UK higher education policy
Longest-serving education minister explains why he ignored ‘abstract’ and ‘ideological’ academic research in fight to improve school performance
Using REF to tackle research culture risks making it too ‘bureaucratic and burdensome’, university leaders warn as Vallance rethinks changes to weightings
Regulator wants vice-chancellors to advise on policy as part of new chair’s attempts to build better relationship with sector
Vibrant academic communities in all parts of the UK will allow rising stars of humanities and social sciences to shine, says Alex Lewis
Yvette Cooper launches mass messaging campaign warning 132,000 overseas students not to overstay visas or lodge weak asylum bids
Politicians expected to leave universities to sort out their problems despite hopes for government intervention
Threat of financial collapse is causing universities to double down on an officious management style that is sapping academic morale, undermining excellence and damaging collegiality between academia’s different tribes, says Tin Sulejmanpasic
The London School of Economics philosopher speaks to Matthew Reisz about following up her best-selling memoir Free, the state of academic freedom in the UK and the US and the misogyny faced by women academics
Government urged to close ‘regulation loophole’ to better protect staff and students from risks of money laundering
Politicians set red lines in cross-party talks that sector hopes could be start of a longer-term funding solution for universities
Many fear algorithms will displace academics but the technology is already eating itself and its long-term business model remains unclear, says Martin A. Mills. Here he explains why bots will not wipe out universities and why we must resist their damaging features for the good of students, society and AI itself
Churning out so many PhD graduates into a weak academic labour market and marginalising innovative doctorates is immoral, says Ianis Matsoukas
Universities set to take more cautious approach to student recruitment in countries once seen as key to boosting international income
Netflix’s university-set romcom is strangely silent about the ethics of college tutors sleeping with their students, says Robert Dingwall
Dozens face ‘heartbreak’ of missing out on university places, after battling against the odds to apply
Middle-tier universities on ‘wafer-thin margins’ face starkest financial challenges from government proposal, policy analysts suggest
UK universities have no need to oversell their benefits to individuals or societies, but they do need to demonstrate an ability to foster both free speech and civil disagreement – while carefully navigating their ‘slightly nerve-racking’ reliance on overseas students, UCL’s provost tells Chris Havergal
New research highlights misconceptions about higher education, with people more positive about universities than is commonly realised
If the UK has decided it can no longer afford the sub-Oxbridge university model, expectations need to be systematically lowered, says Robert Dingwall
Employers are confining many low-skilled roles to graduates. Why should they care that this requires recruits to take on huge debt, asks Paul Wiltshire
Students unable to take up their places at start of academic year might never have the same chance again, campaigners warn
Under-pressure university commits to action plan to sort out its finances, acknowledging its governance ‘fell well short’
Institutions unclear on government’s stance towards accelerated degrees as faster courses set to become more expensive for students
Strong support for creating more financial incentives for students to study to become teachers or nurses, even among Reform UK backers
‘Traditional student experience’ off limits for most, researchers warn after estimating living costs at double available maintenance loans
New medical school will initially cater to international students as wait goes on for large rise in government-funded places
Vice-chancellors warned against ignoring rise of populist party as political upheaval expected in coming years
Omission of northern institutions from fund to attract top researchers does not add up, says select committee chair
If the UK doesn’t want skilled migrants any more, maybe my contributions would be better appreciated in the Global South, says Meron Wondemaghen
A systemic realignment is under way that, while painful, could lead to more efficient and adaptable provision, say Jonathan Barton and Mike Boxall
As he begins his stint as Universities UK president, Malcolm Press tells Helen Packer that the sector’s demands of government need to be realistic about the constrained state of public finances and that the sector will have to address its own problems through efficiencies and collaboration
English universities with gold or silver award qualify for ‘streamlined’ process that will only take five minutes, says Department for Education
New figures show university progression gap between London and the rest of the country widening, as ministers plan interventions in coming White Paper
Institutions review policies ahead of new obligations coming into force but campaigners believe culture change is needed, as they gear up to highlight breaches
Omission of UCL, Manchester and the Francis Crick Institute from international talent scheme ‘looks just plain odd’, claims researcher
Setting UK’s main research funder clearly defined objectives can bolster the case for R&I investment, finds Public Accounts Committee
Office for Students (OfS) proposes to create new condition of registration as some partnerships ‘still being mismanaged’
MPs call for reintroduction of maintenance grants and stepped loan repayment system as student poverty reaches new levels
Urgent reforms to funding and regulation needed or universities will struggle to support Labour’s economic ambitions, finds thinktank
Labour Mayor of London to urge ministers not to ‘pull the drawbridge up’ on international students as he embarks on trade tour of Africa
Research-intensive universities face ?315 million bill for proposed fee levy, adding to pressures caused by massive erosion of fee value, says lobby group
Single voice needed to coordinate work on local skills needs, argues new report, which says credit transfer easier to do at regional level
Government yet to articulate its vision for the sector after a year in power as political threats – rather than long-term thinking – shape its agenda, says outgoing UUK president
