2020 visions: Did predictions come to pass?

Gordon McKenzie and Mary Curnock Cook reflect on the past 12 months

Gordon McKenzie, chief executive of GuildHE

“Those who have knowledge don’t predict. Those who predict don’t have knowledge.” Eleven months ago, I foolishly ignored Lao Tzu and wrote about what higher education might expect in 2020. I considered known knowns and known unknowns from the government and the Office for Students, and how higher education might fare in the spending review and the government’s response to Augar. Outside these big-ticket items, I suggested 2020 might feel like “more of the same—strictures on grade inflation, unconditional offers, free speech—with less money”.