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The Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at Tate Modern reveals the seriousness behind the Pop artist’s irony, finds Alex Danchev

Jack Grove on a European institution’s mission to foster cross-border scholarship

Canadian company Lashzone sent mass emails to UK universities in bid to establish ‘secret’ franchises on campuses

Plans would expose colleges and universities to competition from lower-cost alternatives, say observers

But private pupils do not suffer discrimination, expert argues

Image consultant: ‘jumble sale’ dress code does not an intellectual make. Matthew Reisz writes

Joanna Lewis asks whether appointing ‘a decent enough upper-class numpty’ as chancellor is the best her alma mater can do

Humanities must embrace interdisciplinarity and reclaim their key role in our fractured world, says Michael Worton

Regulator to review range of options for institutions falling short on quality measures

New UK-validated for-profit college to sell itself on sun, sea and low fees

The Russell Group of elite universities has declared its opposition to separating AS-levels from A-levels – three weeks after the proposals were announced.

Global push complicated by mainland links

Open-access publishing, once a niche preoccupation, is now a hot-button issue. But concern is growing that unintended consequences of new publication mandates will cost individual scholars and the UK sector dear. Paul Jump reports

New assessment scheme will not be used to direct cash to institutions

British Academy issues warning over future of language study in UK

People take refuge in drama when the bombs rain down, and the arts aid rebuilding when the guns fall silent, says James Thompson, who has travelled to some of the world’s most violent regions, only for the horrors of conflict to be felt closer to home

Critics say university’s announcement should have gone out to peer review, not a press conference

L’Oréal-Unesco laureate discusses microscopes and maternal leave

Massive open online courses’ lack of study support, for-profit aims may not be ethical, Online and Open-Access Learning in Higher Education conference hears

‘Summer reading lists’ no basis for policy, says don

Davina Quinlivan looks beyond Hollywood to offbeat indie films’ world of dogs, robots, dolls and true love against the odds

David Erdos believes a bid to tighten European data protection will have a chilling impact on social science and humanities research

Ancient rivals fundraise to keep manuscripts in British hands

Degree programme aims to give graduates edge in job market

NUS says decision shows ‘market is at heart of system’

Maintaining scholarly rigour amid demands for details about the discovery of Richard III was no easy task, but Lin Foxhall enjoyed it

Hepi director predicts more cuts over higher student loan costs

Managerial staff one of few growth areas in HE employment

US president Barack Obama has said that taxpayers “cannot continue to subsidise higher and higher and higher costs of higher education” in his annual State of the Union Address, and published proposals that would require colleges to meet performance thresholds to qualify for federal funding.

The next European Union research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, has been allocated a budget of almost €71 billion (£60.4 billion) in an agreement reached on 8 February.

Leeds scholar’s calls for Cambodian reform backed by US president

Jeremy MacClancy on the British Museum’s new exhibition linking Ice Age artistry to the Modernists

Indie musician and the OFT’s former chief economist, takes chair at ‘creative’ UEA

Daniel Ploeger’s performance provokes minds through ‘body beautiful’

Randomised controlled trials can’t solve social policy conundrums any more than they can fit football to a formula, says Gary Thomas

‘Neurotic’ sector plays ‘zero-sum game’ despite cap on numbers

Regrets? They’ve had a few…but with the frustrations have come joys and satisfaction, too. Six scholars reveal what they wish they had known at the beginning of their careers and offer some sage advice to would-be professors

‘Web star’ predicts bonfire of the inanities in US sector

‘Exiled’ institution’s temporary Lithuanian home offers opportunity for critical thinking. Matthew Reisz reports

John Morgan reports on FTSE 100 firm’s HE strategy

Michael Gove is wrong, says Chris Hackley: a return to ‘traditional’ A levels will narrow access and do nothing to raise standards

For centuries Regius chairs were the gift of kings, tools of statecraft and the preserve of ancient universities. But that has changed, most recently with the addition of 12 new professorships, as Richard J. Evans relates

Swiss poo paper comes up smelling of roses

‘Freeing’ universities, tuition fees and possible graduate tax figure large as Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats craft policies

Salary boost from master’s degree rises while profile of students narrows, says Sutton Trust report

But critics say plans to relax peer reviews in some universities will introduce risk-based quality assurance by another route

Policy continues to worry academics despite research councils’ concession

The government’s immigration policy harms student traffic from abroad and the economy, claims Shabana Mahmood

Politicians’ speech is often more a strategic exercise than an act of civic transparency, which can make it a turn-off, says John Corner

Financial fallout from a decision to leave the EU would, in reality, be minimal for higher education institutions, argues Alison Wolf

Hefce uneasy over University of Law deal and process for private applicants. John Morgan reports

Financial models that have stood firm for decades are failing, technological revolution is opening new doors and a growing middle class is creating unprecedented demand. At a time of extraordinary economic and demographic change, Elizabeth Gibney explores five trends that are transforming the face of global higher education

Miriam David’s reflections on her career as a scholar and feminist inspired her to interview a range of female academics about their paths to the getting of wisdom - and the pivotal role feminism has played in their lives