On the benefits of risk‐sharing for post‐COVID higher education in the United Kingdom

The long‐term impact of the COVID‐19 epidemic on higher education has the potential to be significantly positive. There could be more institutions providing a wider range of courses to a larger student body that includes marginalised as well as privileged people of all ages, with a reduced burden on taxpayers and better employability outcomes. The severe impact of the crisis on the economy calls for radical solutions, while the greater acceptability of remote learning makes new arrangements feasible. Competitive developments in Germany, the US, and the UK, whereby institutions' economic interests are being aligned with those of their students, suggest there is the chance of a momentous transformation in funding and institutional structure to deliver better outcomes all round.