Ex-Richmond v-c files complaint against charitable funder Complaint to Charity Commission alleges that funding to university was suspended, but foundation chair rejects claims as ‘without merit’ By John Morgan 22 January
SOAS blames ‘challenging’ finances as research leave cancelled Union condemns ‘short-sighted’ suspension of institution-funded research leave, saying move amounts to ‘institutional self-sabotage’ By Jack Grove 21 January
Kate Barker to succeed David Eastwood as USS chair Birmingham v-c to step down from pension fund board this August By Chris Havergal 21 January
Backlash over call for ‘Darwinism’ in French research funding Ahead of a new law that critics fear will reduce tenure rights, French scientists have opposed CNRS chief’s full-throated support for competition By David Matthews 21 January
The DfE’s policy responses mix weak soup with meaty steak Augar’s questions remain largely unanswered but proposals for further education are largely comprehensive and coherent, says Nick Hillman By Nick Hillman 21 January
British professor quits as external examiner over passport check UCL academic ‘staggered by the levels of mistrust’ shown as institutions ‘over-comply’ with Home Office policy By Anna McKie 21 January
Casualised staff ‘dehumanised’ in UK universities UCU report examines how academics on insecure contracts are ‘vulnerable and open to exploitation’ By Anna McKie 20 January
Jo Johnson warns Tories against university culture war Former minister calls for ‘in trouble’ apprenticeship levy to be reformed into skills and ‘lifelong learning levy’ By John Morgan 20 January
Are video games a neglected resource for popularising research? New organisation should help build partnerships between academics and content developers By Matthew Reisz 17 January
Lancet editor-in-chief calls for ‘activist’ journals Richard Horton says periodicals can no longer sit ‘passively waiting’ for submissions and should instead focus on issues such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals By David Matthews 17 January
Rise in firsts awarded by UK universities stalls at last Figures mark end of trend that has seen the share of students gaining the top degree class double since 2009-10 By Simon Baker 16 January
Knowledge exchange framework starts this year before funding link Participation in assessment likely to be a condition of receiving Research England funding from 2020-21 By Jack Grove 16 January