Features

With the University of Rural England’s hopes of survival resting on a bailout from a disgruntled tech bro alumnus, John Gilbey’s seasonal tale sees its embattled vice-chancellor go back to the future in Silicon Valley 

With working hours full of interruptions, early mornings offer the best chance to pursue labours of love. But how to get going – especially if you are not a morning person? Three scholars debate the virtues of online versus in-person meetings, companionship versus solitude, and coffee versus pipe tobacco

As wars, both real and cultural, rage around the world, disputes about academic freedom are becoming ever more fraught. Is freedom of speech under threat on campus? And are some restrictions a reasonable price to pay to avoid offence or harm? We present the views of more than 450 academics

The removal of recruitment caps in 2015 was hailed by ministers as a boon to institutions’ and students’ ambitions. But the tuition fee’s declining value and the Russell Group’s ever-growing market share now threaten the viability of some institutions, and calls are growing for a U-turn, writes Juliette Rowsell

Academics who rely on the British Library’s unmatched collection are still feeling the impact of a devastating cyberattack a year ago. Jack Grove hears from those affected and considers how another catastrophic breach might be averted

Plagiarism accusations that led to the downfall of black US academics and politicians have sparked criticisms of ‘sloppy’ writing practices. But these controversies actually reveal how academics are struggling with the many writing technologies now essential to their jobs, argues Genevieve Creedon

The rise of Asian higher education has coincided with increasing graduate un- and under-employment in several nations, calling the value of degrees into question and threatening national stability. But is the problem underprepared students or dysfunctional politics and economies? Helen Packer reports

New crackdowns on overseas students have recently been introduced by Australia, Canada and the UK in response to concerns about immigration levels, housing costs and visa abuse. But will they work? Will they last? And where do they leave universities struggling to stay afloat? Patrick Jack reports 

Donald Trump’s election as president in 2016 prompted a slew of academic books grappling with how such a figure could have been chosen to lead the free world. But what are the chances that any of those bleak tomes will dissuade American voters from re-electing him next month, asks Matthew Reisz

Diverging financial pressures are putting untold strain on common pay and pension arrangements. As recent pay awards constrain richer universities’ ability to reward their staff as they see fit while pushing others into further strife, might a breaking point be close? Tom Williams reports 

Providing a pathway from community colleges to universities, the US’ credit transfer system is admired around the world for driving social mobility and offering a vital second chance for late bloomers. But opaque and complex university rules are undermining it, argue Lauren Schudde and Huriya Jabbar

With the audiobook industry booming, university publishers are turning everything from hot new scholarly titles to Karl Marx’s catalogue into engrossing listening. Matthew Reisz speaks to academics, producers and publishers about what makes a great audiobook and where the industry goes next

Thousands more students on the autism spectrum are entering universities thanks to improved diagnosis and support from schools. John Ross examines how institutions are adapting to this challenge and what more can be done

A merit-based admissions lottery and strict caps on how many private school pupils go to Russell Group universities are necessary for a more egalitarian society, argue Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman

Junior scholars are urged to do all they can to build bridges with the people who can give them jobs and promotions. But how calculating should they be about who to approach? How should they do it? And isn’t it all a bit grubby? Six established academics explain their perspectives

Tormented by playground thugs as a child, Jonathan Taylor reflects on why the insidious bullying found in universities is similar but much worse

A new law permitting foreign universities to set up Greek outposts is seen by some as a first step to transforming a very statist system. But with doubts over the law’s constitutionality compounding the usual uncertainties of overseas ventures, will there be much interest, asks Emily Dixon

Many scholars loathe generative AI but it has immense power to engage the intellectual curiosity of students as long as academics truly embrace it, argues John Kaag

At a time of increasing financial constraint, jobs are being shed even in UK departments that ride high in the Research Excellence Framework, while time allocations for research are being cut. Can a loss-making activity like research survive outside traditional institutions, asks Jack Grove 

The 2029 Research Excellence Framework aims to assess ‘how institutions and disciplines contribute to healthy, dynamic and inclusive research environments’. But will panellists and university managers really move away from a focus on prestigious journal papers, asks Matthew Flinders

Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have come under sustained attack from the political right, resulting in the shuttering of DEI offices and curbs on teaching and research. With affirmative action also banned, how might universities continue to support minority students and staff, asks Paul Basken

Summer schools are sometimes dismissed as money-spinning playgrounds for rich overseas students. But with academic life increasingly characterised by heavy workloads and regulation, faculty should cherish the freedom they offer to deliver truly excellent learning experiences, says James Gazzard

Years of tight funding settlements, exacerbated by high inflation and recent research cuts, have left New Zealand’s higher education and research sectors in a parlous state. Will the comprehensive reviews under way help them dodge the looming cyclone? John Ross reports  

Teaching UK degrees abroad promised adventure, sunshine and a regular pay cheque. But navigating an environment in which many students couldn’t speak English, senior academics acted like dukes and oversight from the UK was patchy at best left Anthony Killick disillusioned

Campuses around the world have been rocked by protests calling for financial divestment from companies linked to Israel. But while boycotts have a long history in academia, some believe that universities themselves would be better advised to keep out of politics entirely. Patrick Jack reports

Ever-expanding numbers of doctoral students may suit universities, but one’s twenties should be a time for broad learning and professional development, not for burying oneself in detailed research, says Lincoln Allison

A decade of rule by the Hindu-nationalist BJP has seen a combustible mixture of technocratic reform and political interference in higher education. But the party’s below-par showing in this month’s general election has left some academics daring to hope for quieter days ahead. Helen Packer reports

No British public university has ever had to close its doors, but funding pressures are leading to vast numbers of redundancies and fuelling dire warnings that some institutions are close to the edge. So what would a collapse actually mean for students, staff and wider economies? John Morgan reports

Having brokered some of the world’s biggest pacts on global warming, MIT climate scientist Susan Solomon tells Matthew Reisz why she is optimistic that environmental damage can be reversed

With the right support, academics with visual impairments are prospering, but barriers to true inclusivity remain, says Kate Armond, while a lecturer reflects on how practice on reasonable adjustments can fall short of policy

Universities are struggling financially amid frozen domestic fees and growing political hostility to international students. But while the public finances are stretched, July’s general election could allow a policy reset. In the second of two articles (read part one here), three senior figures suggest what a new government might realistically do

Universities are struggling financially amid frozen domestic fees and growing political hostility to international students. But while the public finances are stretched, July’s general election could allow a policy reset. In the first of two articles (part two here), four senior figures suggest what a new government might realistically do

The importance of senior faculty advising junior colleagues on their career trajectories is increasingly emphasised. But is guidance – and the giving of it – being fairly shared? Should mentoring schemes be formalised? And are they really enough? Seven academics have their say