Widespread interest in bite-sized study among UK job-seekers Polling shows appetite for modular learning among unemployed, those at risk of job losses, and those wanting to upskill By John Morgan 21 October
UK research spending promise ‘not a?done deal’ Downing Street may be forced to break manifesto pledge as Covid ruins public finances, warns Westminster insider By Jack Grove 20 October
UK v-cs want new talent scheme and cross-border research funding Report from Universities UK International explores how country can enhance its international academic reputation By Ellie Bothwell 20 October
Nature to publish open-access papers from January 2021 Deal with Max Planck institutes puts cost of publishing article in prestigious journal at ?8,600 By Jack Grove 20 October
REF reforms to seek ‘accountability without complex bureaucracy’ Science minister Amanda Solloway announces review of UK’s main research assessment exercise By Chris Havergal 20 October
‘Simpler’ Wellcome grants aim to ‘give researchers more freedom’ Biomedical research charity to focus efforts on infectious diseases, mental health and global heating By Chris Havergal 20 October
Climate scientists ‘fly more than other researchers’ Environmental experts also more likely to have taken steps to offset or reduce impact of travel By Jack Grove 19 October
Welsh universities to continue in-person teaching during lockdown Students required to stay at term-time addresses during two-week ‘firebreak’ By Chris Havergal 19 October
Trainee teachers help children of self-isolating university staff Sunderland scheme provides PGCE students with experience while supporting employees juggling work and homeschooling By Chris Havergal 19 October
School of Advanced Study set to close institutes in cash crisis Staff criticise proposals to shutter Institute of Commonwealth Studies and Institute of Latin American Studies By Ellie Bothwell 19 October
Lockdown ‘hit female academics’ productivity and emotional state’ Survey from Spain suggests that as schools closed, women were less able to catch up on work and dramatically dropped hours spent on article writing and submitting By David Matthews 17 October
Oxford physicist who was forced to retire reinstated by tribunal University is also told to pay Paul Ewart almost ?30,000 in compensation By Simon Baker 16 October
