Features

The value of the UK’s research block grants has fallen significantly since 2010, as policymakers have focused funding upticks on projects with compelling narratives. And in a tough financial climate, there are widespread fears that the trend could continue. Jack Grove examines what would be lost if it does

The marine biologist and new University of Melbourne vice-chancellor is intent on using insights from beneath the waves to keep her institution afloat through the brewing storms

India’s opening up to overseas outposts has injected new life into a form of transnational education that many observers had considered to be moribund. But will the clutch of early adopters blaze a successful trail for others to follow? And what exactly would that look like? Helen Packer reports

With its Trump-style promise to smash woke ideology on campus, Germany’s far-right populist party is widely seen as a threat by academics. And with even the country’s mainstream parties promising little for higher education or research, few are relishing Sunday’s election. Emily Dixon reports

The benefits of a strong brand are accruing for universities and academics alike. Jack Grove explores why reputation matters – and examines the latest results in the list of the world’s most prestigious universities

The long-mooted Oxford-Cambridge corridor is one avenue chancellor Rachel Reeves intends to pursue in search of a way out of the economic doldrums. But where does her focus on existing strengths leave blue-skies research and levelling up? And can a sector in crisis possibly deliver? Tom Williams reports

Higher education news feeds are currently dominated by near-daily announcements of large job cuts across the UK. But what effect is all this having on the atmosphere within the departments affected – and, indeed, across the sector in general? Four scholars give their takes

Amid financial turmoil, post-92s are creating subsidiaries to employ staff without having to enrol them in the expensive Teachers’ Pension Scheme. But what does that mean for grant and REF eligibility – not to mention hierarchies and industrial relations in an already restive sector? Juliette Rowsell reports

Can it be our responsibility as employees to better prioritise our well-being when the workload imposed on us goes so far beyond what can be done in a 35-hour week, asks Joan Taylor

Five years on since the UK officially left the European Union, Patrick Jack examines whether the consequences for universities have been as drastic as many feared at the time

The outgoing prime minister was widely welcomed by researchers as something of a knight in shining armour after Stephen Harper’s ‘anti-science’ administration. But his international student caps have made him look more like a horseman of the apocalypse to many observers. Patrick Jack reports

Switzerland’s agreement to join Horizon Europe follows a roller-coaster decade during which it was twice excluded from EU research programmes owing to political squabbles with the European Commission. Emily Dixon assesses the fallout – and asks whether a third exclusion can be ruled out

A handful of glistening new universities have been established in recent years by Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs. But are they sufficiently numerous, free and well funded to make a real impact on India’s patchy higher education scene? Helen Packer reports 

Ten years ago, just a handful of UK universities had policy institutes. Now, amid the drive for impact, they are ever more common. But are they really the golden ticket to policymakers’ parlours? Are academics willing to be marshalled by them? And do they risk drowning each other out? Jack Grove reports

Institution-wide policies must affirm the necessity of engaging critically with AI tools in ways that foster human agency, writes Joseph Moxley

‘Experimental public establishments’ such as PSL and Paris-Saclay have suffered growing pains of late, but hopes remain high that France may finally have found a way for its complex web of institutions to compete on the world stage without trampling cherished historical identities, writes Emily Dixon

With the University of Rural England’s hopes of survival resting on a bailout from a disgruntled tech bro alumnus, John Gilbey’s seasonal tale sees its embattled vice-chancellor go back to the future in Silicon Valley 

With working hours full of interruptions, early mornings offer the best chance to pursue labours of love. But how to get going – especially if you are not a morning person? Three scholars debate the virtues of online versus in-person meetings, companionship versus solitude, and coffee versus pipe tobacco

As wars, both real and cultural, rage around the world, disputes about academic freedom are becoming ever more fraught. Is freedom of speech under threat on campus? And are some restrictions a reasonable price to pay to avoid offence or harm? We present the views of more than 450 academics

The removal of recruitment caps in 2015 was hailed by ministers as a boon to institutions’ and students’ ambitions. But the tuition fee’s declining value and the Russell Group’s ever-growing market share now threaten the viability of some institutions, and calls are growing for a U-turn, writes Juliette Rowsell

Academics who rely on the British Library’s unmatched collection are still feeling the impact of a devastating cyberattack a year ago. Jack Grove hears from those affected and considers how another catastrophic breach might be averted

Plagiarism accusations that led to the downfall of black US academics and politicians have sparked criticisms of ‘sloppy’ writing practices. But these controversies actually reveal how academics are struggling with the many writing technologies now essential to their jobs, argues Genevieve Creedon

The rise of Asian higher education has coincided with increasing graduate un- and under-employment in several nations, calling the value of degrees into question and threatening national stability. But is the problem underprepared students or dysfunctional politics and economies? Helen Packer reports

New crackdowns on overseas students have recently been introduced by Australia, Canada and the UK in response to concerns about immigration levels, housing costs and visa abuse. But will they work? Will they last? And where do they leave universities struggling to stay afloat? Patrick Jack reports 

Donald Trump’s election as president in 2016 prompted a slew of academic books grappling with how such a figure could have been chosen to lead the free world. But what are the chances that any of those bleak tomes will dissuade American voters from re-electing him next month, asks Matthew Reisz

Diverging financial pressures are putting untold strain on common pay and pension arrangements. As recent pay awards constrain richer universities’ ability to reward their staff as they see fit while pushing others into further strife, might a breaking point be close? Tom Williams reports 

Providing a pathway from community colleges to universities, the US’ credit transfer system is admired around the world for driving social mobility and offering a vital second chance for late bloomers. But opaque and complex university rules are undermining it, argue Lauren Schudde and Huriya Jabbar

With the audiobook industry booming, university publishers are turning everything from hot new scholarly titles to Karl Marx’s catalogue into engrossing listening. Matthew Reisz speaks to academics, producers and publishers about what makes a great audiobook and where the industry goes next

Thousands more students on the autism spectrum are entering universities thanks to improved diagnosis and support from schools. John Ross examines how institutions are adapting to this challenge and what more can be done

A merit-based admissions lottery and strict caps on how many private school pupils go to Russell Group universities are necessary for a more egalitarian society, argue Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman

Junior scholars are urged to do all they can to build bridges with the people who can give them jobs and promotions. But how calculating should they be about who to approach? How should they do it? And isn’t it all a bit grubby? Six established academics explain their perspectives

Tormented by playground thugs as a child, Jonathan Taylor reflects on why the insidious bullying found in universities is similar but much worse

A new law permitting foreign universities to set up Greek outposts is seen by some as a first step to transforming a very statist system. But with doubts over the law’s constitutionality compounding the usual uncertainties of overseas ventures, will there be much interest, asks Emily Dixon