Blog

A new scheme will see West African and Australian universities co-create courses that can be replicated across the region, says Joanna Newman

A two-year hiatus in educational activities following the military coup is threatening the country's post-conflict future, says a professor in Yangon

If the balance of the £300 million promised by the UK government is not delivered, a broad swathe of research will suffer, says Ulrike Tillmann

As Pride Month draws to a close, Nick Braisby reflects on what it means to him 

We distract from the debate on the importance of the arts if we don’t review and re-energise our humanities offerings, says Chris Husbands

The higher their performance, the more interdisciplinary scientists are penalised by colleagues as a threat to the status quo, find four researchers

When employers and governments state preferences for particular universities, it further overheats entry competition, says Hiroshi Ono

While the results may be difficult to hear, they might provide some pointers on how universities can improve their image, says Zachary Michael Jack

Ad-hoc modules that bear little relation to a student’s degree are too easily forgotten – especially if they aren’t road-tested, says Boris Walbaum

Academics rejected by university presses may turn to hybrid or self-publishers. But Harvey Graff’s experience suggests they should tread very carefully

It matters that non-donating alumni are missing out on much of the aftercare value they could be receiving, say Andy Shaindlin and David Williams

Researchers need to be confident enough to lift the veil on the debate that is at the heart of scientific progress, says Rebecca Lawrence

Barring collaboration with 236 Russian universities raises more questions than it answers, says Ararat Osipian

The myths underlying politicians’ insistence on a blanket return to face-to-face teaching must be busted carefully, says Alistair Jarvis

Humanities benefit individuals, societies and economies. They should be accessible to students from all backgrounds, says Neal Juster

High costs, opaque contracts and the difficulty of finding peer reviewers all point to the need for a divorce, says Robert Kaplan

Low-quality studies waste resources, abuse patients and undermine trust in science. Ethics committees should be more stringent, says Edzard Ernst

A reliance on critical thinking alone will fall foul of students’ cognitive biases, says James Southworth

If the emphasis in the job market is on skills-based hiring, a college transcript ought to reflect that, says Darren Catalano

Our higher valuation of scarce commodities and our aversion to losing things we value now play in digital education’s favour, suggests Paul Penn

By helping colleges deliver degrees, the OU will be fulfilling its founding mission, say Nadhim Zahawi, Tim Blackman and David Hughes

Disabled, disadvantaged, introverted and international students may all appreciate ongoing online options, says Robert Phillips

The professionalism and collegiality with which editors used to respond to complaints has all but disappeared, says Harvey Graff 

Retention, progression and completion data arguably better reflect the work universities do to help students fulfil their potential, says James Miller

The passions roused by the culture wars show that people care deeply about history and culture right now, says Edward Harcourt

Language is a powerful tool for breaking down resistance and normalising unhealthy cultural change, says Bruce Macfarlane

Why can’t scholars acknowledge that a professor was both mistreated by Princeton and mistreated his former student lover, asks Jonathan Zimmerman

Without practical teaching at their heart, many departments of music technology, drama and dance could face closure, says Ian Pace

Ditching digital provision will waste pandemic progress and make life harder for students who are disabled or carers, says Meredith Wilkinson

Northumbria’s REF 2021 results emphasise that growing research capability can benefit teaching, business and employment, says Andrew Wathey

Long timelines, siloed training and the prioritisation of drug development make life-saving advances in detection less likely, says David Crosby

Interactions with his student neighbours have convinced Harvey Graff that they crave a supportive, broadly based, interactive education

Long-standing debates about what ‘research quality’ means make it obvious that the REF can be little more than make-believe, says Martyn Hammersley

The extent of research‘s cross-subsidisation by overseas student fees is too rarely understood by policymakers and academics alike, says Ruth Arnold

Even students who have spent many years in UK secondary schools struggle to make the transition, says Pat Moores

There is no evidence in art and design that the REF drives a wedge between research and students' interests, says Victoria Kelley

Resignations from the Australia India Institute suggest that politicisation of university management is not confined to the mainland, says Mukhtar Ahmad

Thinking in terms of disembodied abilities undermines again well-rounded learning and secure employment, says Gavin Moodie

Progress on widening participation may go into reverse if mounting scepticism about university’s value isn’t addressed, says Zahir Irani

Pursuing research relevance is important, but the risk is that it becomes a form of deference, co-option and control, says Matthew Flinders

The complexity of tackling major social challenges makes universities a natural launchpad for firms aimed at doing so, says Tanya Filer

Higher education is key to reassessing who we are as a nation and why we’re tolerating such extreme division and deception, says Vincent Rougeau

Covid vaccine successes notwithstanding, researchers should remain wary of corporate capture, says Tahir Shah 

As a major publisher and information provider, Elsevier embraces its role in promoting diversity, say Ylann Schemm and Holly Falk-Krzesinski

Focus on organisational hygiene and you get a nice place to work. Quality and high performance may or may not follow, says Grahame Dowling

Merlí: Sapere Aude offers glimpses into academic life that are truly compelling and, at times, disturbing, says David Lunn

If good collegial practice is recognised, shared and rewarded, universities will be more enjoyable places to work, says Rachel Norman

Too many reviewers ignore their duty to independently review materials and instead rely on the candidate’s narrative, says Richard Utz

A congressman’s call for all Russian students to be kicked out of the US was unfair and wrong-headed, says Anna Wise

Growth in competitiveness, employment, incomes and regional attractiveness occurs only when policy is aligned with local need, says Simon Collinson

Discontent about the shortage of university posts and funding will also continue regardless of how people are judged, says Jan Palmowski

The practice is banned in most countries but it remains rife across the region, with universities no exception, says Sabrin Ramadhan

In Sri Lanka, an increase in the number of clerical staff has been accompanied by a downturn in quality, says Chani Imbulgoda

Singaporean students are focused on grades, but their skills and attitudes are just as important for their success, says Thanusha Raj

Systems have the data to track students, the leverage to facilitate collaboration and the authority to create transfer policies, says Nancy L Zimpher

Links to journals’ genuine websites should be added to the government’s database of reputable publishing outlets, says Rameez Mahesar

Mobile phones may distract students, but apps can bring the past alive for students and the public alike, says Fabrizio Nevola

Labyrinthine university administration is causing unnecessary stress for scholars and students but beware red tape cutbacks, says Maree Martinussen

Accepting industry money risks distorting research and allowing polluting firms to greenwash their reputations, says Zak Coleman

Universities and colleges have such a range of histories, missions and demographics that proposing single solutions is misguided, says Harvey Graff