26 and a PhD in AI: Spotlight on Dr. Regina Ofori-Boateng’s Path to Excellence
“I didn’t even know AI existed when I started… a six-week coding class changed everything.”
At 26, Dr. Regina Ofori-Boateng has already earned her PhD in Generative AI & Natural Language Processing, a journey that began with a single six-week coding class she almost didn’t take.
I had the privilege of speaking with her last week about how she went from a biomedical engineering lab in Ghana to getting admission for a PhD in the UK—a path that was anything but straightforward.
She shared how she adapted to a new field, got into the PhD programme without a master’s degree, thrived as an African student abroad, and pushed the boundaries of AI research.
What drove her? What challenges nearly broke her? And what advice does she have for the next generation of African tech talent?
Read my full interview with her here on → Diaspora Wire
The UK government is considering a 6% levy on tuition income from international students. If introduced, universities may have no choice but to pass this extra cost on to students.
The UK higher education sector is facing significant financial uncertainty as the government considers imposing a 6% levy on tuition income from international students. According to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), the measure could raise about £621 million annually from English universities.
Sector leaders warn that this additional financial burden could result in higher tuition fees for overseas students, making the UK a less competitive destination compared to countries such as Australia, Canada, and the US. Many institutions are already dealing with rising operational costs and, in some cases, have begun cutting courses or departments to stay financially viable.
Global Expansion as a Strategic Response
In response to growing economic pressures, some universities are diversifying through overseas operations. Notably, the University of Southampton opened a new campus in Gurugram, India in August 2025, offering UK-standard degrees to students abroad.
Other UK universities are also exploring international expansion to strengthen research partnerships, broaden recruitment channels, and create alternative study routes that could lead to UK postgraduate opportunities or skilled migration pathways.
To remain competitive, UK universities must develop a joined-up strategy that aligns international recruitment, overseas campuses, and post-study opportunities. Building this pipeline can help institutions sustain financial stability, uphold their global reputation, and continue contributing to the UK’s skilled workforce and knowledge economy.
UK teen dies — suspect still free in Ghana
Ruth, a 14-year-old battling anorexia, was placed in Huntercombe Hospital despite the facility’s poor safety record.
She had already been traumatised by a previous medical error where a feeding tube was wrongly inserted into her lungs.
In February 2022, she was meant to be under constant supervision, but the agency worker assigned to her — using fake documents and with no real training — left her unattended for 15 minutes. In that short time, Ruth harmed herself, suffered brain injury, and later died on Valentine’s Day.
The worker immediately fled to Ghana, raising serious concerns about how he was hired and why safeguards failed. Ruth’s death exposes systemic failures in healthcare staffing, oversight, and patient safety.
Energy bills to rise by more than expected ahead of winter
The increase, which is slightly more than analysts expected, means a household using a typical amount of energy will pay £1,755 a year, up £35 a year on the current cap.
The increase will kick in at the start of October, which campaigners say will mean another winter of relatively high energy bills. Ofgem’s cap sets the maximum price that can be charged for each unit of gas and electricity for millions of households in England, Scotland and Wales.
Individual households can calculate their estimated specific change by adding £2 onto every £100 they spend at the moment on energy each year.
The increase comes as families are also facing rises in other basic costs. The British Retail Consortium said that food costs were rising at their fastest rate since the February of last year, with the price of chocolate, butter and eggs soaring.
The energy cap sets the maximum price for each unit, but not the total bill which depends on how much energy you use. The change comes into force at the start of October and lasts for three months.
Ofgem changes the cap, largely based on the cost of energy on wholesale markets.
However, the rise in bills this time is partly the result of the higher than expected cost of balancing the energy network and extra support measures for consumers, previously announced by the government and in place this winter.
Anyone on means-tested benefits will automatically receive the £150 Warm Home Discount on their bills. Some previously did not qualify owing to the size of their property, but that condition will be scrapped.
All billpayers will chip in to fund this extra support, mainly through higher standing charges – the fixed cost of connecting to the supply. It means standing charges will typically rise by 4% for electricity and 14% for gas, with the latter rising from 29p per kilowatt hour a day to 34p.
Immigration: Huge fall in health and care worker visas
Newly released Home Office figures show there were 20,519 health and care worker visas granted to main applicants in the year ending June 2025. The largest falls in the number of these visas issued were in personal caring roles, which fell by 88% to 7,378, and nursing professionals fell by 80% to 3,080.
This may be attributable to the end of the centrally supported nurse international recruitment programme and changes in demand for international staff, according to the Department for Health and Social Care. Medical practitioner numbers remained broadly consistent with the previous year.
Dependant visas have also fallen by 77% over the same period, with an average of two dependants per main applicant on a health and care worker visa in the latest year.
The steep decline is thrown into sharp relief when compared with figures for the year ending December 2023 when 145,823 health and care visas were granted.
The health and care worker route was expanded in February 2022 to boost the social care workforce, with the growth accompanied by a large increase in the number of work-related dependant visas; most of all dependants (62%) over the last three years have been on this visa route.
Overall, there were 183,000 visas granted to main applicants in all work categories in the year ending June 2025, 36% fewer than the year ending June 2024, but 33% more than in 2019.
Immigration Update – Year to June 2025
The latest Home Office figures reveal a major shift in UK immigration trends. Health and care worker visas dropped by 77%, with sharp declines in both nursing and personal caring roles. Hospitality and IT sectors also saw notable reductions, showing the impact across multiple industries. Dependants’ visas fell at a similar pace, further limiting workforce inflows.
Temporary worker visas remain steady, but this growth is largely driven by seasonal roles, not long-term solutions. At the same time, sponsor licence approvals have halved, and the approval rate has dropped to just 56%. Enforcement has intensified, with record-high suspensions and revocations of skilled worker licences.
For employers, this means stricter compliance requirements and a tougher environment for international recruitment. HR teams must plan ahead, balancing workforce needs with the reality of reduced migration flows. Overall, these figures highlight a decisive policy shift toward tighter immigration control and greater scrutiny of employers.
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