, the draft will be shared with the relevant institutions, including

the University of Cambridge, NIAB, and Bayer US for factual verification and fair comment.

This ensures accuracy, transparency, and a constructive foundation for sector-wide learning.

Once this review phase is complete, the first edition of the white paper will be published publicly and circulated to parliamentary, regulatory, and sector bodies in the UK and EU.

Why This Matters

The UK’s position as a global research leader depends on trust between universities, funders, regulators, and the public. When agreements fail and no system enforcement mechanism exists, confidence in the entire system is strained. Strengthening governance is not about individual cases; it is about building structures that learn early, correct quickly, and protect the integrity of research partnerships.

A stronger system benefits everyone: students, researchers, institutions, and the UK’s wider research economy.

More details will follow upon publication.

A Structural Review of Governance, Accountability, and Contract Integrity in UK Higher Education