Academic life

Critics says that 60, or even 65, is too young to end an academic career

Physicist Brian Cox, author Bernardine Evaristo and former Ucas chief executive Mary Curnock Cook also recognised

Early career scholars, seasoned academics and institutions themselves all benefit from the creation of alumni affinity groups, writes Gretchen Dobson

The pandemic’s demolition of barriers and bureaucracy clears the way for a better higher education sector, says Pat Tissington 

Leading human rights barrister calls on UK law schools to address ethnic minority under-representation among academic teaching staff

Psychologist says scholars are still in ‘emergency’ mode and universities should recognise that the year ahead ‘may not be brilliant’ in terms of teaching quality

The grand achievements of those who came before are often held up as inspiration for current members of the academy, but a more nuanced view might be required

A willingness to lie and manipulate beyond what most people can imagine can do wonders for a career, notes Irina Dumitrescu

Education minister Ingrid van Engelshoven says too much research funding is now competitive, leading to intense work stress

Following the BethAnn McLaughlin and Jessica Krug revelations, Rachel Moss offers her tips for spotting online fakers

‘I can’t afford to self-isolate for two weeks’: academics working on pandemic research disclose the ways they are protecting their personal health

Blindness gave the late politics professor Roger Williams a unique ability to focus on the structure and coherence of what was being said to him. And though his interrogations could be exacting, Lincoln Allison wishes more sighted academics shared his talent

Dismissing plagiarism as a low-level academic misdemeanour ignores the potentially deadly consequences of letting cheating go unchecked, says David A. Sanders

Toronto president tells summit that ‘quality of city’ is crucial for university headhunting

Those planning new universities might think that a good institution will attract top staff wherever it is located. But is the quality of the environment beyond the ivory tower really so insignificant – and has the pandemic changed the calculus? Paul Jump runs through our survey results

Australian university insists it is just planning for potential scenarios, amid claims that 3,000 jobs are at risk 

Not all academics are in a position to churn out endless papers during lockdowns – and not all should, argues Michael Marinetto

After students gather to party, campus moves to online one week into semester

Academic endorsements cast little light while entrenching privilege, says Vincent Hiribarren

But in the new normal, the situation for female academics with children is even worse, says Enrica Maria Ferrara

The war survivor with multiple degrees from universities around globe discusses her roles as advocate for refugees and for the understanding of Africa in HE

Top researchers call for universities and funders to sign up to new set of principles to stamp out harassment

Bullying and harassment is still widespread in our institutions, and this must change, say science leaders

Male security guards are the workers most at risk of dying from Covid, but George Bass is happy to be one of the ‘expendables’

Research reveals that focus on ‘individual excellence’ in academia isolates disabled staff   

Just because you can’t meet in person, it doesn’t mean you can’t network, say a number of academic experts

Physical events are not going away but they must open up and embrace the best of the digital world, says Jim Woodgett

Daily tweets, cake baking and discussion of James Bond film titles have all helped keep Anthony Smith sane

Still on mute? Then let’s begin, says Emma Rees

Aspirants are convinced they can succeed against the odds because they have always succeeded in the past, analysis of ‘quit lit’ suggests

Shakespeare, the Beatles and Tina Turner are often referenced in the titles of academic literature, study finds

Progress will be very difficult if there is a loud cohort of academics who remain fundamentally opposed to it, says James Blackwell

African researchers say meeting digitally overcomes cost, distance, social discomfort and environmental damage – but even online, inequalities remain

Florida State University’s move triggers concern about impact on female employees, as coronavirus continues to spread

Report shows heavier burden for UK students compared with other parts of Europe, with the country’s research funding boost ‘a chance to reform PhD education’

Leader of US’ most prominent historically black university says proper funding of such institutions will improve diversity in academia

‘Personal crisis’ may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for some insecurely employed staff

Study analysing impact of previous epidemics suggests that confidence in science will be maintained but coronavirus will damage perception of scientists

The secretary of higher education for the state of New Jersey talks about her path to a career in policy, family history and handling racist attitudes at college

Former biotech chief cooperating in expanded investigation

The problem is measuring all women, with or without children, against patriarchal standards, says Srila Roy

Improving remote learning may be smartest move universities can make, quality chief advises

Anticipating a renewed coronavirus outbreak, California State University plans for semester online

Weekly broadcast from University of Toronto vice-president has captured the attention of thousands

After sex crime conviction, elite university gave financier-donor his own office

The award-winning author and journalist on the essay that changed her life and why academic research revolves around men

University finances are supposedly staring into the abyss – but we shouldn’t get giddy, says Paul Jump

Pointless meetings, fraught commutes and whiffy shared fridges are mercifully off limits during the coronavirus lockdown. But what else are faculty glad to be rid of? And what are they pining to return to? Seven academics let us know

Global recession may make public and policymakers think more about those ‘at the bottom of society’, says social policy academic

University managers must accept that business as usual is not an option for many university staff, says Petra Boynton

The shuttering of university campuses leaves security guards watching their screens for tumbleweeds, says George Bass

Coronavirus crisis may make institutions more eager to please to students, but ‘tensions’ already in evidence

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

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

Sexism, unthinking managerialism and toxic ‘them and us’ attitudes are still pervasive within UK universities, according to an anonymous academic who found the dissonances between her values, career expectations and lived reality too much to bear

Colleagues’ doubts about whether he deserved a prize make Aymen Idris wish people did not see his achievement as tokenism

But vice-chancellor says UK sector is at ‘tipping point’ of culture change 

Abuse of anonymity is damaging for both academics and students. It should lead to serious consequences, says Stefan Cantore

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