News

Large numbers of editors publishing in their own special issue attacked as ‘academic narcissism’ and ‘scientific misconduct’ in first-of-its-kind study

MP calls for institution to take steps to restore trust as concerns mount over how it has been run

New Ucea chair warns ‘much is at stake’ if unions and employers don’t collaborate to tackle ‘negative’ sector image, as he promises action on the ‘employee experience’

Politicians target closer research collaboration between two countries but campuses unlikely to follow, given funding constraints

Encouraged by surge in interest in learning Gaelic, Skye’s Sabhal Mòr Ostaig looks to branch out on its own despite pressures on language courses and specialist providers

Jordanian professor’s free-wheeling study is pulled and an editorial board member sacked after linguists criticised ‘extremely strange’ article

Regulator says proportion of top marks awarded by institutions still way above what might be expected

Quarter of institutions admit they don’t know if PhD candidates are working with AI, while only a small proportion say they are coming up with guidelines on its use

Stella Maris axed from Scottish university governing body again over claims she failed to follow governance rules

Polling suggests confused picture on free speech, with students keen to deplatform controversial politicians but also rejecting limits on what people can say

Indian campaigner Achal Agrawal says research watchdog he founded gets tens of tip-offs regarding suspected malpractice every day

Senior leaders selected to help guide higher education watchdog as it attempts to work more collaboratively with sector

Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet

Scholars with short contracts seen as more likely to favour doing ‘safer’ work, with ‘serious ramifications’ for their disciplines

Scottish institutions made to address workplace inequalities and zero-hours contracts as condition of receiving grants

University’s plan to cut more than 100 academic roles puts its reputation for inclusive education at risk, fears UCU

Leaders face grilling from free speech director amid concerns about Chinese government-backed scholarships

Scholars with large followings on app say it is a good way to change misconceptions about what they do

Inclusion worker challenges institutions whose scholarship programmes are not open to all after missing out on place on master’s

Experts say introduction of compulsory test for all undergraduate courses shows country’s shifting approach to internationalisation

SNP announces ‘real terms’ funding uplift pre-election but universities say extra money not enough to combat financial challenges

Syrian scholar stopped from seeing dying father among those affected by long waits for clearance, says MP Wendy Chamberlain

Bereaved families push politicians to make universities’ responsibilities toward their students clearer as suicide deaths continue

Institutions looking to conclude long-running searches for new presidents likely to favour candidates who can stay out of the limelight, experts predict

Little-noticed joint efforts by publishers to catch fake papers are delivering results but further ‘scaling’ is needed, says report

Universities facing ‘ongoing repression’ as regime responds to demonstrations with force

Former security adviser turned vice-chancellor calls out silence on controversial defence research, despite evolving threats to national security

Former leader returns to the role following the death of the university’s first female vice-chancellor, Emma Johnston, from cancer complications

Doctoral candidates offered hybrid ‘stipend and salary’ studentships with significant teaching hours will struggle to balance competing pressures, union fears

Prospect of additional support being announced in last budget before polling day as review into higher education funding gets under way

Leaders of research-intensive universities see pay top £350,000 despite financial strife faced by institutions

New book argues it is a ‘myth’ that universities can stay silent on social and political issues

Big cut in enrolments seen as way of modernising country’s universities but some warn further changes are needed to stop students lingering for years

Shadow minister calls for newly established Australian Royal Commission to scrutinise universities in wake of deadly Bondi beach attack

Students encouraged to study elsewhere owing to concerns about the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on UK campuses

Financial and political pressures have prompted universities to siphon themselves off into various groupings. Can such bodies help secure a fair deal for the sector, or are they destined to end up as either winners or losers?

Dramatically increasing private spending on research may be unrealistic given current economic conditions, funder warned

Campuses closed in attempt to quell unrest, with experts warning of risk of further brain drain unless protests deliver meaningful political change

Union says reduction in staff numbers has led to increased pressure but university warns potential industrial action lacks justification

‘No change’ in widening participation policy, says Trinity Hall, after plans to target students from Eton and Winchester leak

Three-year degrees, international student levy, graduate contributions and role of colleges should all be considered by politicians if universities are to survive, says report

Russell Group university’s new India outpost prepares to admit first students in August

New technologies must be used in ways that ‘strengthen, rather than replace, human expertise’, report authors warn

Publisher acknowledges ‘unverified statements’ in controversial text by American academic that led to long-running legal battles

MP seeks reform to ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ system amid cost-of-living concerns

Current proposals would limit access to studying abroad and prevent creation of new scholarships in priority fields, European universities have warned 

Study warns against heavy reliance on metrics such as logins and page views to judge students’ performance

Collapse of higher education system under Maduro unlikely to be reversed without a complete change in leadership, warn experts

New provider has been lauded by politicians and the media alike due to its different approach that seeks to ‘build a new type of university for a new type of undergraduate’. But what lessons can it teach the wider sector?

Graduate employability increasingly seen as ‘university-wide priority’ involving academics and researchers as well as dedicated careers services

Some institutions revisit gender-related policies against backdrop of legal and political developments

Penalties for withdrawn papers and self-citation proposed by Stanford researcher would hit standing of Chinese universities

Vice-chancellor Dave Phoenix tells THE that focus should be on using partnerships to deliver for city and UK, not switching to face-to-face education on new campus

Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Strathclyde threatened with industrial action as Scottish government’s review of higher education funding begins

English universities join drive to improve quality of country’s higher education sector

‘Cynical’ seasoned scholars advise younger peers to pursue alternative employment, signalling ‘sustainability crisis’ for universities

Clear guidance needed on how narrative-based submissions will be graded to avoid accusations that judgements are overly subjective, say experts

Difficulties faced by students returning to home countries after studying abroad show need for simpler system, says v-c

Higher education leaders pessimistic about future under Trump administration as recent campus shootings darken the outlook

The number of UK universities reporting financial shortfalls for the past academic year continues to climb as some pay out millions in redundancy costs