UK higher education policy
Former University Alliance head returns to UK to lead research universities group after more than a decade in Australia
Director of Institute of Development Studies discusses stepping into the role after 25 years, impact of USAID cuts and benefits of Sussex collaboration
UK international education champion Steve Smith defends new strategy from criticism that it ‘lacks substance’
Labour prioritises growth abroad over increasing international student numbers on home soil amid immigration concerns
Scottish institutions made to address workplace inequalities and zero-hours contracts as condition of receiving grants
Financial and political pressures have prompted universities to siphon themselves off into various groupings. Can such bodies help secure a fair deal for the sector, or are they destined to end up as either winners or losers?
Three-year degrees, international student levy, graduate contributions and role of colleges should all be considered by politicians if universities are to survive, says report
MP seeks reform to ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ system amid cost-of-living concerns
New provider has been lauded by politicians and the media alike due to its different approach that seeks to ‘build a new type of university for a new type of undergraduate’. But what lessons can it teach the wider sector?
As chair of a women’s network, I see first-hand how the gap between policy and lived experience still shapes how careers unfold, says Xiaoran Xu
Scottish National Party minister says financial challenges go ‘beyond party political boundaries’ as official talks set to begin
Europop tracks based on chapters from Metaverse book have attracted thousands of fans, with one calling them ‘almost poetic’
To give the law teeth, the government must commit to promptly implementing the promised mechanism for flagging breaches, says Abhishek Saha
Analysis shows that one provider has increased its number of subcontracted students by 500 per cent
Rollback of decoupling researchers from their work questioned despite policy U-turn on books
Edward Peck insinuates risks of breaching rules when collaborating across sector aren’t as high as widely perceived
Minister’s assertion that universities can keep trading during liquidation process ‘markedly’ at odds with other experts’ views, committee chair says
Institutions that charge moderate fees and can’t pass costs on to students likely to be greatest victims of new tax, while some believe policy will help weed out lower-quality players
Fair admissions and effective management should cover all areas of university operations, education minister tells v-cs in letter
New subsidiaries and mergers expected after ministers insist on OfS registration for any institution teaching more than 300 students
Research into impact of higher education policy changes hard to find and not always utilised by politicians, report finds
Fears that expansion of master’s research courses to circumvent dependants ban could prompt more restrictions
Minister suggests internal battle to secure extra maintenance support for disadvantaged students to blame for low grant amount
Aggressively tackling intruders is best avoided, but a security guard should always have a ready supply of animal-themed plasters, says George Bass
Project that will see a dozen universities band together to respond to research risks among those receiving a grant
Providers generally unaware that they may face penalties unless they are more proactive in safeguarding recruitment work
Tech reskilling and digital democracy plans no distraction from furthering government’s research ambitions, says science secretary
Limits of current model mean trying something different can be challenging, according to Cara Aitchison, as government discussions start on future university funding
There have been more winners than losers since domestic student recruitment was uncapped in England. But without better stewardship, all institutions must do what they can to swing the market in their favour, regardless of national priorities or local needs, say David Maguire and Alex Bols
Universities must ensure procedures for handling sexual misconduct complaints are fair, transparent and supportive for all parties, says Jo Nuckley
Flat £925 charge seen as better outcome for sector overall, but institutions least able to absorb the cost expected to be hit the hardest
After a shambolic Budget day, it is hardly surprising that universities have been landed with a costly and overcomplicated international student levy, writes Nick Hillman
Fee caps for next two academic years confirmed by government post-budget, as students fear extra support will ‘barely scratch the surface’
Chancellor confirms details of controversial tax on income from overseas students, while universities also expect to be hit by changes to pension tax rules
Skills minister also promises to work with sector to help improve international student compliance ahead of levy introduction
Plaid Cymru has pledged to probe Seren Academy programme and clamp down on student grants being used outside of Wales
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
Providing a £4,000 grant for low-income students on priority courses could cost about £500 million, compared with £2.6 billion to restore former system
Research behemoth’s plans to better coordinate staff at faculty level met with fierce opposition, amid fears of pay cuts and demotions
Last-ditch attempts to minimise harm of incoming tax on international student fees splits sector, as research intensive universities set to save millions but post-92s would pay more
New incentives needed to encourage collaboration and specialisation among providers, conference hears
The provision of accommodation, recreation and even welfare services remains a central part of the UK university model even in an era of massification. But as cost pressures eat into both students’ and universities’ budgets, there is a growing sense that something has to give. Patrick Jack reports
No one has come up with a better way of convincing the Treasury to bring back maintenance grants, skills minister tells social mobility event
Cross-party committee calls for higher household income threshold for maximum student support loans as more struggle to afford university
Cost to sector ‘significant’ as reports say chancellor planning to limit tax-free contributions
Labour to encourage people granted asylum to better assimilate and support themselves by introducing pathway to enrol in university
First post-Covid increase in early undergraduate applications among mature students shows adults are rethinking their options in times of economic crisis
Legal restrictions prevented Australian universities from sharing financial documents despite completing merger, former deputy vice-chancellor reveals
Medical training organisations write to health secretary Wes Streeting as call for evidence takes ‘narrow focus’
Universities complaining about over-regulation should stop committing ‘own goals’ with franchising and grade inflation, says new OfS chair who believes Labour reforms can pave way to stronger sector
Wider range of graduate outcomes must be considered over longer time horizon, say panellists at THE event
Regulator indicates it will act when financial pressures impact student choice and ‘supply of critical skills’
Lack of supervisors and ‘uneven’ quality ‘deterring’ students, paper says, arguing that radical overhaul is needed
‘Clever’ linkage to maintenance grants could encourage Scottish policymakers to adopt Westminster proposal, conference hears
Timetable for phasing out testing on animals for antibody research and drug analysis is too demanding and may risk patient safety, argues expert
Birmingham professor to temporarily oversee access and participation at English regulator following departure of John Blake
Focus on traditional subjects at GCSE level has not helped pupils get into top universities, says Becky Francis’ report on school curriculum
Governments leaning on agencies to convert autonomous institutions into ‘strategic national asset’ but face task like ‘herding cats’
The Teaching Excellence Framework’s reliance on existing outcomes and satisfaction data, as proxies for teaching quality, has always invited criticism. But with the OfS now proposing to use it to assess compliance with regulatory conditions, the TEF might have finally found its niche. Juliette Rowsell reports
Welsh government follows England in increasing its fee cap as result of financial pressures faced by institutions
