Academic life

Move designed to ‘support 21st-century families’ and help institution remain competitive despite ‘historically high turnover rates’

Scholars from the Global South have vastly fewer international options than those from the Global North, says Srila Roy

Higher education institutions around the world mark passing of UK’s longest-reigning monarch

Major THE poll considers pressures on academic and administrative staff, how this has changed in recent years and what can be done to improve matters

Embassies in dozens of countries now accepting visa applications, but many students still in the dark over anticipated move

Institutions told to ‘join up’ response with local officials, to have emergency medical care and forensic testing procedures in place

Grant delays worse than ever, researchers say, as ARC strives to meet demands of ousted government

National interest test for research grants to be simplified amid sweeping review of ARC

Chapters’ severing of campus affiliation predicted to show US sector’s reluctance to challenge ‘Greek life’ abuses

Researchers say using improvisational comedy can improve their ability to communicate findings

Yes, in-person interaction has benefits, but ending online accessibility will close the door again on those unable to travel, says Alexandra Ridgway

But preoccupation with the mundane sidelines universities from the main game, according to vice-chancellors

A bitter feud between the head of one of Oxford’s grandest colleges and its dons made front-page news. As a new, internally recruited vice-chancellor prepares to take office, Jack Grove hears from both the dean at the centre of the dispute and those who are glad to see him gone

Four decades as professor and campus vice-president, with a stint in Italy, has Robert Berne seeing parallels to global intrigue and prison life

The sense of purpose and connection that a busy academic life confers is not easily replaced. You may cry, says Helen Lees

Goldsmiths’ reduction of people to expendable costs corrodes the necessary conditions for learning. I’m leaving, says Les Back

Universities face tough decisions as staff argue for wage rises to keep up with cost of living and budgets become increasingly stretched

Disproportionate impact must be considered by universities when assessing performance of staff, study finds

As precarity affects ever more academics for ever longer, many have come to see a permanent position as the gateway to professional happiness. But does it always work out that way? Or do the responsibilities and trade-offs of seniority outweigh the joys of security and salary? Seven academics have their say

The London School of Economics political theorist reflects on why her childhood memoir Free has been embraced by readers across the world

Leading US public institution, six months after firing Schlissel over affair claims, gets top academic voice on equity from UBC

Rebecca Blank, who was until recently head of Wisconsin’s flagship campus, to return to state to fight aggressive form of disease

As undergraduate numbers soar and student needs become increasingly complex, questions are being asked about whether a support model that relies on the conscientiousness of individual academics is fit for purpose. Here, three scholars explain why, despite its faults, the pastoral role remains crucial

Academics urged to be more present while teaching to foster better learning environments

The president of the University of Würzburg discusses the differences between the two systems, why he’s joined a European university alliance and the benefits of interdisciplinary working

Friendly reminders about university events, deadlines and policies may seem harmless, but fielding these endless emails exacts a high price, says Frank LoSchiavo

The Covid pandemic severely limited travel options during the past two years. But with restrictions finally lifting and with summer beginning in the northern hemisphere, THE’s occasional travel guide series is back. Six academics offer their tips on where to head to get over another marking season 

Few academics abused the autonomy they used to have – and fewer still complained about their salary, says Adrian Furnham

St Andrews principal and former UCL president also honoured alongside retiring Research England head

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

The historian discusses ‘glimpsing the nightmares’ of early colonial Americans in his Wolfson prize-nominated book on witchcraft, and why he took early retirement from academia

A US university’s requirement of 10 in-person office hours per week is an anachronistic sales pitch, says Jonathan Beecher Field

South American universities catching up with rest of the world on homeworking practices, according to THE data

Dealing with the death of a family member is never easy, but does academic life present further complications and difficulties? Three academics at different stages of their careers tell their stories

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

Crowds in cafeterias help, but those in hallways do not, when it comes to breaking up scientific silos, MIT analysis finds

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

The University of Leeds vice-chancellor discusses why UK higher education should go Dutch and the national scandal that drew her to academia

All 45 Indian public universities to admit students on basis of one exam, prompting concerns over diversity and institutional autonomy

Staff scour social media to root out dissidents, with escalation of penalties meant to silence students

The president of Macau University of Science and Technology discusses overhauling engineering education and the differences between Macao and Hong Kong 

Iran’s universities have thrived despite the country’s sanctions, which could soon be lifted – but nation still beset by lack of postgraduate opportunities, scholars say

Russian Foundation for Basic Research looking at Rb1.15 billion decrease, while Moscow State University told to slash budget by 10 per cent

As debut film portrays academia as racist to the core, Mariama Diallo talks of love for her Yale experience but even tougher realities than she could show

Standard mentoring is not enough if we want a resilient, compassionate and happy research workforce, says Mark Reed

The default mode of human problem-solving is to add complexity. But we must try harder to resist, say Leidy Klotz and Robert Sutton

The Tohoku University president discusses the legacy of the 2011 earthquake and making his institution more friendly to foreigners 

University educators must not be blind to other life goals – like building a savings account, says Brent Lucia 

As war descends on Europe again, how many of the idealistic young scholars defending their country against invasion will live full lives, muses Keith Burnett

Two genetics experts with series of shared attributes enjoy collaborating, but suspect coincidences not bloodlines

Thirty years after his breakout book declared democracy to be an unstoppable force, the End of History author explains to Matthew Reisz why a new defence of liberal values is urgently needed, and why scholars must share some responsibility for destabilising them

Guards are adept at taking escalating student consumerism in their stride. Coffee may also be served, says George Bass 

Inducing shame and humiliation is not a blood sport. It is the very life blood of the academic profession, says Michael Marinetto

A few electronic mailing lists still thrive in the academy, reminding us that peer communication need not be all about ‘building the brand’, says Kate Eichhorn

Inclusive language, clear expectations and a genuine spirit of collaboration will make academia a more humane sector to work in, says Harvey Graff

Storms, flash floods and emergency services effort force students back online

The unrelenting social pressure to take on all domestic duties leaves women little time for professional advancement, says Sabrin Ramadhan

Long before students became potential vectors of infection, academics were inclined to shun their presence, recalls Laurie Taylor

International community ‘should take in academics unable to continue teaching in Hong Kong’, say scholars

Students and faculty welcome eased measures but remain wary, emphasising need for higher caps on daily arrivals