Politics

No British public university has ever had to close its doors, but funding pressures are leading to vast numbers of redundancies and fuelling dire warnings that some institutions are close to the edge. So what would a collapse actually mean for students, staff and wider economies? John Morgan reports

Institutions may be hoping to stay under the radar as parties clash over policy, given danger sector will come under further attack

Continuing on current path will lead to course closures, reduced research investment and mergers, says former Sheffield Hallam vice-chancellor

Collaboration between sector and government key to success of major reviews, Hepi webinar hears

Some students saw their university fees triple as the government attempted to lift the benchmark for the first time in five years

Economic carnage looms as Australian political parties adopt unity ticket in treating overseas learners as cannon fodder

Influx of MPs who have worked in universities could help the sector win battles and reset the debate on access, say analysts

Reports mount of academics not having contracts renewed in apparent retaliation for anti-war protests, as observers highlight precarity as key factor in restricting free speech

Shadow science secretary accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘talking down’ English higher education with attack on ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees

Contrary to claims that holding vote out of term time will silence them, student voters may end up having more influence in rare July poll

Kamna Patel accuses Research England of ‘indulging’ science secretary’s ‘malevolent’ attack over Gaza comments

Postdocs risk being ruled ineligible after biding their time to optimise prospects of success

The UK needs a skills strategy that values the full variety of training and education pathways and reflects regional needs, says Neal Juster

V-c’s offer to meet with encampment to review defence and security research called both an ‘empty deal’ and a ‘capitulation’

Incoming right-wing government plans to reduce spending by €1 billion, just as efforts to reduce precarity and overwork were starting to have an effect

Undermining universities offering degrees to fund apprenticeships is poor policy. Here are some better ones, says Paul Baines 

First budget of new governing coalition seen as ‘neutral’ for universities as small increases in funding set to be offset by inflation

Labour’s official science slate is dull but radical moves to reform research funding and engage industry could be close, experts believe

Tory plans to close low-performing degrees to fund apprenticeships ‘miss the mark’, says UK sector

Leaders’ claims that their appointments owe nothing to their political affiliations are wide of the mark, says an observer

Chinese leader calls for greater alignment of degree programmes with the country’s workplace needs

Coalition agreement involves major cuts to research and university funding alongside harsh new measures for students

‘Good data means better policy’, educationalists stress

Shadow education secretary puts focus on tweaking student finance and encouraging knowledge exchange as election looms

As politicians stage another public hearing to shame academia, university leaders display new level of resistance, joined by students at Harvard and California system

Lai Ching-te uses inauguration speech to ask for return of mainland students to island universities but installation accompanied by rising cross-Strait tensions

Key post-study work rights to be kept under review but reprieve puts off any changes at least until after coming general election

Rishi Sunak’s decision to hold a snap poll leaves several key sector issues hanging as political focus switches to electioneering

Eighty per cent drop in number of family members given permission to come to UK

Universities are struggling financially amid frozen domestic fees and growing political hostility to international students. But while the public finances are stretched, July’s general election could allow a policy reset. In the second of two articles (read part one here), three senior figures suggest what a new government might realistically do

European Commission’s plans for international qualification should not only prioritise in-demand technologies, says guild

Rishi Sunak looking at launching a clampdown on recruitment agents but has backtracked on reforms to UK’s post-study work rights, according to reports

While offering no assurances over her party’s stance on forthcoming legislation, shadow education minister is a ‘big fan’ of preparatory courses

As Pro-Palestinian encampments spread to more than 20 UK universities, a new organisation of Jewish academics has formed over concerns around the rise of antisemitism on campuses, and another warning against ‘dangerous rhetoric’ from government 

Universities are struggling financially amid frozen domestic fees and growing political hostility to international students. But while the public finances are stretched, July’s general election could allow a policy reset. In the first of two articles (part two here), four senior figures suggest what a new government might realistically do

Members of US House issue bipartisan demand for details of private foundation giving $1 million annually using controversial Chinese company’s donations

Canberra should not stifle university revenue while unrolling expensive equity reforms, says implementation committee member

House education committee, in new front for attacking academia, backs right-wing analysis that alleges political tilt in Truman and Rhodes awards

Ministers urged to resist policies that will ‘massively overcorrect’ student numbers as key migration statistics unlikely to reflect reality of institutions’ declining enrolments

Economist questions whether private institutions’ focus on profitable social science subjects matches labour market demands

Those of us who stay on post-study give far more to our adopted country than we have been able to give to our home nations, says Elena Rodriguez-Falcon

Education secretary uses Education World Forum speech to praise benefits overseas students bring as government considers making changes to the graduate visa

Nation’s historically high level of shutdowns and consolidations overwhelmingly remains a private-sector malady, but states showing signs that old certainties may fall away

Figures indicate limited scope for growth in international enrolments, as administrators strive to balance the books

The troubled excellence initiative has approved only one new institution since 2020. Has the government lost interest, asks an observer

Funding problems and corruption dog sector, but ruling party manifesto stays silent

‘Shockingly bad legislation’ gives ministers power to favour certain disciplines

Will waning power of Scottish National Party fracture the consensus around one of its most closely guarded policies?

We should improve the system while we’re examining it, critics argue

Amid a large number of competing priorities for the next government, focusing on skills and communities is probably the only way for institutions to secure the support they need, conference hears

Universities are crying out for consistency, something resembling certainty and a plan for the way forward, says Graham Galbraith

Brian Bell tells reporters that scrapping visa would only have a modest effect on immigration numbers anyway, given large impact of changes already introduced

Government embraces domestic growth, needs-based funding and a commission to drive it all, but firm commitments remain limited

Politicians promise to support Hong Kong’s international education goals, while reminding universities to foster patriotism towards China

Universities call for end to ‘toxic’ uncertainty over future of post-study work route following publication of MAC report

Everything you need to know as the Migration Advisory Committee publishes its highly anticipated review

Highly anticipated independent report opts for status quo option in boost for universities, after finding no evidence system is being widely abused

Latest proposal, unveiled on eve of federal budget, highlights revenue constraints facing universities and colleges

THE analysis reveals how entry rates have improved much faster in Labour-held constituencies than in Conservative ones since 2010

Proposed legislation ‘unnecessary’ because existing arrangements already include caps, says strategist