New Year Honours 2020: research council leaders top list EPSRC and NERC executive chairs among those recognised By Chris Havergal 27 December
English regulator costing some universities ‘over £500K a year’ Office for Students registration process alone cost sector combined £2 million, according to unpublished UUK report By John Morgan 27 December
Diversity among governors ‘may suffer’ under increased regulation Figures on English governing body members collated by former HEI head suggest some progress on gender, but less on ethnic minorities By Simon Baker 24 December
Fresh UK pension scheme talks ‘could avert further strikes’ UCU, employers and USS will discuss the ongoing pensions row, following series of recommendations from expert panel By Anna McKie 23 December
Fast-track visa status for more UK fellowships Home Office will nearly double number of fellowships where visa applications are fast-tracked, while ‘MIT of north’ plan is also floated By Jack Grove 23 December
Satellite data put at researchers’ fingertips Academics able to specify areas of interest to collect imagery of By Matthew Reisz 22 December
V-c sees OU as ‘beacon’ for virtues of comprehensive universities Tim Blackman also sees green shoots for part-time higher education in Wales that could nourish revival in England By John Morgan 19 December
Tory election victory sets scene for UK research funding battle Balancing Dominic Cummings’ agenda with industrial strategy approach, and deciding on geographical focus for increased investment, seen as key challenges By John Morgan 19 December
OfS to tackle entry ‘inducements’ and ‘misleading’ marketing English regulator’s chief executive sets out priorities for year ahead, including admissions and recruitment review By John Morgan 19 December
Fresh strike ballots at 24 universities in pay and pensions row Strikes threaten to spill into the new year, as little progress made in dispute By Anna McKie 18 December
Big rise for Liverpool v-c as Russell Group show restraint on pay Average remuneration across mission group stands at £348,090, or £356,450 including pension contributions By Anna McKie 18 December
Tory campus free speech bill would ‘stoke new culture war’ Ex-Tory adviser pushes plan to legislate to create ‘national academic freedom champion’ to ‘lead on sanctions where appropriate’ By John Morgan 17 December