Kent and Greenwich to join forces as new ‘superuniversity’ South-east institutions to collaborate under multi-university group model – the first initiative of its kind in the UK sector By Tom Williams 10 September
Death of office hours ‘damaging student-tutor relationships’ Amid declining attendance, some scholars see merit in making one-to-one feedback sessions mandatory while others say it is time to ditch historical anomaly By Juliette Rowsell 10 September
Humanities and arts degrees disappearing in parts of UK Students from rural and disadvantaged areas disproportionally affected by subject cuts, British Academy warns By Helen Packer 10 September
‘Urgent need’ to address lack of working-class medical students More support needed for disadvantaged students during medical studies to compensate for lack of ‘insider knowledge’, researchers say By Helen Packer 10 September
Do more to protect academic freedom, universities urge EU Legal protections and sustainable funding key for Europe to be ‘beacon of open and free science’, guild says By Emily Dixon 9 September
Tertiary attainment at record high but growth slowing, finds OECD UK’s high attainment and completion rates tempered by rising costs and inequalities, according to latest Education at a Glance report By Tash Mosheim 9 September
Explain how REF money is spent, universities told Research England hopes transparency pilot could lead to more accountability but critics fear bureaucracy and government control By Jack Grove 9 September
Universities left as ‘piggy in the middle’ after skills reshuffle Lack of clarity over how brief held by Jacqui Smith will be carved up risks delaying crucial policy interventions, critics fear By Tom Williams 9 September
UCU to hold nationwide strike ballot after ‘insulting’ pay offer Union threatens ‘coordinated’ strikes to cause ‘maximum disruption’ at UK universities By Juliette Rowsell 8 September
‘Dynamic pricing’: overseas students offered thousands off fees Some ‘scholarships’ advertised by UK universities contingent on grades or ‘ambassadorial duties’, with others applied automatically to all By Patrick Jack 8 September
The REF’s postponement raises hopes that sanity will prevail on PCE The three-month pause to re-examine the assessment of ‘people, culture and environment’ could prelude a welcome reversal, says Alice Sullivan By Alice Sullivan 8 September
Review retirement age rules for Teachers’ Pension Scheme – unions Falling life expectancy calls for a rethink of when university staff qualify for benefits, letter to Treasury says By Juliette Rowsell 6 September
