Features

Many researchers believe a 'gut instinct' can be as powerful a tool as logic and academics should acknowledge its role in their work. Matthew Reisz reports

Romantic attractions between teacher and student may be as old as pedagogy itself, but now such relationships cause people to worry about abuses of power and litigation. Only half of institutions have any guidelines on such relationships. Are they needed? asks Hannah Fearn

Computers and lasers are compelling proof that researchers' flights of fancy can pay off, but policymakers prefer to fund work with obvious economic merits. Matthew Reisz asks whether the sky should be the limit

... but our tastes are swayed by price, packaging and other social psychological factors in ways we're often unaware of. Matthew Kieran considers the fragility of aesthetic opinions in the latest in our fortnightly series allowing academics to step outside their field of expertise

A royal visit can be the highlight that makes a university event unforgettable, but not always in the right way. Tariq Tahir reviews the details of protocol and planning needed to make them work

Rational thinking is the tool of the intellectual's trade. And yet, argues Roy Harris, academics and universities have abandoned reason in pursuit of a more commercial credo

Employers are worried that the sector's generous pensions are unsustainable, so could this be the end of the road for final-salary schemes? asks Tariq Tahir

Cambridge leads the field in producing Nobel science laureates, but many of the UK's best scientists have left to pursue work in the US. Matthew Reisz finds out from past winners what tempted them to go and why many feel the tide is turning in the UK's favour

Reform is widely felt to be overdue for French higher education, but its proponents face an entrenched and powerful universities system. Matthew Reisz assesses the appetite for change

The ban on performance-boosting substances in sport is a self-satisfied nonsense, argues historian Geoffrey Alderman in a fortnightly series allowing academics to step outside their area of expertise

Fee-paying students want more teaching contact hours for their money. But do the bald figures on how often they see their tutor tell the whole story? Hannah Fearn investigates

The emphasis on learning outcomes and benchmarks in the context of English literature is little more than a straitjacket that stifles the originality and creativity of both author and student critic, argues Derek Attridge

Torture cannot be justified, says Philippe Sands, an academic and barrister who has traced how the US came to sanction the practice after 9/11. It doesn't work and it costs us dearly, he tells Matthew Reisz

Lack of support, poor editing, negligible marketing: the alleged shortcomings of British academic publishing are increasingly leading authors to sign up with US and mainstream imprints. Matthew Reisz reports

Short ethics courses for members of medical and research committees are proliferating. But do they equip people with the tools needed to make what could be life-and-death decisions? Esther Oxford reports

In the first in a series in which academics range beyond their area of expertise, philosopher Simon Blackburn proffers his top ten modern myths

Students and employers are increasingly dictating the courses that universities offer, as witnessed by the rise of business-related and TV-inspired subjects such as forensic science. But how far should demand drive the curriculum? Harriet Swain reports

What is it about crime and universities? As the film of The Oxford Murders premieres, Matthew Reisz probes a world of professor-sleuths, philosophical riddles and the academics who are hooked on them

It is a tempting proposition: a new life and a new job at a US or Canadian university. But what is the reality of academic life in North America? Esther Oxford asks those who took the plunge

Academics aren't trained for it and often can't cope with it, yet many find themselves counselling students at risk of emotional breakdown and even suicide. Esther Oxford talks to lecturers who have been affected

League tables are used to gauge university performance, influence potential students and steer management policy, but should they be trusted? A survey suggests that many fall short of the mark, writes Rebecca Attwood

The advent of the UK's first private law school has reignited debate about whether a law course should comprise liberal education or commercial training. Hannah Fearn hears the case for and against

The sector has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, with fees and overseas income boosting overall prosperity, but not all universities are in a position to keep expanding. Alan Thomson assesses the financial strengths, weaknesses and trends in higher education

As competition intensifies, universities that focus on third-stream income and that revamp the campus experience will be in the strongest position to thrive in the future, believes David Barnes

Universities want eye-catching iconic buildings that capture the spirit of academic endeavour, involve the community and aid recruitment. Esther Oxford surveys the results, from glass walls to grass roofs

Academe could become a largely 'female' profession by 2020. But although women are taking over at lower levels, they continue to struggle to break into top jobs. Is this due to persistent bias or are women themselves to blame? Esther Oxford investigates

Most people enter academe to delve into a subject, not to manage. To improve personnel administration, universities have beefed up HR departments with staff and strategies from outside campus. Hannah Fearn appraises how well they have done

Sari Nusseibeh was Arafat's man in Jerusalem and spent time in jail accused of spying for Saddam, but the philosopher and advocate of non-violence sees himself primarily as an educator, he tells Matthew Reisz

Are the institutes of advanced study being set up across the UK simply research hotels where academics can enjoy precious thinking time or evidence of a fundamental shift in cutting-edge research? Matthew Reisz finds out over a cross-disciplinary coffee

