
Sheffield gets funding boost for green jet fuel research
He said it was "absolutely critical" to decarbonise aviation - even though it currently only contributed to a small proportion of the country's transport pollution."The University of Sheffield has one of the leading research and development institutes in this area - it's so innovative," he said."I've been well impressed, as they would say in Manchester," the Wythenshawe MP added.
Mohamed Pourkashanian, Professor of Energy Engineering and Head of the Energy Innovation Centre, said he was "delighted" by the announcement.Prof Pourkashanian said: "More importantly, it is a clear indication of the UK government's commitment to both the environment and energy security."He said one of the main challenges for researchers was to negate the cost of SAF, which is more expensive than using fossil jet fuel.One method being trialled is to capture carbon emissions created by other industrial processes, which can then be converted into SAF.He said the next-generation technology being explored could reduce the price of producing SAF by "a minimum of 20%".Prof Pourkashanian said the team hoped Sheffield would be recognised at an international level, which would encourage companies to invest in the region's production of SAF and create local jobs.
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The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘It wasn't an error': Ofqual boss defends regulator after withdrawn data row
England's chief regulator of exams has put up a staunch defence of Ofqual after it was forced to withdraw a decade of statistics detailing the number of students granted extra time and other assistance for A-levels and GCSEs. In his first interview with a national media organisation since his permanent appointment as head of Ofqual, and just weeks after the data was dramatically pulled, Sir Ian Bauckham said there had been no error in the figures, blaming instead the way they had been interpreted. He also denied that the data 'misunderstanding', which comes five years after Ofqual's disastrous attempt during Covid to award GCSE and A-level grades by algorithm, had further undermined confidence in the organisation, saying: 'We've got a qualification system in this country to be proud of.' In an interview with the Guardian, the chief regulator also addressed the debate surrounding the government's curriculum and assessment review, warning against any wholesale move from exams to coursework because of concerns about students' growing use of AI. He also urged caution over the introduction of digital exams, saying that any assessment innovation must be secure and deliverable, and should not disadvantage poorer students who may not have had the same access to digital devices and software as their wealthier peers. Ofqual, which was set up in 2010 to regulate qualifications in England, shocked the education sector when it announced on 17 July that it was withdrawing official statistics for special access arrangements for exams going back to 2014, because they 'significantly overstated' the number of students. Access arrangements are adjustments to exams for students with special needs, disabilities or injuries, with 25% extra time being the most common. In 2012-13, 107,000 students in England were granted extra time, but in 2024 Ofqual said it was nearly 420,000 students, an increase of nearly 300%. The data appeared to show that 30% of students had been granted 25% extra time last year, with particularly high rates in private schools where nearly 42% of students received adjustments. Ofqual now thinks the actual rate is far lower. Bauckham said the confusion had arisen because, rather than showing access arrangements solely for students entered for GCSEs and A-levels in one particular year, the data includes a much broader list of access arrangements. Each access arrangement lasts two years. There can be duplicate applications for the same student, and the list may include pupils with special arrangements in place who did not sit exams that year at all. 'It wasn't an error, because the published data only ever claimed to be the long list of approved access arrangements,' Bauckham said. 'It never claimed to be that data mapped against actual exam entries, but it was interpreted as that. 'I've been clear that moving forward … we need to publish actual granted access arrangements that relate to actual entries in the year in question.' He said the final figure is likely to be much more in line with the proportion of pupils in England with special education needs and disabilities (Send), which according to the most recent official statistics stands at 19.5%, including those with education, health and care plans 'Just because this figure is significantly lower, doesn't mean that there may not have been a rising trend,' Bauckham added. 'I would be very surprised indeed if the final data, when we're able to pinpoint it, doesn't indicate a rising trend. So I don't think it takes away the problem, but it alters the scale of what we're thinking about.' On what appeared to be a growing gap between the use of access arrangements between private and state schools, he said: 'Of course in independent schools there is a slightly higher proportion of Send than there is in state-funded schools. 'I don't think it's unreasonable to hypothesise that there will still be a difference between state-funded schools and independent schools, not least because of that higher Send figure, but I'm absolutely clear that we must have data that informs the public debate on this issue.' Bauckham, who after a year as interim chief regulator was permanently appointed in February, said Ofqual had moved on a long way from the chaos of Covid when exams were cancelled and grades calculated using an algorithm had to be scrapped. 'Five years later, we've moved back to examinations which are widely trusted as the fairest way to accredit and assess what students know, understand and can do,' he added. 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The Sun
