University funding/finances

Nearly three-quarters of people want next government to take action to support a higher education institution at risk of closure

If the best books aren’t REFable, UK research will appear artificially weak, say Heather Widdows, Fiona Macpherson and Simon Kirchin 

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be treated little differently from their privileged cousins, critics say

Kiwi institutions committed to ‘academic audit as a concept’ but look to save costs

Union demands parliamentary inquiry as instances continue to emerge

Major parties have been ‘silent’ on higher education challenges ahead of general election, event hears

Money lent to those from wealthier backgrounds to pay for university may be better spent elsewhere, says Dame Margaret Hodge 

University leaders anticipate financial challenges as government invests elsewhere, with job losses and course cuts expected

On-site childcare is seen as vital for meeting equality and access goals, but with funding squeezed and demand unpredictable, many institutions are deciding the costs outweigh the benefits

Failure to raise fees or increase direct funding will see resources per domestic student fall to their lowest level since 2005, report warns

As Australia mulls ‘hard’ caps on domestic as well as international students, expert warns of unintended consequences

Increase necessary to keep up with cost of delivering degree programmes, government says

Accord panellists’ ‘preferred options’ also include ‘equity levy’ on high-fee courses and no change to international education

Awareness of financial challenges among institutions remains low but seven in 10 say they would worry if dozens of campuses close, putting pressure on Labour if it does win power

City’s mayor ramps up university investment as South Korea continues decentralisation of the country’s education system

Government’s proposal will intensify the problem it is supposed to solve while ‘wreaking havoc’ on universities’ finances, universities say

After decade-long suspension due to perceived overuse, federal budget set-asides by individual lawmakers again disproportionately bolstering academia and its science

Progress in North America and Asia helps to push up number of institutions committing to withdraw funds from fossil fuel companies

University of Technology Sydney head on achieving impact on policy and sustainability by building partnerships, fossil fuel divestment and boosting Indigenous enrolment

Falling inflation and no strikes have taken the sting out of negotiations this year, but that hasn’t made reaching an agreement any easier

More universities are adopting green financing. Their approaches must have verifiable outcomes and complement institutions’ overall strategies, says Anton Muscatelli  

As policymakers reduce funding, institutions seen as having little choice but to start charging students more

Some right-wing politicians seem to view a university collapse as a prize to be fought for. But in reality, a disorderly exit would be disastrous for all

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

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

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

Irish regulator expressed ‘serious concerns’ over university’s multimillion-euro deficit earlier this year

Universities latest to see industrial disputes ramped up over plans to lose hundreds of jobs

Major losses for the sector include the end of storied Philadelphia arts institution and retrenchment at leading Jewish-focused campus

New agreement on salaries increases likelihood that high-profile campuses will create a small league of top-dollar programmes, cutting revenues for all others

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

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

Government proposes full-cost tuition plus application fees for non-EU applicants, while aiming for international recruitment increase

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

While administrators, faculty, students and police get main attention in protests, those paying the bills – especially in wealthier families – pursue more decisive roles

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

Plans to move University Post to intranet amid cost-cutting criticised by journalists

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

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

Deep financial dive at top US medical school found less money than expected and leaves some faculty feeling their research accounts were raided to fill gaps

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

Forty jobs set to go at university

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

Ahead of proposed enrolment caps, foreign earnings fail to prevent a slide further into the red

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

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

Chief executive of farm company hands historic black college stock he says is worth $237 million but experts believe its real value could be far less

OfS says hopes that English university finances will recover in next few years appear optimistic, as they are based on forecasts that are too ambitious

Students already graduate with huge debts. Rather than accepting yet more easy credit, they should do more paid work, says Paul Wiltshire

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

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

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

Universities’ financial get-out-of-jail card no longer works, as governments in Canberra and elsewhere turn their backs on foreign students

Public supports getting firms that hire graduates to foot higher education funding bill, says union research

Estimates suggest Russell Group’s Chinese fee income has quadrupled in recent years