Post-qualification admissions: why now and what next for UK? Experts urge careful consideration of detailed options and their consequences, as education secretary sets out direction of travel By Anna McKie 20 November
Appoint pro vice-chancellors for staff well-being, sector told Leading psychologist issues stinging criticism of university treatment of employee mental health By Anna McKie 20 November
Grade inflation ‘brakes have been applied’ in England Report from OfS shows slowing in rise of ‘unexplained’ firsts and sudden drops in share gaining top honours at some institutions By Simon Baker 19 November
Quality checks in HE ‘being done on the cheap’, says thinktank Paper from Social Market Foundation calls on government to either invest more or trust universities on providing information By Simon Baker 19 November
Overseas students ‘would rather quarantine than defer’ But survey finds that international applicants still overwhelmingly favour face-to-face teaching By Ellie Bothwell 19 November
GSM exit ‘shows need for insurance plan’ for stranded students Students who suffer financial loss from institutional failures should be compensated by sector scheme, says English ombudsman By Jack Grove 19 November
UK master’s students’ satisfaction dipped after lockdown Survey of taught postgraduates suggests many were unhappy with handling of move online By Simon Baker 19 November
Michelle Donelan: ‘not useful to talk targets’ on HE enrolment Minister sidesteps question of whether she wants participation cut, while saying rapid Covid tests will be deployed for post-Christmas campus returns By John Morgan 17 November
England’s higher education regulator to ‘raise quality bar’ Office for Students sets out plans for tougher minimum standards related to student outcomes, including degree completion rates and graduate employment By Jack Grove 17 November
Researchers in post-Soviet states seeking out international funds Analysis of publication data since break-up of Soviet Union suggests collaboration could be making up for a lack of domestic resources By Simon Baker 17 November
English universities plan charter to tackle ‘low-quality’ courses Move will include guidance around when to close, merge or reform courses, but Universities UK points out difficulty of assessing courses’ value By Ellie Bothwell 16 November
Universities may ‘struggle’ to run mass Covid tests, v-cs warn Sector leaders raise questions over timing of pre-Christmas plans and workload involved By Anna McKie 16 November