News

More than 150,000 students who may have been staying in the UK illegally were not investigated by the UK Border Agency, according to a new report.

Ghana tunes in for British Council’s Apprentice-style reality TV show. David Matthews reports

GuildHE chief reassures sector as Willetts hails removal of size restrictions. John Morgan reports

A dean’s legal battle has wider implications for Tunisia’s universities. Matthew Reisz writes

Claims that overseas and private ventures may have added to financial woes. John Morgan reports

A national strategy on improving university access is set to be published by next autumn.

Astrid Wissenburg helped set the policies she will be bound by in her new OU role. Paul Jump writes

NUS march ends amid boos, grumbling and confusion in sodden outfield. John Morgan reports

Legal expert identifies ‘unclear’ structure of landmark in coalition policy. John Morgan reports

Jack Grove speaks to the former president of Ireland who will lead an EU inquiry into higher education

No traditional partner needed for new foundation degree-level qualification. David Matthews writes

Sir John O’Reilly will soon become the sector’s most powerful civil servant. He talks to Elizabeth Gibney

Council’s chair ditches ‘misleading’ wording on strategic importance of research. Paul Jump writes

Graphene discoverer takes aim at applied bias and short-term thinking. Paul Jump reports

The Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, has been granted royal title by the Queen.

The number of people applying to universities in the UK as part of the main applications cycle has fallen by 14 per cent compared with last year, new figures show.

The government is looking for one or more academic partners for the National Physical Laboratory, potentially turning the government-owned facility into a postgraduate institute.

David Willetts is to recommend that 10 small specialist colleges be granted university title, in what he describes as "the biggest creation of universities since 1992".

Finland and South Korea boast the most effective education systems, an assessment of 50 countries has found.

London mayor Boris Johnson has used a trip to India to highlight his concerns that the UK government’s visa rules are deterring students from the country from studying in the capital’s universities.

At a time when the universities of the Ivy League are increasingly looking to Asia and even Latin America as research partners, European institutions need to collaborate far better if they want to remain competitive.

By Colleen Flaherty, for Inside Higher Ed

Issues including whether the humanities have a place in 21st-century nations will be among those discussed at the British Council's Going Global conference next year, it has been announced.

Business schools are failing to help mid-sized companies as much as they could and so are holding back the UK's economy and society, a new report has concluded.

Schools should ignore the "dreadful snobbery" that puts pressure on them to send as many pupils as possible to elite universities, according to the head of the Office for Fair Access.

The College of Law has been granted university title and will be known as the University of Law.

End ‘immoral’ barriers to access on grounds of wealth, union urges. Elizabeth Gibney writes

Fears of a Starbucks future raised as Oxford debates Bodleian changes. Matthew Reisz reports

Fear of appearing weak may discourage staff and students from disclosing illness. Jack Grove writes

A planned strike today at Queen Mary, University of London, over the method by which academics are assessed was called off yesterday after the institution committed in writing to negotiate over any changes.

UCU survey paints picture of deteriorating workplace environment. Jack Grove reports

Oxford scholar offers full-length analysis of staged ‘two-culture’ entanglement. Matthew Reisz writes

It’s time for physics to make a big bang, the woman from the ministry tells Elizabeth Gibney

Event hears how online learning offers ‘alternative public realm’ for Iranians. Matthew Reisz reports

Supportive voices petition Cambridge authority over massive property deal. John Morgan reports

David Matthews reports from the World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha and hears Tony Blair’s former adviser argue for university ‘turnover’

Australia swapped its higher education quality agency for a body with more powers and a much bigger appetite for detail. A year later, the sector is still eyeing Teqsa warily, reports Paul Jump

Beware online misrepresentation, says academic mistakenly linked to tarot book. Chris Parr reports

Company’s education leader calls for greater focus on graduate employability. David Matthews reports

FoI reveals moves and countermoves in struggle for state cash and influence. John Morgan writes

ESRC offers grants for ambition

A National Union of Students protest against tuition fees and youth unemployment ended in ugly scenes today when a splinter group forced the union's president from the stage during the closing rally.