Einstein’s theory of relativity inspires book of stories Writers rise to the challenge of creating fiction from black holes, dark matter and warped light By Matthew Reisz 26 November
Risk-based quality assessment ‘cannot work’, study concludes King’s College London research finds that ability of metrics to predict problems in higher education providers is ‘extremely limited’ By Chris Havergal 26 November
Grant winners – 26 November 2015 A round-up of recent recipients of research council cash By 91茄子 reporters 26 November
Female academic leaders suffer more from ‘workaholic’ hours culture Higher levels of stress among senior women revealed by Leadership Foundation report By Jack Grove 26 November
Damage controller or perfection seeker? It may all come down to training Study suggests students taught by academics with teaching qualifications are more likely to pass, but less likely to get first-class scores By Chris Havergal 26 November
University of Warwick bangs the drum for liberal arts Preparing to launch its multidisciplinary degree, institution bids others across Europe to follow suit By Chris Havergal 26 November
Should you be friends with your PhD students? Blurring the lines between supervisor and friend can cause difficulties for academics and students alike, says study by Finnish researchers By Jack Grove 26 November
Academics and creative firms join together to showcase work AHRC-funded festival flags up an astonishing variety of collaborative projects By Matthew Reisz 26 November
The week in higher education – 26 November 2015 The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press By 91茄子 reporters 26 November
Spending review: what it means for higher education Some key points to take away from George Osborne’s speech today and the Treasury’s spending review document By 91茄子 reporters 25 November
Martin Lewis: George Osborne ‘doesn’t have balls’ to tell ‘millions’ they must pay more on student loans Money Saving Expert founder fuming on decision to press ahead with controversial policy 25 November
Spending review: student funding shake-up announced Government relaxes student loan eligibility rules but confirms plan to freeze repayment threshold, as student opportunity funding also targeted By Chris Havergal 25 November
Newcastle University vice-chancellor to retire next year Chris Brink, who has been at the helm since 2007, will leave his post in December 2016 By John Elmes 25 November
Spending review: Osborne delivers 17% cut to BIS budget Savings include cuts in funding for poorest students and forcing existing students to pay more for loans By John Morgan 25 November
Spending review: Osborne protects research in real terms However, there is confusion over the final value of the settlement, which may include 'tucking in' of Global Challenges fund By David Matthews 25 November
Nurse review: fears over greater political control of research New ministerial committee could wield power over research agenda, but support expressed for new pot of interdisciplinary funding By David Matthews 25 November
Open University confirms closure of regional centres UCU members to strike following decision by governing council, which affects more than 500 jobs By Chris Havergal 24 November
UAE orders new curricula with entrepreneurial focus Stanford University to assist in development of programmes to be introduced in January By Chris Havergal 24 November
OECD: England gets extra spending under ?9K fees – and world’s most expensive public universities Director for education praises system for allowing country to raise spending in ‘difficult times’ By John Morgan 24 November
University of Ottawa student body suspends yoga classes over ‘cultural appropriation’ fears Institution’s student federation concerned about the ‘cultural issues of implication involved in the practice’ By Ellie Bothwell 24 November
John Denham to lead Winchester centre on English identity and politics Labour ex-minister criticises the view that UK ‘can’t afford English identity’ By John Morgan 24 November
‘About time’ value of quality assurance is demonstrated European Quality Assurance Forum told ‘surprisingly little work’ conducted on value of members’ activities By Chris Havergal 24 November
‘Long history’ of students going to university ‘beginning to erode’ Universities are ‘too far’ into degree model to be able to train students with skills needed to boost productivity, says Association of Colleges president By John Elmes 23 November
Thomas Jefferson statues latest target for campaigners in US Move follows objections to Woodrow Wilson references on campus By Scott Jaschik for Inside Higher Ed 23 November
Oxbridge dominance of top legal jobs unmoved Sutton Trust research finds three-quarters of leading judges and QCs attended Oxford or Cambridge By Chris Havergal 23 November
Ucas forms ‘should include school’s exam results’ to help disadvantaged applicants UCU’s nine-point checklist aims to make admissions fairer By Jack Grove 23 November
Judge orders student to pay up in University of Worcester fees dispute University withheld degree certificate when postgraduate, claiming tuition had been inadequate, refused payment By Chris Havergal 23 November
Rearrest of Colombian dissident academic sparks international outcry The latest detention of Miguel ?ngel Beltrán is viewed by many scholars as an attack on academic freedom By Jack Grove 20 November
Nick Boles: address ‘imbalance’ between higher and further education funding Minister for skills hopes to move towards ‘parity’ in loans system for higher study learners By John Elmes 20 November
Gender pay gap in higher education shrinks Official figures show gap fell 2.4 percentage points for full-time staff By Jack Grove 20 November
