Russell Group universities pull ahead on AI. The rest of the sector cannot keep pace.
Elite universities are investing in AI infrastructure, partnerships and curriculum at a pace that post-92 institutions cannot match. The gap is opening before the evidence base has caught up.
By Wistl Editorial · · Higher Ed
The University of Manchester is hosting an international conference on AI in higher education in June 2026, convened by the Manchester Institute of Education and bringing together educators, researchers, students and policymakers to examine equity, access and innovation. The event reflects a broader pattern: it is research-intensive universities with resources to convene, study and shape AI adoption that are setting the terms of the debate. Research by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the University of York and Public First, published in March 2026, estimated that AI could contribute up to £490 billio