Data has become central to decision making in higher education. Information is available like never before that can help universities be more inclusive, improve graduate outcomes and develop future strategies. But not everyone in an instituion can be on board with this new way of working and the resource requirements to turn data into something meaningful are large. 

Sara Custer speaks with THE's director of data and analytics, Duncan Ross, as well as Martine Carter director of strategy and senior executive officer at the University of Surrey, Richard Salter directer of analytics at King's College London and Lucian Hudson director of communications at The Open University. 

Coming to you from a log flume in Florida just after the THE Young Universities Summit, the team reflect on the event's conversations and questions. Many young instituions thrive on the oppoturnities in their home metropolises but is a booming urban environment critical to be an innovative? And are higher education's foundational missions like the serach for truth and public still core to newer universities? Buckle your safety belt and tune in. 

John Gill, editor of Times Higher Education, is joined by Phil Baty, editorial director of global rankings and Tim Sowula, head of content and engagement for the THE World Summit Series. 

Times Higher Education journalists analyse the results of the second year of the UK's teaching excellence framework (TEF) looking at the classifications given to key instituions, changes in the methodology from last year and whether the exercise has become so complicated, students can't even understand what the gold, silver and bronze awards mean.

Chris Husbands, chair of TEF and vice-chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, is also interviewed to give his thoughts on the the 2018 results and the future of the assessment. 

Sara Custer is joined by news editor Chris Havergal, data editor Simon Baker and reporter Anna McKie.