Steven Jones

Steven Jones is a Professor of Higher Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester. He teaches on the PGCert in Higher Education and serves as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His leadership roles include Head of Manchester Institute of Education (2020-2024) and directorships in social responsibility, undergraduate studies, and postgraduate studies across multiple institutions.

• Research Focus: Higher Education policy, discourse analysis, university governance, and equity in access
• Key Collaborations: Council for the Defence of the British University, UCAS, HEFCE, Sutton Trust
• Funding Bodies: British Academy, Society for Research in Higher Education, Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Jones’s research explores how universities are governed and discussed, with a particular focus on discourses of Higher Education. His recent work examines the co-design of peer support systems, transparency in admissions, and the erosion of public funding for universities. He advocates for counter-narratives to restore trust in the sector and has presented findings to Universities UK, the Department of Business, and the House of Commons.

His scientific awards include:

• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2018)
• University of Manchester nomination for HEA National Teaching Fellowship (2016)

Jones actively supervises PhD students in Higher Education policy and collaborates with international scholars on projects related to access, equity, and institutional reform. He also serves as a Trustee at Burnage Academy for Boys and contributes to policy debates through media appearances, including BBC TV and Radio Four.