The REF OA book mandate will pile yet more financial pressure on HE If the best books aren’t REFable, UK research will appear artificially weak, say Heather Widdows, Fiona Macpherson and Simon Kirchin By Heather Widdows 28 June
UCU staff strikes back on after talks bring ‘no tangible offer’ Increasingly bitter dispute focuses on claims of racism and broken industrial relations inside UK higher education union By Juliette Rowsell 27 June
AI exam answers undetected and outperform students at UK campus ChatGPT scores half a grade higher than psychology undergraduates in experiment at University of Reading By Juliette Rowsell 27 June
Big science spending pledges unlikely to sway British voters Eye-catching R&D commitments like those seen in previous manifestos influence strongly only a small group of voters, polling shows By Jack Grove 27 June
Updated UK Quality Code puts focus on student voice The updated code is the first issued in the UK by the QAA since 2018 and includes new emphasis on student voice By Juliette Rowsell 27 June
Oxford college forced into major works by unsafe Raac concrete Several St Catherine’s College buildings have been largely unusable for almost a year after safety fears were raised By Tom Williams 26 June
Why should academics go on Question Time? Academics made 49 appearances on the weekly BBC debate show over a nine-year period – researchers explore what they and their universities gained By Patrick Jack 26 June
Turkish academics doubt court ruling will limit president’s power Constitutional Court nullifies decree enabling Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to appoint rectors, but any respite is expected to be brief By Emily Dixon 26 June
Politicians ‘not brave enough’ to admit English fees may rise Major parties have been ‘silent’ on higher education challenges ahead of general election, event hears By Juliette Rowsell 25 June
Take loans away from richer students, suggests ex-Labour minister Money lent to those from wealthier backgrounds to pay for university may be better spent elsewhere, says Dame Margaret Hodge By Tom Williams 25 June
Shearer West to swap Nottingham for Leeds as vice-chancellor Yorkshire university has been led by interim leader since sudden departure of Simone Buitendijk By Chris Havergal 25 June
Cap overseas students to tackle housing shortages, England told University requests to increase visa allocations should be rejected if expansion would exacerbate local room shortages, argues Social Market Foundation paper By Tom Williams 25 June