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Readers offer their insights into clocking off and enjoying the world beyond work

1,700 students apply for 350 places on biggest programme ever run in the UK

Lecturers make up the largest group of staff employed at English universities, according to data compiled by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. More than 94,000 people were employed in the role in 2012-13

Recruitment processes at UK universities need an overhaul if we are to hire the best people, argues Thomas Harrison

Postgraduate research students who teach call for an end to their ‘appalling treatment’ by the university

Lecturer finds a way to make the ‘social loafers’ in class pull their weight in group assignments

The financial woes of its early years forgotten, LIPA’s head explains how the oversubscribed creative hub is extending its reach

But Hefce sounds alarm over the slump in foreign language students

US public institutions of higher education remain inept at preparing staff for life after work, says Lee Maril

Experts question ‘draconian’ social media policies after university rebukes academic questioning Theresa May’s policies

When Liz Schafer interviewed the Oh! What A Lovely War director, she was bowled over by her passionate and indiscreet insights into her life in theatre

Scams, defaults, over-optimistic revenue projections: the UK must look to US lessons on student finance, writes Nick Hillman

Private provider passes QAA’s new review, making domestic intake eligible for public funding

Union claims it has evidence of forced labour and exploitation at the Education City complex in Doha

Tuition fees are rising for overseas students. If the cap on undergraduate fees is lifted, will they follow suit?

£140,000 2014 programme scrapped because of ‘significant budget cuts’

Silence greeted requests for references or PhD guidance from professor

Monetising career development courses could be the next step for the university, says Stanford professor

Analysis suggests that male physicists and mathematicians author nearly 50 per cent more papers than female colleagues

Fears of overcrowded courses and falling standards as university admissions set to exceed 500,000 for first time

After almost 80 years, a woman has won the Fields Medal. Caroline Series on female mathematicians coming of age

Sociologist’s and media scholar’s work on TV interview series furnished raw material for a study of the limelight and those in it

The latest higher education appointments

Tanya Bunsell’s immersion in the world of weightlifting yielded insights into steroid use and ‘muscle worship’

One of the world’s leading environmental sociologists has died

Institution looks for new business model to pay for halls of residence

We speak to a recent Edge Hill graduate, Super League rugby player and brain haemorrhage survivor

Elite scholars are visiting the universities of Stanford and Berkeley in a mission to boost the country’s standing in a European innovation index

Tribunal rules Manchester wrongly sacked high-profile psychologist Geoff Beattie

The Plymouth University chair of governors who “placed on leave” its vice-chancellor will be investigated over claims he sexually harassed female staff

Swansea University has defended a new BP-funded research institute that anti-fracking protesters claim will hasten dangerous climate change

Plymouth University’s chair of governors has been accused of “poor governance” and risking “serious reputational damage” to the institution

By Scott Jaschik, for Inside Higher Ed

Fears about how much research funding is being wasted on fraudulent projects may be overstated.

Cost of living in student accommodation in capital revealed

Scientists have warned that evidence-based policy making in Europe is at risk from changes to a data protection regulation being considered by the European Union.

There’s a serious point behind @LegoAcademics, says Donna Yates

University clearing is marginally less busy than last year thanks to record numbers of confirmed acceptances, initial reports suggest.

The open access journal eLife has launched a new type of article that will allow authors to report significant additions to their original research.

Asian universities are catching up with the West on research strength, but only slowly, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2014

The number of students starting university or college is likely to top 500,000 for the first time.

University chiefs forecast a lower level of activity despite 30,000 extra student places

A political scientist who was a pioneer in the field of leadership studies has died

Academic criticises ‘inadequate nature’ of free public open access service

We speak to the CEO of GSM London (formerly Greenwich School of Management)

Graduates in non-graduate occupations - ‘gringos’ - are not hunting for roles that use their higher education skills, say academics

The latest higher education appointments

Sebastian Conran calls for a fairer approach at UK universities

Minister in dual role has a more extensive list of responsibilities than predecessor David Willetts

Students who go straight to clearing in the search for a university place are more likely to be aged over 21, male, from England, and come from disadvantaged backgrounds than those using the standard application process, according to data from Ucas

Bryn Glover on his psychogeographic experience alongside author Will Self

Glyndwr University offers £200 to entice new students with US-style marketing technique

Head of Swansea University School of Management also complains about external examiner’s behaviour

Future of Gennadij Raivich, a neuroscientist with a sideline as a private sperm donor, uncertain after conviction for sexual assault

The referendum is a chance to reinforce the Scottish higher education sector’s uniquely innovative identity, says Ferdinand von Prondzynski

Sector leaders alarmed at ‘inappropriate’ naming of university while Home Office visa audit was ongoing