Brace for ‘post-disciplinary’ age, universities told Interdisciplinarity really matters now that automation is approaching its ‘crossover point’, Australian forum hears By John Ross 26 October
Leadership & Management Summit: Alberta plots rebound after huge budget cuts University of Alberta president credits data and demographics for revival By Paul Basken 26 October
Enrolment falls again at US campuses Community colleges and small private institutions call for more government aid as undergraduate numbers shrink another 3 per cent By Paul Basken 26 October
Australia’s sunshine state aims to admit international students But Queensland plan requires federal approval – and by the time it receives it, circumstances may have changed By John Ross 26 October
Biden struggles to force vaccine mandates on campuses Universities see ambiguity in executive order tied to federal contracts, with few changing positions over it By Paul Basken 26 October
Taiwan’s answer to Confucius Institutes tipped for success Taipei’s soft power play should work as long as it keeps things apolitical, say academics By Pola Lem 26 October
Assess GCSE entry bar impact on health workforce, ministers urged Data suggest that high proportion of entrants to subjects like nursing are mature learners who took access routes By Simon Baker 26 October
Pandemic and funding reforms ‘barely affected’ demand for university Australian university applications and offers defy both Covid and Canberra By John Ross 25 October
Leadership & Management Summit: universities ‘too indulgent’ towards online behaviour Director of SOAS University of London leads calls suggesting it might be time for university associations to step in By Rosa Ellis 25 October
Leadership & Management Summit: HE heads caution against sector focus on short-term gains Emphasis on student earning outcomes risks overlooking the bigger picture, say academics By Pola Lem 25 October
Pandemic underlines need for ‘radical transparency’ Peer review without transparency does not stave off potentially lethal misinformation, Open Access Week forum hears By John Ross 25 October
EU and UK ‘breaking promise’ on post-Brexit research ties Continuing delays on Horizon Europe association could strengthen hand of Westminster figures who were ‘never that enamoured’ about joining By John Morgan 25 October
Bill would bind vice-chancellors’ salaries to state premier’s pay Transparency ‘doesn’t go far enough’, says South Australian Greens MP By John Ross 25 October
Philip Jones: The Trick’s Jason Watkins ‘does his research’ University of East Anglia researcher impressed by on-screen portrayal in climate science drama By Matthew Reisz 23 October
Student voters ‘victims of extensive gerrymandering’ in US In data timed to the nation’s post-census redrawing of district lines, Tufts researchers offer legal grounds to challenge conservative tactics By Paul Basken 22 October
Clark to PM: don’t fiddle the figures on science spending pledge Commons committee chair also raises concerns about UKRI chair’s lobbying of ministers ahead of spending review By Chris Havergal 22 October
Quarantine requirements dropped for Canberra universities While federal agreement will be needed, Australian Capital Territory announcement boosts hopes of students’ return for 2022 academic year By John Ross 22 October
Universities keep quiet as Biden retreats from free college plan Four-year institutions long preferred to emphasise Pell Grant rather than work with community colleges to aid two-year transfers By Paul Basken 22 October
‘Time to get real’ on US science diversity efforts As White House and National Academies plan studies, Howard Hughes Medical Institute acts to boost minority researchers By Paul Basken 22 October
Disadvantaged students take second degrees ‘in bid to close gap’ ‘Equity’ students’ post-course outcomes slant towards further study rather than work, Australian research finds By John Ross 22 October
UCU: Zahawi must be ‘voice for students’ against loan costs hike Union urges education secretary to intervene on student loan changes and to press university bosses into talking on disputes By John Morgan 22 October
Redraw research success measures to back levelling-up, says v-c Research funding increase must come with ‘place-based ecosystem’ or it will not boost productivity, says Hepi report co-authored by Lincoln leader By John Morgan 21 October
Gender gap in article submissions rose early in pandemic – study New analysis of journal data suggests gap was largest for junior researchers and those in health disciplines By Simon Baker 21 October
Can researchers navigate the ethical minefield of protest trials? Dealing with activists in legal jeopardy requires extra attention to ethical concerns, say protesters By Jack Grove 21 October
Emerging Economies Summit: Minerva boss defends Zayed teaching overhaul Head of San Francisco-based start-up university tackles ‘rumours’ about reforming degrees at UAE’s Zayed University By Jack Grove 20 October
Emerging Economies Summit: Ex-Unesco chief urges regulation of online learning platforms Measures to limit the dominance of Western universities in online learning may be required, says Getachew Engida By Jack Grove 20 October
Emerging Economies Summit: Leaders mull faculty mergers in bid to hit sustainability goals Growing focus on cross-disciplinary research to tackle SDGs may lead to institutional shake-ups, conference hears By Jack Grove 20 October
Give us dates, say leaders as £22 billion pledge hangs in balance Sector heads call for Westminster government to stick to science spending pledge and set out how ministers will achieve it By Anna McKie 20 October
Open access switch picks up pace in Australia and New Zealand Springer pact follows agreement with Cambridge University Press, as other big publishers prepare to follow suit By John Ross 20 October
