College-based higher education is enjoying high student demand for the support and employer links its offers. But as it grows and evolves, there are questions about strategy - and even what to call such providers, learns Hannah Fearn
As state funding declines, alumni donations are needed more than ever. Hannah Fearn reports on how universities are sharpening their fundraising skills
It may not be an exact science, but when it comes to finding love, some academics have found they need not look beyond the ivory tower, writes Sarah Cunnane
Collective ignorance meant that military personnel watched the early atomic tests with no protection. Former US Marine Gerald Houseman recalls the day that he has regretted ever since
When Joanna Lewis finally got to meet the city she had watched for years on the screen, she found that, like many long-anticipated rendezvous, it did not all go to plan
The answer to that is what a brand provides. Robert Mighall argues that far from being deceptive, alien and wasteful, branding is essential for telling the world what a university stands for and values
Martin Cohen examines Barack Obama's political philosophy and finds parallels with Machiavelli's Prince. Behind the rhetoric, the President is a pragmatist who will do whatever it takes
Why are American universities so much better at patenting their work than their European counterparts? Craig Evan Klafter spots a crucial difference in the qualifications of patent lawyers
The Apollo programme was an American dream made flesh, but British scientists and engineers played a vital role in its realisation, explains Colin Pillinger
India hopes to join the superpower elite, but there is not enough international quality in its higher education system. Phil Baty reports on how it aims to raise standards by overhauling regulation and inviting in foreign providers
Philip Altbach advises India to tread carefully - the international experience shows that simply throwing open the doors to foreign providers is no panacea
The humanities are in the same state financial markets were in before they crashed. Assessing the growing mountain of toxic intellectual debt, Philip Gerrans considers going short on some overvalued research
Social sciences have advanced little because inquiry and discovery are stifled by 'theory' and 'the search for order' in the academy. Gary Thomas says we need to break away from the pattern
Nigel Berkeley doesn't like cricket, he loves it, particularly the enduring rivalry between England and Australia. He fondly remembers 2005 and relishes what's in store this summer...
The recession has served only to highlight the dearth of foreign-language skills among British graduates. But are we simply too lazy to tackle the problem? Matthew Reisz reports
Many science undergraduates struggle to write well or solve simple maths problems. We fail them if we do not bring their basic skills up to scratch, argues Harriet Jones
By cutting print stocks, university libraries can provide student-friendly services like wired-up work areas and social spaces. Are academics right to fear a loss of scholarly resources? asks Hannah Fearn
Astronomy arouses passion in both scientific and religious circles. Few spend their lives studying the Universe, but Brother Guy Consolmagno hopes the International Year of Astronomy will bring out the stargazer in everyone
The Green League table shows that many institutions are very serious about sustainability, and laggards are being pushed along by plans to link funding to progress in cutting carbon use. Hannah Fearn reports
Imagine being able to gain wisdom instantly, use it to make a vital decision and then lose it again (if you wish) to wallow in ignorance. Would being able to do so, which is not a distant prospect, make us more or less human, asks Ian Pearson
Deborah Rogers ponders the power of the social-networking site - even when its users have departed the 'real' world - and finds there is no rest for narcissism
Distance learning is a success, with the provision and demand for it and the technology to support it on the rise. But, as Hannah Fearn reports, the pace of change can make it hard to keep up
The consumer culture has contaminated higher education and student complaints are rising. Some academics, fearing litigation or poor assessment, offer flattery instead of feedback. Frank Furedi observes that no one benefits
For Bob Blaisdell, running sharpens the senses and allows him to be perfectly in the moment. It is also a physical mnemonic, redolent of previous routes the world over
The culture shock experienced by non-religious state-educated undergraduates at elite universities sometimes sends them running into the arms of Christian Unions. In seeking supportive friends, they may find Jesus, too. Ed Dutton reports
The Reith Lectures have long been a premier platform for public intellectuals, but, Matthew Reisz asks, are scholarly communicators endangered in an era of dumbing down, media fragmentation and heightened pressures on academics?
Like the communities they serve, Northern Ireland's two universities have put inclusiveness and cohesion at the top of the agenda. But some elements of the past linger, Hannah Fearn finds
The introduction of a managerialist culture has coincided with a rise in accusations of bullying. But is there really more mistreatment, or are academics accustomed to autonomy overreacting to firm management? Melanie Newman reports
Good and powerful ideas have a tendency to spread wildly and destructively. Alec Ryrie ponders the many ways Darwinism has been used and abused and feels just a bit queasy
The individual aspects of motor racing can be intellectually appreciated, but the sum of the total adds up to a pure, gut-stirring experience that's all about feeling, enthuses Sir Drummond Bone
As the blueprint for the RAE's replacement is fine-tuned, evolution rather than revolution looks set to be the hallmark of the research excellence framework. Zoe Corbyn reports on a work in progress
A gruelling inquisition or a friendly chat - PhD candidates' experiences of vivas can vary widely. Preparation is essential, writes Peter Geoghegan, but universities could do more to help, too
Quentin Skinner, a historian renowned for examining past ideas in pursuit of disconcerting truths about the present, has swapped Cambridge quads for the bustle of the Mile End Road. Fred Inglis considers an extraordinary career
Britain's university libraries are home to a historically rich and frequently surprising treasure trove of artefacts from every corner of the globe. Matthew Reisz conducts curiosity-driven research
The intimate pedagogical relationship between students and academics sets UK universities apart from the rest of the world. But in an age of mass education and security concerns, the British way of teaching is under threat. Rebecca Attwood reports
What is research worth? The time lag before it bears economic fruit and the difficulty of gauging its social effects mean it cannot be easily accounted for in terms of profit and loss. But, as Zoe Corbyn reports, that has not stopped the authorities looking for answers
Academics aren't perfect. They may be reluctant to scrutinise their teaching practices, but despite their marginalised status across much of the world, they are dedicated and committed. Tara Brabazon suggests that courses in education can do much to raise individual technique, while overleaf Philip G. Altbach argues that institutions should repay their staff by elevating their status
As many US universities stop hiring or cut posts in the downturn, others see a chance to snap up the best and the brightest - particularly those with their own grants. Jon Marcus reports
Are you obsessed with a 'baggy monster' or has a photocopied pamphlet sparked your passion for a whole new area of research? To kick off our new weekly series, leading scholars explain which books they believe are definitive in their field
A revival of interest in theology is evident in academic and political debate, and John Milbank and the radical orthodoxy movement are spreading the news, writes Melanie Newman
The unexpected exits of two vice-chancellors have raised questions about governors and their authority, and about whether new forms of governance are appropriate for universities. Melanie Newman reports
Amid talk of an iron curtain or apartheid separating them, administrators and academics struggle to find common cause. Hopes of detente lie with the 'blended' professional. John Gill reports