Trinity College Dublin receives largest charitable donation in Irish history to tackle dementia Landmark gift from foundation started by Irish-American billionaire will fund work in US and Ireland By Jack Grove 20 November
Nurse review: new body could shake up research council funding allocations Proposed Research UK would have similar powers to a v-c over university faculties By David Matthews 19 November
Nurse review: create Research UK body to oversee research councils Merger ‘inappropriate’, but seven councils would be overseen by new chief executive By John Morgan 19 November
Spending on university estates up by half a billion Capital expenditure rises by a quarter as universities aim to compete in marketised sector By John Elmes 19 November
Sarah Churchwell: opening the doors to the ivory tower ‘Don’t claim you are changing the world if only four people are reading your article’, says new chair in public understanding of the humanities By Matthew Reisz 19 November
University of Michigan focuses on widening participation President of US campus also seeks to aid the local economy and forge global partnerships By Ellie Bothwell 19 November
Middlesex University v-c seeks inspiration from institution’s past as he sets future course Tim Blackman is keen to build on successes achieved in his predecessor’s two decades in charge By Jack Grove 19 November
Boosting the opportunities for Anglo-Brazilian partnerships Universities UK meeting hopes to build further on existing initiatives By Matthew Reisz 19 November
David Watson delivers posthumous warning on lifelong learning and ‘Wonga-style’ student loans Higher education expert who died in February asks in paper what might replace strengths of the polytechnic system By David Matthews 19 November
Funding variation across UK and cross-border money flows revealed in UCU report Student mobility meant nearly ?500 million of support funding flowed across borders in 2013-14 By Chris Havergal 19 November
Imposing admissions targets would be ‘draconian’, ministers told Higher education Green Paper says director of fair access to higher education could be given power to set entry goals for universities By Chris Havergal 19 November
Why did the chicken cross the road? For public engagement, of course Researchers have employed a comedian to help them reach out to a wider public By Matthew Reisz 19 November
Spending review: fears for student opportunity funding and research budget Student opportunity cuts could worsen part-time crisis, warns Open University v-c, while research concerns focus on ring-fence and ‘tucking in’ By John Morgan 19 November
The week in higher education – 19 November 2015 The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press By 91茄子 reporters 19 November
Grant winners – 19 November 2015 A round-up of recent recipients of research council cash By 91茄子 reporters 19 November
World University Rankings 2015-2016 by subject: physical sciences results Asia doubles representation while European countries face varied performance By Ellie Bothwell 18 November
Top research teams ‘have more overseas academics and use carrots not sticks’ Analysis of top-ranked groups also finds they have ‘accountable autonomy’ from the university By David Matthews 18 November
College of Estate Management gains university college title But principal of online, non-profit, private institution warns new Green Paper market entry plans could be seen as 'lowering bar on quality' By John Morgan 18 November
Most Russell Group universities ‘little different to other pre-92s’ Study argues that, while Oxford and Cambridge stand apart, rest of mission group does not live up to ‘elite’ tag By Chris Havergal 18 November
‘Naive’ TEF metrics could undermine widening participation, v-c warns Simon Gaskell says Queen Mary University of London would be ‘crucified’ on graduate salary score because of diverse intake By Chris Havergal 17 November
Pro-market regulator will have ‘different relationship with sector’ GuildHE’s chief executive, a former BIS official, warns that Hefce’s expertise on teaching grant should not be lost By John Morgan 17 November
Stellenbosch management bid to make English ‘primary language’ Rector Wim de Villiers faces potential opposition from South African university’s council, despite student campaign By Chris Havergal 17 November
Chinese professor loses management role ‘after rival reported dissenting blog posts’ Liang Xinsheng removed from deputy chair post after writing ‘radical opinions’ that had a ‘bad social influence’ By David Matthews 17 November
University of York apologises over ‘crass’ celebration of International Men’s Day Press release stating intent to mark event is withdrawn after receiving instant social media backlash By John Elmes 17 November
Let it go: economics is a dish best served Frozen US economists talk about attempts to liven up teaching of their subject with lyrics from popular music By Jon Marcus 17 November
US student protests: why are they spreading? Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed looks at why race protests that started at the University of Missouri are moving to other campuses 16 November
International student cohort in US sees biggest growth in 35 years Number edges close to 1 million, driven by rise from India and China By Ellie Bothwell 16 November
David Cameron urged to change overseas student policy by BIS committee chair Labour’s Iain Wright says PM ‘needs to decide what’s best for Britain’ By John Elmes 16 November
Sector needs ‘oversight’ if BIS takes teaching grant in-house, says King’s principal Ed Byrne warns institutions’ finances could be ‘undermined’ in the name of policy initiatives By Chris Havergal 13 November
Hefce chief warns of ‘worst-case’ ?4.4bn budget deficit for universities ‘Concatenation’ of financial pressures could create serious risks, Madeleine Atkins says By Chris Havergal 13 November