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- The Sun
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Finextra
an hour ago
- Finextra
Fintech in 2025: The Current Landscape and Future Outlook: By Luigi Wewege
As we approach the third quarter of 2025, fintech is no longer a disruptor on the margins, it has become a cornerstone of the global financial ecosystem. Recent figures from the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlight fintech's remarkable trajectory, with revenues surging by 21% year-over-year in 2024, significantly outpacing traditional banking's modest 6% growth. Profitability among public fintech companies has also markedly improved, with approximately 69% now generating profits, indicating the sector's shift toward sustained, scalable performance. Fintech Funding and Market Performance Global fintech funding remains robust, totaling $24 billion across nearly 2,600 deals in the first half of 2025, a 6% increase from the previous period, according to Innovate Finance. While markets in Asia and Europe thrive, the UK's fintech investment plateaued, suggesting regional variations in market dynamics. 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Embedded Finance and Digital Infrastructure Embedded finance has become central to fintech's expansion, with financial services increasingly integrated invisibly into non-financial platforms. Real-time payments, automated invoicing, and B2B financial services are areas witnessing substantial growth. BCG's analysis confirms this shift, predicting significant expansion in fintech infrastructure and lending services, while consumer-focused fintech begins to saturate. Open Finance and Regulatory Evolution Open finance is rapidly gaining momentum globally, driven by new regulatory frameworks such as the EU's Financial Data Access (FIDA) and PSD3 updates. These changes extend data sharing to broader financial products beyond basic banking. However, tensions persist, notably in the US, where JPMorgan's proposed charges for data access via APIs raise significant concerns, potentially disrupting fintech innovation dependent on open data models. Crypto and Digital Assets Cryptocurrency and stablecoin adoption continue to grow, attracting substantial institutional investment. Fintech hubs such as Hong Kong have seen notable funding influxes, driven by increasing stablecoin licensing and investment enthusiasm. Yet, ongoing regulatory scrutiny underscores the complexity fintech faces in balancing innovation and compliance. Cybersecurity and Trust The fintech sector's growth brings heightened cybersecurity risks, demanding robust defensive strategies. Advances in blockchain-based zero-trust architectures and enhanced API security are becoming industry standards. Fintech companies emphasizing comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks will emerge as trusted, resilient leaders in the marketplace. The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities As we enter Q3 2025, fintech stands at a pivotal juncture marked by accelerating innovation and escalating complexity. 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Thoughts on What is Coming Looking toward the close of 2025 and beyond, fintech's future success hinges on navigating regulatory uncertainties, optimizing embedded financial services, harnessing AI responsibly, and prioritizing cybersecurity. Companies able to balance innovation with operational excellence and regulatory compliance will dominate the fintech landscape, shaping the financial services sector profoundly in the coming years. About the author: Luigi Wewege is President of Caye International Bank, awarded as one of the leading banks in the Caribbean and Central America. During his tenure at the bank, Luigi has been recognized for his turnaround efforts at Caye, growing it into the largest international bank in Belize by total deposit size. He is a regular speaker and contributor for several media publications. He is an accomplished multi-publication author, including The Digital Banking Revolution (now in its third edition). Wewege has co-authored economic research presented before the United States Congress and has been published in The Journal of Applied Finance & Banking. Outside of the bank, Luigi serves as an Instructor for the FinTech School in California and sits on multiple international advisory boards. Wewege earned an MBA in International Business from the MIB Trieste School of Management in Italy and a Bachelor's Degree in Business with honors from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a triple major in Finance, International Business, and Management.