Textbooks are hard to write, the rewards are few and e-books are at last coming of age. So what's the future for these essential companions, asks Matthew Reisz

Geza Vermes, author of Jesus the Jew, is yet again turning his formidable forensic skills on his former Christian religion, this time in the shape of the Resurrection. Matthew Reisz meets him to discuss his Easter book

Academic salaries have increased by 12.6% in two years, but can the rises be sustained? Market differences are already beginning to show, with significant variations in pay between universities just miles apart. Hannah Fearn and Melanie Newman add up the figures (see related files on the right)

To build collaborative links with India, UK institutions must avoid treating the country as a cash cow, discovers Esther Oxford

More academics are weighing up job satisfaction against extracurricular factors such as house prices, local schools and even the weather. Esther Oxford reveals which institutions are most attractive in the Halifax-Times Higher Education quality-of-life index

Image is everything and universities are lining up to pay branding agencies serious money to create the right profile. But is this market-driven approach a step too far, asks Hannah Fearn

Academics are at the very heart of the knowledge economy, but just how far should they and their institutions go in the commercial exploitation of their ideas? Hannah Fearn explores the potential costs and benefits

Are students' disparaging comments online just harmless gossip or defamatory remarks that can tarnish universities and academics? Hannah Fearn teases out the strands

Despite saving the lives of nearly 2,000 fellow Jews in wartime Hungary, Rezso Kasztner was vilified and ultimately assassinated in postwar Israel. Academic Ladislaus Lob was one of the boys Kasztner rescued. He tells Matthew Reisz the extraordinary story his research has uncovered

A record number of university managers are being hired from outside higher education. But does their commercial verve sit well with the unique academic ethos? Hannah Fearn reports

The thirst for knowledge does not end at 65, and many academics find that retirement affords them the freedom to be more productive than ever, as Matthew Reisz discovers

'If I find out that the gang plans to carry out a murder,' the sociologist asked his supervisor, 'should I tell someone?' Sudhir Venkatesh tells Matthew Reisz about fieldwork Chicago-style

The humanities have traditionally been the core of a classical university education, equipping graduates both culturally and morally. Today, however, humanities academics are increasingly questioning their purpose, and striving to strike a balance between canonical reverence and contemporary relevance. Matthew Reisz reports

A new generation of dynamic fundraisers is overcoming traditional British reticence about seeking donations - with increasing effect. Esther Oxford meets the persuaders

Forget the Kop and the Cavern Club: it's the campus that powers Liverpool. Harriet Swain examines the dynamic impact higher education can have on a city.

Competition for Chinese students is stiff, and Britain is in danger of losing its early advantage. Esther Oxford reports.

£1,000 a year to park your car on campus - are universities being green or mean? Hannah Fearn investigates.

Teaching-only staff were once widely deemed unworthy of the name 'academic'. But one in four UK academics is now labelled so, and the proportion is expected to grow. Esther Oxford considers the implications.

Worries about extremism on and off campus have spurred universities to foster more cultural awareness and understanding in their local areas, as Hannah Fearn discovers.

Women's studies is about to disappear as an undergraduate degree in the UK. But is it because it is no longer relevant or because it has done its job by putting the issues in the mainstream? Esther Oxford weighs up the arguments.

The British Library not only supports world-class research, it also inspires rhapsodies from scholars around the world. Matthew Reisz explores colourful tales behind the unique collections at the heart of a well-loved institution.

Governors perform an important and complex function in higher education, but what exactly do they do and what skills can they bring to the role? Hannah Fearn investigates.

If the Church of England has a somewhat accidental place within British life, the same might be said about theology within British universities. Matthew Reisz reports.

The Office for Fair Access this week revealed for the first time how much of their top-up fee income universities are spending on support for Britain's neediest students. Hannah Fearn and John Gill analyse the surprising results.

Women who brave the traditional male bastions of science, engineering and technology must still confront both gender stereotyping and old-boy exclusion. Esther Oxford reports.

A sanctuary for academic pursuit or a hotbed of entrepreneurship? While educators quibble over the definition of a university, writes Matthew Reisz, all agree that academic freedom is at its core.

Makers of films and TV shows often hire scholars to give projects authenticity and gravitas, but what's in it for the academics? asks Reece Mathews

Jacob Bronowski, one of the 20th century's great public intellectuals, was born 100 years ago this week. Matthew Reisz speaks to his daughter Lisa Jardine.

The target-oriented schools system is producing students lacking the basic skills for independent degree-level study, according to many academics. As universities come under increasing pressure to expand to meet the Government's 50 per cent graduate target, the overall quality of admissions is inevitably diluted. Many educationists now believe the schools and higher education systems have diverged too far to work together effectively. Alan Thomson talks to academics, teachers and politicians to find out what can be done.

Inebriated one-night stands, excruciating childhood crushes, entanglements and rows with peers ... What drives some academics, wonders Matthew Reisz, to turn confessional in print.