Politics

Ministers to create new skills body for England and expand apprenticeship levy

English universities can expect ‘new chapter’ after facing ‘destructive behaviour’ under previous government, former Labour business minister says

While Australia says it wants universities ‘going to the world’, its policies are making it harder

Industrial action turnout threshold set for axe, minimum service levels going nowhere, but new rules on zero-hours contracts on the way

Blanket rules preventing master’s students from bringing family with them said to be harming UK’s world-leading specialist institutions

One of the advantages of a large majority is that there is more generous political cover for experts brought into ministerial roles, says David Willetts

Institutions hope to show worth to new government by training more doctors and teachers, but say they need policy commitments in return

Heavy hitters joining key higher education ministries raises hopes that new government can get to grips with issues quickly

Institutions put renewed hope in international collaboration after voters reject Marine Le Pen’s National Rally

Conservative peer steps down following long-running criticism of his political affiliation

Republican nominee promises to end department in second term, though experts see underlying details as the more threatening aspects

Former education secretary returns to old brief, while ex-science minister steps up following Donelan’s defeat

Scholars see opportunities to influence Labour’s thinking on universities and beyond as power of thinktanks wanes

Former Labour home secretary expected to be handed responsibility for higher education and skills

Experts left underwhelmed by appointment of Nobuhle Nkabane and warn of significant challenges ahead

Covid-era chief scientific adviser backed party’s Great British Energy plan during the election campaign

More than half of newly elected UK MPs attended Russell Group universities, up marginally from the previous election

New education and science secretaries confirmed during Sir Keir Starmer’s first day in office

While turnout fell in seats where large numbers of students live during term time, Labour was able to weather this, and may have benefited from their votes back at home

Party regains power in the UK after 14 years on the back of campaign promises to ‘secure the future’ of the sector

Big business and states join universities in opposing proposed limits

As the UK votes in a general election, universities hope for a change of approach. In return, they must deliver for a country facing a host of problems

Proposal an improvement on current ‘blunt tools’ that undermine policy and facilitate exploitation, says Australian Labor MP and former international education boss

Campuses around the world have been rocked by protests calling for financial divestment from companies linked to Israel. But while boycotts have a long history in academia, some believe that universities themselves would be better advised to keep out of politics entirely. Patrick Jack reports

Policy expert Down Under says widespread higher education review has brought its benefits but universities should not expect an easy ride

Slow easing of Covid border restrictions helped international education avoid purges elsewhere, figures suggest

Further €92 million needed to cover existing staff costs, Irish University Association tells government

All eyes are on Tohoku University and its grandiose future plans as excellence initiative gets under way, but critics question whether goals are achievable

Sector leaders say international students and researchers, funding and academic freedom at risk if National Rally wins power

Apparent elimination of longstanding regulatory process leaves higher education experts expecting more costs, complexities and confusions

Nobuhle Nkabane succeeds much-maligned Blade Nzimande, who will retain science brief

‘Outrageous impost’ to fund domestic education initiatives is ‘robbing Ranjit to pay for Richard’

Sector leaders say stopgap solution needed to ensure institutions remain viable, but extra funding is likely to come with strings attached

After Trudeau administration imposed sharp cut in student visas, institutions are now watching other restrictions having a much stronger effect

With few private school alumni, plenty of postgraduates and a few PhDs, Keir Starmer’s potential government is very different from Rishi Sunak’s top team

Proposed commission would probe ‘massive surge’ in antisemitic incidents and ‘capitulation to extremists’

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

Lawmakers promise ‘robust conversation’ on future of top science agency, but accompanying limits on funding and research freedom raise suspicions about ultimate intention

Eye-catching R&D commitments like those seen in previous manifestos influence strongly only a small group of voters, polling shows

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

Constitutional Court nullifies decree enabling Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to appoint rectors, but any respite is expected to be brief

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 

Education ministry steps in after competitive university entrance exam cancelled

University requests to increase visa allocations should be rejected if expansion would exacerbate local room shortages, argues Social Market Foundation paper

After enduring harsh national spotlight for pro-Palestinian student protests, Ivy League campus investigates case that hands its conservative critics powerful new ammunition

Labour’s shadow education secretary promises to prioritise sector finances in government, but says taxpayer-funded rescue missions ‘not necessary’

In latest intervention by conservative-dominated judiciary, proprietary schools temporarily avoid seeing student loan eligibility tied to period of degree requirements

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

As collegiate sports grow more professionalised and women gain more fans, federal audit suggests that persistent oversights still leave large gender gap in safety

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

Canberra quietly scrapped plans to join world’s biggest research collaboration scheme in mid-2023

Proposed body must have ‘mundane’ expertise and avoid being the ‘long grass of policy’, new group says

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

Pre-election analysis shows greater concentration of international learners in major urban centres

Crackdown proposed without any forethought about the broader consequences, Press Club hears

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

Preventing publication of two major taxpayer-funded studies into bullying and homelessness is wrong, say academics left in limbo