A house of higher education ideasA house of higher education ideas

2

The companyThe company

Higher education runs on argument, evidence, and ideas – and Thesis is the place where ours are made, published, debated, and applied.

3

Inside the houseInside the house

3.1

Wonkhe

Intelligence · Analysis · Debate

Home of the UK higher education debate: analysis, intelligence, briefings, events & more.

wonkhe.com

3.2

The Post-18 Project

Think tank – reshaping the policy conversation

Independent policy research on post-18 education across this parliament. Student finance, access, graduate outcomes, and the future of post-compulsory provision.

post18.co.uk

3.3

Policy.Partners

Consultancy · Senior advisory

Senior strategic counsel and advisory for universities, sector bodies, and the organisations that work with them.

policy.partners

3.4

Research Agenda

Research policy · News · Intelligence Coming soon

Original reported news for the whole research system: universities, funders, government, and industry. Find out more: hello [at] researchagenda [dot] news.

5

What we doWhat we do

Across our practices, the work runs along familiar lines. Most projects draw on more than one; all of it sits within higher education.

1. 5.1

   ResearchResearch

   Commissioned and independent studies. Sector surveys, evidence reviews, white papers, and original data work.

2. 5.2

   AnalysisAnalysis

   Turning evidence into insight. Policy interpretation, benchmarking, and the analytical work that frames how the sector understands itself.

3. 5.3

   Thought leadershipThought leadership

   Original argument. Reports, papers, and the published work that shifts the conversation.

4. 5.4

   Strategy & advisoryStrategy & advisory

   Senior counsel for university leaders, boards, sector bodies, and the organisations that work with them.

5. 5.5

   Convening & debateConvening & debate

   Festivals, conferences, dinners, private roundtables and any other sort of event you can imagine. Curated debate that moves arguments forward.

6. 5.6

   Sector intelligenceSector intelligence

   The daily briefing, news, monitoring, and current awareness the sector reads first thing.

6

We work across an ecosystemWe work across an ecosystem

Our partners, funders, clients, and audiences sit across higher education and the worlds that depend on it. The work we do is woven through this ecosystem.

7

The house, built by the people in itThe house, built by the people in it

Thesis is the home of four practices, owned and led by Mark Leach MBE and Dr Debbie McVitty, who leads Wonkhe's work as editor.

Each practice operates independently, with its own editorial voice, governance, and remit. Thesis exists to hold them together: as a single company, a single team, and a single locus for the work we do across the sector.

7.1Based in London. Family-owned, editorially and politically independent – Mark and Debbie are married, and Thesis answers to no one else.

Always open to ideas. Get in touch at mark [at] thesis [dot] house.

7.2

People

Founder & Chief ExecutiveFounder & Chief Executive

Mark Leach MBE

Wonkhe – EditorWonkhe – Editor

Dr Debbie McVitty – plus an experienced and high-profile team of policy experts and countless contributors (wonkhe.com)

The Post-18 Project – DirectorThe Post-18 Project – Director

Professor John Blake – plus an advisory board from across policy & politics, and fellows of the project (post18.co.uk)

Policy.Partners – PartnersPolicy.Partners – Partners

James Coe · Mark Leach MBE · Dr Debbie McVitty – plus experienced associates and a connected group of senior advisors (policy.partners)

Research Agenda – Editorial teamResearch Agenda – Editorial team

To be announced

Across the business, dozens of senior figures from across UK higher education contribute as writers, analysts, consultants, advisors, speakers, board members, and associates.