Politics

Flawed assumptions about how universities and statisticians would react to the trebling of fees are behind today’s retrogressive steps, says Aaron Porter

Plans for students to apply to university after receiving their results have again been abandoned

Westminster government launches consultation on whether it should reintroduce student number controls, sector-wide or by institution

Current administration has pushed through important reforms, but reorganising a complex sector around universities will be a tougher sell

Westminster government unveils major student finance changes creating ‘more sustainable’ system, as sector voices concern on minimum entry bar plan

Westminster government ‘starting a conversation’ on minimum entry bar, and proposals would affect only ‘tiny proportion’ of students, says Michelle Donelan

Westminster government appears set to publish consultation on series of policy changes, including minimum entry requirements

Lawmakers moving to block lessons on race and politics after successful efforts to police school curricula

Job insecurity has been exacerbated by legislation intended to end it, with universities facing spiralling recontracting costs and no extra funding

The president of Northwestern University discusses the conflict between being a higher education economist and a university leader and changing career 

Top-ranked institutions now have the autonomy to evaluate and confirm which of their own disciplines will qualify for the project

The Covid experience has strengthened common values and accelerated unification in European higher education, says Ferruccio Resta

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

Annual survey of 720 campuses pegs average stockpile at $1.1 billion, up 35 per cent in year, with student aid benefiting

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

Canberra’s work rights strategy influences make-up of new arrivals, as Perth changes entry rules again

A joint EU-AU document places universities in the vanguard of increased intercontinental collaboration, says Jan Palmowski

Higher education systems that are free to evolve have improved and adapted as times change, but more are seeing ministers determined to set the course

‘Vast majority’ of promised research commercialisation fund falls outside spending commitments, estimates committee also hears

Funding council statistics lend weight to anecdotal accounts that academics are self-censoring scholarship on superpower

‘Seemingly small regulatory requirements readily spawn large bureaucratic responses,’ says City president

Prime minister upholds reselection of reformist rector after masked, dye-wielding men try to spoil and steal vote

University casuals less likely to win permanent employment than cleaners or bank workers, Senate inquiry finds

French institution tops table for first time as country’s consolidation strategy appears to pay off 

As the UK’s plate-glass institutions hit middle age, which regions are home to the new upstarts in global higher education? And where has reached saturation?  

Ministerial intervention in research council appointment highlights growing politicisation of British science, experts warn

State Department ‘circumvented Fulbright board’ to shutter programme, putting applicants in ‘danger’, says Heather Nauert

Sector sources suggest PQA plan dropped after Williamson exit, although others think alternative changes still under consideration

IFS briefing says high inflation seemingly being used ‘as a cover’ to claw back taxpayer costs of higher education system

OECD data show that there are nations that have achieved more balance between major cities and other regions

Furore over political interference shows no sign of abating, as government presses ahead with research commercialisation agenda

Covid lockdowns, provincial budget cuts and political interference driving strike activity among faculty feeling disrespect

All types of institution must be welcome if new funder is to achieve its true potential, sector groups say

The UK government’s White Paper is a good start but needs to do more to link local learning with local needs, says Marius Ostrowski 

White House tried to keep MIT-Harvard professor in top post after he apologised for belittling female colleagues

John Blake rejects suggestions that it is not universities’ place to help close attainment gaps, in first speech in new role

Time is running out to strike a deal that will cement the continent’s scientific strength, says Jan Palmowski

Measure to expand NSF and retain foreign scholars with scientific expertise faces showdown over Senate’s even tougher approach to China

Business secretary reportedly concerned by Jonathan Michie’s ‘left-wing’ associations

Vice-chancellor criticises ‘bipartisan support’ for rules enabling ministers to intervene in grant awards

Paper says ‘too often colleges and universities have been pitted against each other’

Comparison with current data suggests government proposals are ‘not exactly a revolution in the funding balance’, say experts

Top congressional Democrat urges Biden to reverse Keiser University’s decade-old conversion to non-profit status

But country should also be ‘wary of complacency’ after apparently passing previous goal

Pay, promotions and intellectual property protections set for ‘refinement’ under new action plan

Science minister George Freeman claims academics may warm to leaving EU research scheme if homegrown alternative offers attractive global opportunities

No apparent health rationale for ‘impossible’ new deadline, as requirements rewritten for third time in a week

Forty per cent increase in investment by 2030 pledged, with BEIS ring-fencing majority of its spending for areas beyond golden triangle

Universities across Europe to launch ‘Stick to Science’ campaign warning against ‘politicisation’, as football-style ‘transfer market’ emerges to tempt away UK-based researchers

But critics say windfall won’t compensate for the money stripped from basic research

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology reins in plans for expansion as president announces departure

EU universities bidding to attract UK-based researchers as Brussels-Westminster wrangles delay research deal

Requiring 60 per cent of graduates to go into managerial or professional roles ignores the reality of creative careers, says Bashir Makhoul

Freeze is for one year initially but ‘what really matters’ is long-term decision, economist says

Academics urge policymakers to tackle ‘root issues’ including corruption, unemployment and quality education

As leadership vacancies rise in factious state, lawmakers push measure that academics fear will add dangerous secrecy to process of filling them

Experts back ‘cautious approach’ for universities but stress importance of continuing collaboration

Significant additional funding needed to realise Canberra’s commercialisation goals, say scientists

As administration embarks on writing tough new federal rules, prominent proprietary chain loses transfer agreement in California

Private university to offer students chance to pay for fees via future earnings agreements in deal with finance firm