World news

Abrogating responsibility could torpedo industry and trigger a public health crisis, Canberra warned

More than 10,000 signatories want summer exams made optional and teaching loads cut, raising the question: how productive can academics really be during a pandemic?

Vice-chancellors stress support for students stranded in crisis

Australian opaqueness risks quarantining decision making and tarnishing image of scientific advice

Grants yet to flow from new fund as nation endures rolling natural catastrophes

Early figures in Australia suggest the pandemic may be whetting rather than dampening appetite for study

La Trobe leaders take temporary salary cut as losses mount, and urge other executives to follow suit

Derision of expertise has been concentrated in the US – but that’s where it matters most, say former Antipodean chief scientists

UNSW Sydney-led network highlights coronavirus and climate change parallels on need for global coordination

Analysts advocate hands-off assistance package, with universities unlikely to share latest government bailout

Questions abound over entitlement to A$130 billion economic stimulus, as expert warns of ‘imminent’ financial crisis

One epidemiologist called a colleague a “charlatan” over his coronavirus tweets. Should academics “stay in their lane”  when commenting on the pandemic?

Research funders, regulator and bureaucrats ease pressure on academics and universities as coronavirus blows out timelines

An unheeded call for tuition fee refunds in Hong Kong echoes concerns around the world

New controls will ‘only be used when absolutely necessary’, minister assures educators

Australian and NZ rumblings reflect UK qualms about politicians’ selective ears

Death of legendary Australian educator recalls missed opportunity to integrate tertiary education

Scientific advisor network starts collating examples of research influencing, and failing to influence, policy

Spike in student demand driven by economic woes could force government to bring back demand-driven system

Delay midyear intake or risk losing subcontinent students to Britain, association warns universities

The erection of borders, disrupted transport and fear of infection mean many will have to stay put, but their mental health could be at risk, universities are warned

Australian stimulus package risked making it ‘more profitable’ to be jobless than studying

ARC balances acknowledgement of disruptions with need to keep future funds flowing

Researchers studying coronavirus-related attacks urge universities in Europe, North America and Australia to do more to protect Asian students

Cash injection will allow Australian university to ramp up manufacture at same time as vaccine is tested

Project delays, as universities and labs shut down, prompt grant flexibility – but levels of leniency vary

Australian universities’ online flight continues, as government tightens noose on indoor gatherings

The influence of Denise Bradley, an ‘intellectually courageous’ policy powerhouse, was steeped in personal experience

Exclusion of non-nationals could close the door to vital expertise, governments warned

Compromise needed to avert lost generation of university students, says Australian policy guru

More institutions desert on-campus programmes as government moves the goalposts

Australia bends rules to marshal health resources as social distancing directives are intensified

Go remote now or later? That’s the question, as coronavirus threatens campus shutdowns

As labs shut, researchers in Milan fear losing months of work – and urge colleagues abroad to prepare now for similar restrictions

Wollongong and other Australian universities race towards fully online course delivery amid rapid escalation of coronavirus crisis

Sources of personal income may dry up as outbreak takes toll on sectors that employ many young people, expert says

Critics say Australian tribunal finding confuses workload measures with performance ratings

Hybrid model emerging, with lectures going online while campuses endeavour to maintain small group delivery

Holistic sustainability concept meshes with ‘moral purpose’ of institution in Melbourne’s unfashionable west

The online provider’s entire catalogue will be available to campuses shut down because of virus

Research centre meant to support ‘politically useful ideas’ such as Orbán’s claim of Turkic ancestry for nation as government pivots away from EU, scholars claim

Education disruptions becoming the ‘norm’ as staff, students and visitors test positive

Student support improving but still lowly ranked, Australian survey finds

‘We are working against powerful forces’, v-c tells staff, as coronavirus exacerbates competition from mainland and UK

Education portfolio demerged and ethnic tensions set to be inflamed as Muhyiddin announces cabinet

Universities in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have all suffered recent attacks, prompting calls for institutions to join forces

New university-provider alliance advocates for the bush to attract more funding and a bigger say

Precautionary preparations are in place, ranging from hand hygiene to pre-emptive residence clear-outs

Experts call for new prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin to separate universities from education portfolio and foster multiculturalism in senior HE levels

Jobs largely spared for now as universities target ‘non-essential’ outlays

Frustration as Australian Research Council takes six months to judge applications to support urgent impact assessments

Science students may be required to move about 250 miles from current Auckland campus as university attempts to mitigate a contribution shortfall

Capital set to become more crowded, as territory government greenlights sixth campus

‘Highly effective’ research hub’s days are numbered, Australian estimates committee hears

High APCs are a barrier to academics in low- and middle-income countries, says Coalition S

University of Auckland centre to be led by science diplomat Sir Peter Gluckman

Move to reduce reliance on SCI citations in decision-making could affect everything from researchers’ careers to university rankings, experts say

Minister flags ‘financial fine-tunings’ to ‘squeeze greater productivity out of existing funding’

Proposed definition could provide get-out-of-jail-free card for ‘rogue academics’, some claim

With a new show in the pipeline, academics have many suggestions for plot lines and pitfalls to avoid