Cut funding for universities with too many casuals, say senators Australian inquiry also recommends new national strategy, top-up funding and better union entry rights By John Ross 20 October
UK universities sign up to climate commitments ahead of COP26 UUK says universities need ‘stable funding’ to continue to ‘provide the world’ with science and skills ‘to safeguard the future of the planet’ By John Morgan 20 October
Will England go it alone and reverse university expansion? Any move to limit higher education participation would be judged against policies of rival advanced economies – and by public opinion By John Morgan 20 October
Emerging Economies Summit: Online learning platforms ‘may become graduate talent brokers’ Corporations increasingly keen on hiring learners straight from online learning platforms, edX business head claims By Jack Grove 19 October
Emerging Economies University Rankings 2022: results announced Russia overtakes Taiwan to possess the joint second highest number of institutions in the top 200, after China By Rosa Ellis 19 October
North Carolina admissions lawsuit win upholds affirmative action Federal court decision continues series of losses for conservative activist group By Paul Basken 19 October
Tennessee offers to rehire engineer cleared in China trial Anming Hu was acquitted in court prosecution under Trump crackdown on academic scientists with China ties By Paul Basken 19 October
Cheating ‘a learning opportunity’ for students New approach to academic misconduct slashes university workload and leaves a better taste in the mouth – for staff as well as students By John Ross 19 October
‘Toxic’ leadership hurts women in South African universities Study author says results demonstrate pervasive nature of patriarchy in higher education By Anna McKie 19 October
US universities ponder massive debt to Native Americans In year since land-grant institutions learned they were funded by theft, serious conversations have barely begun By Paul Basken 19 October
US postgraduate enrolment grows despite pandemic disruption Increased domestic recruitment, particularly among minorities, offsets overseas decline By Elizabeth Redden for Inside Higher Ed 18 October
Universities warn of medicine recruitment squeeze in England ‘Return to pre-pandemic levels’ and refusal to lift cap to accommodate deferring students will limit opportunities, Russell Group warns By Chris Havergal 18 October
Indian scholars call for more transparency in senior appointments Public knowledge of reasoning behind picks ‘could have avoided past mistakes’ By Pola Lem 18 October
Ridd judgment leaves academic freedom ‘too ambiguous’ Don’t allow confidentiality clauses over issues connected with intellectual freedom, says sacked professor By John Ross 18 October
UCU says staff ‘left with no other option’ as strike ballots open UCU leader Jo Grady claims action is needed as ‘staff at breaking point’ but employers say latest 1.5 per cent pay offer is ‘fair and meaningful’ By Simon Baker 18 October
Polish academics gave communist greats less than full Marx Study of Cold War-era references debunks modern view that citing Marx, Lenin and Stalin was mandatory to avoid censorship By Simon Baker 17 October
Libraries today: digital futures and Renaissance ideals University libraries are changing in major ways, but there are important lessons to be learned from the past, argues author of new book By Matthew Reisz 16 October
Cambridge cancels UAE partnership talks over phone hacking claims Pegagus revelations ‘caused us to decide that it’s not the right time to be pursuing these kinds of really ambitious plans’, says vice-chancellor By Chris Havergal 15 October
Australian state abandons arrival caps and quarantine But student return still likely to be delayed as airport processes come up to speed By John Ross 15 October
Statue removal ‘last straw’ for some Hong Kong academics Researchers face prospect that they might not find more work in academia if they leave city By Pola Lem 15 October
Contract cheating campaigners turn focus to UK devolved nations Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must follow English lead on outlawing essay mills By Anna McKie 15 October
Universities ‘at risk’ from Singapore’s foreign interference act Minister’s assurances not ‘watertight guarantees’ that regular academic activities fall outside law’s purview By John Ross 15 October
Gopal accuses government of ‘double standards’ over cancellation Home Office staff were due to hear from prominent scholar as part of series to mark Black History Month By Simon Baker 14 October
Georgia state universities weaken tenure protections Move bolsters fears of political attacks on US higher education and prompts AAUP to consider boycott By Paul Basken 14 October
Four in 10 UK PhD students ‘at high risk of suicide’, says study Loneliness and intellectual insecurity highlighted as prime reasons for elevated suicide risk among doctoral researchers By Jack Grove 14 October
Embed climate change education into all degrees, academics urge Paper released ahead of COP26 says lecturers need more support to integrate environmental issues into their teaching By Simon Baker 14 October
Gareth Williams, 1935-2021 ‘Dedicated and inspirational’ teacher had expertise that was recognised all over the world By Matthew Reisz 14 October
Lisa Cook: I thought mathematical economics was too easy Embracing economics after an iconic mountain climb, a daughter of the Deep South takes an optimistic outlook to promoting racial progress By Paul Basken 14 October
Students in limbo as Taliban tighten grip on Afghanistan Many press on with classes, despite hiding from the Taliban By Pola Lem 14 October
The week in higher education – 14 October 2021 The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the world’s media By THE reporters 14 October
Covid experts get violent threats after speaking out on pandemic Nature survey sparks fears that scientists will be deterred from sharing their expertise By Anna McKie 13 October