Academic life

New reports uncover widespread gossip, harassment, verbal abuse and ‘scientific sabotage’ in Dutch universities – with women particularly affected

Facilitating flexible working hours and showing gratitude towards team members are among the musts for all labs, according to Fernando Maestre

Higher Education Policy Institute says it is ‘shocking’ that no such dataset exists

International conferences are a huge boon to academics, allowing them to hear about new findings, make new connections and, above all, enjoy the physical manifestation of their virtual global community. But is all that footfall worth the huge carbon footprint it leaves? Joanna Kidman is increasingly unsure 

A small but engaged audience for his reminiscences convinced John Brinnamoor that the future is in safe hands

University sees valuable outreach in letting school pupils use library – but critics claim it is being used as a ‘play centre’

They are full of self-esteem and love social media yet crave high grades and safe spaces. What to make of today’s students? asks Felipe Fernández-Armesto

Study finds evidence of widespread, worldwide corruption in HE and lack of action from quality assurance bodies to stop it

Some institutions now follow the model, but experts question whether it will benefit a sector where 24/7 culture is ingrained

Friendly competition can push us all to do better. But when the competitiveness that fuels excellence and prestige becomes based in the logic of the market, universities lose sight of their true purpose, writes Kathleen Fitzpatrick

The recent death of politics academic David Held left Alix Dietzel shocked and guilty. Why did no one warn her she could feel like that?

Those on the ground are often able to recognise the folly of supposed efficiency measures imposed from on high, writes Peter Barry

Robert MacIntosh considers how university staff should approach the management merry-go-round of vice-chancellors, pro vice-chancellors and department heads

A lack of accountability can permit a toxic culture to linger unchecked, says one former employee, who was the victim of antisemitism

New association will seek to tackle class-based barriers prevalent in academia, says chair

Stronger attention to student mental health appears to overlook need among teachers

A large world-class university may eclipse a less renowned neighbour, but an education ecosystem rich in diversity can benefit all in the area

Can sharing a city with a more prestigious neighbour make it easier or harder for an institution to realise its value? Jack Grove examines the competition

Tributes paid to pioneering philosopher who established guidelines on embryo research in the UK

A greater willingness from facilitators to listen to feedback could transform collective decision-making, say Liana Kreamer and Steven Rogelberg 

College of Arts and Law tells scholars to spend more time on grant applications as quality-related funding dwindles

Universities pledge support and safety for international students

Understanding animal behaviour presents many challenges in the field. Matthew Reisz meets Rory Wilson, a biologist who has won awards for his innovative methods of tracking everything from albatrosses to sloths

Louis Theroux’s interviews with those accused of sexual assault at US campuses should be a wake-up call to UK universities who have ducked this issue for years, says Graham Towl

Pius Adesanmi was founder of Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies

Personal and pragmatic factors often keep Chinese academics in the West

Degree apprenticeships are helping to alter perceptions of earn-as-you-learn courses, but universities must demonstrate their value to students and employers, says Jane Turner

Life as an early career researcher is hard, but when you add being working class into the mix, the obstacles are almost insurmountable, writes an anonymous academic facing the death of her university career

Adam Tickell acknowledges university has ‘failed’ staff and students in the past but says improving well-being is his top priority

Efforts to improve work-life balance must address the significant amounts of time that many scholars spend travelling, says Rachel Moss

The recent exodus of vice-chancellors from UK universities raises questions over what is going on in the sector. Is inadequate governance the root cause?

Self-perceived levels of impostor syndrome in women remain equally high among senior academics, study finds

Officers draw on expertise from around the world as they deal with protests, extremist speakers and hate crimes

Researchers who trace links between academic supervisors and students claim that it can help to shed light on the nature of mentoring

Far from being hotbeds of intellectual debate, universities enforce ideological conformity, follow rigid procedures and offer little that enthusiasts could not teach themselves. It is time for radical reform, says Lincoln Allison

Six scholars learn the career and life lessons of their greatest academic missteps

The idea of mistakes being intrinsic to success has become an educational mantra – but for many students and academics, messing up is not an option

Christopher Hunt shared row with precious remains after granting of ‘passport’

The academy is not the military. Addressing fellow scholars by their surnames only is unnatural and disrespectful, says David Benatar 

Economic difficulties behind protests likely to have a significant impact on universities, say academics

Birzeit University in the West Bank has had to become versatile and agile in the face of adversity, according to its vice-president

Survey of earth scientists suggests exposing scientists to social science earlier might help interdisciplinary working

Archaeological find means tragic explorer will no longer ‘rest unnoticed’

The scholarly calling may be all about intellectual pursuits, but university life is not without its petty irritations. A dozen academics describe the daily distractions that annoy them most

Four lab leaders explain how universities can help academics in the early days of running their first research group

Some research disciplines have their very own ‘Simon and Garfunkel’. Matthew Reisz talks to some of those whose close and enduring collaborations have convinced them that two voices are better than one

Survey of more than 5,000 UK researchers finds about half keep working when they are unwell

Matthew Reisz considers the advantages – and the challenges – of long-term scholarly alliances and the role that gender can play 

Scholars offer their advice on the art of promoting research online

Even in tourism studies, reality often belies the bold, sunny pictures painted in the impact case study brochure, says Rhodri Thomas 

US chemical engineer claims she has been a victim of ‘academic mobbing’, including someone defecating in her bin

Universities may feel held to unachievable standards, but removing barriers for all manner of talented people will make institutions better and stronger

Oxford academic says increasing work pressures and time constraints mean practice’s future is at risk

Data for age profile of academic workforces across the continent show wide variation between countries

Wellcome Trust director Jeremy Farrar also knighted

As the winter solstice looms in the northern hemisphere, five academics reflect on the light and dark of the dead season

The Canadian government’s excessive policing of privacy makes it intolerably onerous to access its datasets, says Karen Robson

Chester’s Tim Grady, recently shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize, is proof that smaller universities can produce researchers who compete with the elite. John Morgan writes

As winter’s tunnel looms, academics would do well not to retreat into lonely silos, says Alison Newby

Round-the-clock demands from students can take a toll on lecturers. With a THE survey highlighting rising expectations, Anna McKie asks where the line should be drawn between professional and private life