Opinion

In the bad old days, sifting would-be students’ painstakingly tarted-up applications was done with blind personal prejudice and ignorance. In one respect, then, little has changed…

Participants in the international higher education race should beware a sub-prime-style crash, cautions Philip Altbac

Head teacher Martin Stephen donated his time to lead a course in poetry, but found the learning environment lacked rhyme or reason

Brian Snowdon sees a case for economists demonstrating that theirs is a discipline broad in scope and inclusive in recruitment

A university HR director speaks out on UCU’s position on the forthcoming ballot on single-table bargaining

The humanities should celebrate what they are becoming rather than dwell on what they once were

Training the talented counters the arbitrary hand of luck, says Alan Ryan

Roy Harris reflects on our attitude to an 'alien' language whose characteristics have so strongly influenced China's intellectual and pedagogic traditions.

We keep blaming ourselves for trying to achieve the impossible with widening participation, says Patrick Ainley.

Local communities are rediscovering a Victorian-era passion for higher education.

Our future fourth estate needs core skills taught in sciences and humanities, not media studies, argues Tim Luckhurst.

Tim Birkhead asks: When does being inspired by another's idea turn into theft?

Forget the fantasies of dreaming spires and eager young minds. Gloria Monday’s academic world is one of sick buildings, indifferent students and endless bureaucracy

Reducing numbers of arts postgrads was bad enough, but the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s cuts in grants and funding are the final straw for Simon Blackburn

Unlike the UK, Spain happily invests in the best, says Felipe Fernández-Armesto.

Not only must scientists debate their work more with the public, their efforts should be rewarded, says Jack Stilgoe.

Whitehall's unhelpful new advice on student radicalisation paints a luridly inaccurate picture of vulnerable naifs and sinister brainwashers, says Frank Furedi.

David Eastwood sets out the opportunities and challenges posed by Hefce's review of sustainable development in higher education.

G.B. Shaw's infamous maxim derided pedagogy as a job for the second-rate. It's a shame the academy often acts as if it agrees.

Times Higher Education needs female voices, says June Purvis.

Quality metrics offers a cheap technological fix that heads off in two directions at once, at the expense of accurate assessment, argues Claire Donovan.

It's worrying that initiatives designed to attract students from low-income backgrounds are falling short, says David Willetts.

Despite its many detractors, the discipline does have a role in the country's universities.

Sally Feldman on killing off 'soft option' media studies.

The number of firsts awarded is up again this year. But, argues Peter Williams, it's due less to brainier students and due more to inconsistent award practices.

Business-facing universities require business-facing academics, says Deian Hopkin. But is a sceptical audience ready to admit it?

Diversity has always been an integral part of a university, but what are the core principles that should apply to all?

Kevin Fong on why 'Fong, you're an idiot' was invaluable feedback.

The world, especially that of higher education, does not stand still. To continue to reflect the academy, we must also change.

Alan Ryan muses on the naive vigour of higher education in the Sixties.

As academic bookselling declines, Susan Bassnett sees hope for authors and readers alike in web publishing.

Roy Harris takes a quizzical look at what it means to live in a dictionary culture when we question its apparent certainties.

A bold plan to provide higher education partners to all trust schools and academies will benefit both institutions and students, writes Andrew Adonis.