University finance heads want to spend despite uncertainty Universities are set to increase investment in their estates despite growing financial uncertainty, a new survey shows By Jack Grove 1 September
Warning over EU research budget Negotiations on the European budget could result in cuts to Horizon 2020, the European University Association has warned By Holly Else 31 August
Hackney has become ‘focus of academic study’ Hackney is one of the most highly-researched places in the UK, a conference has heard By Jack Grove 30 August
Investigated private college granted further loan access A private college that was the subject of a newspaper investigation has been given continued permission by the government to access public funds. By John Morgan 29 August
Stephen Hawking and Cambridge v-c take on ice bucket challenge Academics worldwide also post videos to raise awareness of motor neurone disease By Martha Elwell 29 August
Net migration figures push 250,000 Net migration has risen to 243,000 in the past year, dashing government hopes of meeting its target, although student immigration has remained stable. By John Morgan 28 August
Labour vision for HE set out by Liam Byrne Labour would make new “earn while you learn” degrees delivered by “Technical University” partnerships the priority in higher education expansion By John Morgan 28 August
Oxbridge influence over key public roles laid bare New research has demonstrated the monopoly of a small social elite over public leadership positions in Britain By Martha Elwell 28 August
UK students join Minerva Schools’ fledgling class US for-profit start-up institution’s peripatetic, online-delivered degree draws undergraduates keen to try something different By Chris Parr 28 August
‘Shock and derision’ as Kent Anderson named Science publisher Open letter from researchers decries AAAS journal’s high fees and points to Anderson’s combative views on open access By Paul Jump 28 August
University participation rate fell back in 2012-13 Introduction of higher fees led to a bulge in numbers the year before, report says By Jack Grove 28 August
Overseas master’s student asks why she was allowed on to course Postgraduate claims that her English was not up to scratch By Chris Parr 28 August
QAA to investigate Saudi students’ exam resits University of Bedfordshire accused of giving those sponsored by Saudi Arabian government preferential treatment By David Matthews 28 August
Vivas could help prevent cheating in Gulf Study suggests that unannounced oral exams can encourage integrity and engage students By Jack Grove 28 August
Russell Group rated best at cat-herding, says study Research suggests some standard management techniques work on academics after all, and older institutions are most effective By Matthew Reisz 28 August
More women and minorities leave jobs for postgraduate degrees Data analysis suggests discrimination plays a role in higher number of female and BME ‘returnees’ By Jack Grove 28 August
Concerns about Plymouth University chairman predate current crisis Board member made aware of claims related to ‘wider working practices’ in December 2012 By John Morgan 28 August
QAA has ‘no confidence’ in private college London Oriental Academy banned from accessing SLC funds By Jack Grove 28 August
Stamp out Qatar ‘forced labour’, Labour MP tells alma mater Shadow minister and UCL alumna calls on university to do ‘all it can’ to stop practice on overseas site By David Matthews 28 August
Research ethics: when friends become work Social scientist mulls the perks and pitfalls of using personal networks in research By Matthew Reisz 28 August
Charities more generous than MRC in funding studentships £100,000 PhD funding from the Macular Society and Fight for Sight outstrip offers via MRC doctoral training partnerships By Holly Else 28 August
Graduate calls University College Suffolk ‘unhealthy’ for black students Jason Haye says his 2.2 degree would have been higher but for institution’s environment, citing artist Maggi Hambling’s ‘slave’ comments By Chris Parr 28 August
Alliances overseas can ‘secure future’ for languages Lack of succession planning is eroding research base, says head of Institute of Modern Languages Research By Matthew Reisz 28 August
Campus close-up: University of Warwick As the Coventry campus with global reach turns 50, it looks to alliances without forgetting its roots By John Morgan 28 August
Southeast Asia ‘needs a strong sector identity’ British Council report recommends that the region develop an identity revolving around a student experience based on links with employers By John Morgan 28 August
State turns to Pearson for help placing for-profit outcasts Thousands of students may be stranded as colleges lose student loan access By John Morgan 28 August
Institute a ‘veneer for the state’s projects’, claims professor US scholar says he was sacked after speaking out at National University of Singapore institute By Holly Else 28 August
Dame Ann Dowling makes a case for ‘use-inspired’ research First female president of the Royal Academy of Engineers hopes to change UK’s ‘sniffiness’ about applied research By Holly Else 28 August
Innovation investment unveiled The Technology Strategy Board will commit more than £535 million to fund innovation in 2014-15 By Holly Else 28 August
Scottish government fees stance ‘incompatible with EU law’ Former ECJ judge’s legal opinion casts doubts on post-independence policy By David Matthews 26 August
Heseltine weighs in to overseas students debate Former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine has criticised the inclusion of foreign students in government plans to cut net immigration to the UK By Martha Elwell 26 August
Public against cutting back on overseas students, poll finds A majority of the public say the government should not reduce overseas student numbers, polling suggests. By John Morgan 25 August
Burning Man to showcase work based on British Library images Open access project has reached far afield since its launch last year By Matthew Reisz 24 August
King’s College London criticised for closing theology programmes Two leading theologians have criticised the closure of several postgraduate theology and ministry programmes at King’s By Jack Grove 23 August
Mature student numbers ‘hit record level’ A record number of mature students have been accepted into higher education so far this year, new figures show. By Jack Grove 22 August
Plymouth chair of governors to ‘stand aside’ Plymouth University’s chair of governors, William Taylor, is to “stand aside” pending the outcome of an investigation into sexual harassment claims By John Morgan 21 August
Lib Dems to offer science ring-fence pledge The Liberal Democrats will offer manifesto pledges to ring-fence the science budget and provide “further support” for Catapult centres. By John Morgan 21 August
HEA’s International Scholarship awards axed £140,000 2014 programme scrapped because of ‘significant budget cuts’ By Chris Parr 21 August
University of Dundee PFI scheme deemed ‘unsustainable’ Institution looks for new business model to pay for halls of residence By Jack Grove 21 August
Who does what at English universities Lecturers make up the largest group of staff employed at English universities, according to data compiled by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. More than 94,000 people were employed in the role in 2012-13 By Holly Else 21 August
Polish academics return from Silicon Valley ‘willing to take risks’ Elite scholars are visiting the universities of Stanford and Berkeley in a mission to boost the country’s standing in a European innovation index By Holly Else 21 August
GTAs at University of Leeds target v-c in row over unpaid work Postgraduate research students who teach call for an end to their ‘appalling treatment’ by the university By Holly Else 21 August
Thomas Docherty’s ban left University of Warwick students in limbo Silence greeted requests for references or PhD guidance from professor By David Matthews 21 August
Five applicants for every place on postgraduate scholarship scheme 1,700 students apply for 350 places on biggest programme ever run in the UK By Paul Jump 21 August
Campus close-up: The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts The financial woes of its early years forgotten, LIPA’s head explains how the oversubscribed creative hub is extending its reach By Chris Parr 21 August
Low publication output for female scientists Analysis suggests that male physicists and mathematicians author nearly 50 per cent more papers than female colleagues By Paul Jump 21 August
Students at Pearson College get green light for SLC funds Private provider passes QAA’s new review, making domestic intake eligible for public funding By John Morgan 21 August
Campus ‘slackers’ kicked into gear Lecturer finds a way to make the ‘social loafers’ in class pull their weight in group assignments By Jack Grove 21 August
Clark: record recruitment will not compromise student experience Fears of overcrowded courses and falling standards as university admissions set to exceed 500,000 for first time By Jack Grove 21 August
Demand for STEM subjects holds up in wake of fees hike But Hefce sounds alarm over the slump in foreign language students By Holly Else 21 August