News

Merger ‘inappropriate’, but seven councils would be overseen by new chief executive

Capital expenditure rises by a quarter as universities aim to compete in marketised sector

‘Don’t claim you are changing the world if only four people are reading your article’, says new chair in public understanding of the humanities

President of US campus also seeks to aid the local economy and forge global partnerships

Tim Blackman is keen to build on successes achieved in his predecessor’s two decades in charge

Universities UK meeting hopes to build further on existing initiatives

Higher education expert who died in February asks in paper what might replace strengths of the polytechnic system

Student mobility meant nearly £500 million of support funding flowed across borders in 2013-14

Higher education Green Paper says director of fair access to higher education could be given power to set entry goals for universities

Researchers have employed a comedian to help them reach out to a wider public

Student opportunity cuts could worsen part-time crisis, warns Open University v-c, while research concerns focus on ring-fence and ‘tucking in’

The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press

A round-up of recent recipients of research council cash

Asia doubles representation while European countries face varied performance

Analysis of top-ranked groups also finds they have ‘accountable autonomy’ from the university

But principal of online, non-profit, private institution warns new Green Paper market entry plans could be seen as 'lowering bar on quality'

Study argues that, while Oxford and Cambridge stand apart, rest of mission group does not live up to ‘elite’ tag

Simon Gaskell says Queen Mary University of London would be ‘crucified’ on graduate salary score because of diverse intake

GuildHE’s chief executive, a former BIS official, warns that Hefce’s expertise on teaching grant should not be lost

Rector Wim de Villiers faces potential opposition from South African university’s council, despite student campaign

Liang Xinsheng removed from deputy chair post after writing ‘radical opinions’ that had a ‘bad social influence’

Press release stating intent to mark event is withdrawn after receiving instant social media backlash

US economists talk about attempts to liven up teaching of their subject with lyrics from popular music

Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed looks at why race protests that started at the University of Missouri are moving to other campuses

Labour’s Iain Wright says PM ‘needs to decide what’s best for Britain’

Number edges close to 1 million, driven by rise from India and China

Ed Byrne warns institutions’ finances could be ‘undermined’ in the name of policy initiatives

‘Concatenation’ of financial pressures could create serious risks, Madeleine Atkins says

Competition and Markets Authority says non-tuition fee debts should be no bar to graduating

British Council announces new partnership as Indian prime minister visits UK

Council for accrediting technical courses would cut skills shortages, says head of AoC

Governing body members claim projected overspend could be up to £87 million

The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press

A round-up of recent recipients of research council cash

Liberal thinking, teaching quality and pastoral care are his priorities for private university

New vice-chancellor Hugh Brady hopes innovation programmes will spur graduates to become social and business entrepreneurs

Scholar contends that civic universities were a ‘Renaissance nobody notices’

QAA study also suggests that academics see the NSS as a poor measure of teaching quality

Saudi Arabia is the top country of origin for international postgraduate students on medicine and dentistry courses in the UK

Experts debate how scholarly publishing is going to have to change

A. C. Grayling says private college plans offer ‘greater choice and improved quality’ 

TEF seen as paving the way to a market in price by a supporter of differential fees

A ‘Kimposium’ will explore what the fascination with the Kardashians tells us

Balance of power continues to shift towards Asia in disciplines

Going to university ‘influences outlook on life’, research for UK government suggests

Representative bodies sign up to new code of practice on course closure and institutional collapse

2016 Best University Workplace Survey responses doubt TEF’s influence on classroom practice

Report finds poorest Chinese pupils more likely to enrol than richest white peers

Panelists call on government to avoid making TEF a ‘bureaucratic exercise’

Comments on spending review attributed to universities minister later removed by Royal Society of Biology

Hefce warns of ‘weakening’ in finances and trend towards lower surpluses and ‘record’ borrowing 

Green Paper recommends use of metrics, despite July report’s reservations

However, success of Indian academics in the UK may be under threat as a result of universities’ focus on teaching excellence

Science and Technology Committee raises fears that resource spending has not kept up with new infrastructure

Adam Afriyie urges policymakers to test their preconceived ideologies against evidence

Envy of Japan’s Nobel prize record is fuelling massive investment in sciences and higher education, including in international partnerships, says president of Ghent branch campus

Author of new book The Cunning of Uncertainty fears pressure for scientific certainty is leading researchers to make promises they cannot deliver

Some of the key points to take away from the government’s consultation on the future of universities

Most institutions likely to be able to increase fees in 2017-18, with subsequent awards to allow for further rises

Hefce and Office for Fair Access would be merged into new body under government proposals, while Green Paper also suggests ministers could set fee caps