Ministers have introduced a system of "due diligence checks" for private higher education providers, it has emerged, as new figures show that the number of their students accessing state-funded loans has nearly doubled in a year.
Universities’ overseas activities should come under closer scrutiny in the new risk-based quality assurance regime, England’s funding council has proposed.
A group of leading scholars has presented a petition to Oxford University Press calling on the renowned publisher to uphold what it describes as “basic scholarly standards”.
The different means-tested bursary and fee-waiver schemes introduced by universities to mitigate the impact of higher tuition fees on poorer students will create “further complexity”, including “cliff edges” where support disappears at particular income levels.
Almost a quarter of students and school-leavers in the UK intend to study abroad, with the main motivators being a desire for adventure, plans for an international career or financial worries about pursuing university at home, a survey has found.
The president of Universities UK floated proposals for uncapped tuition fees to be paid by private investors in return for a proportion of a graduate's salary, it has emerged.
These images, held in the archives of the University of Strathclyde, come from the papers of William J. Ireland (1924-2002), a graduate of the Scottish School of Physical Education who went on to become a well-known teacher of country dance.
David Willetts has reaffirmed his support for full open-access publishing and has drafted in the Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to advise the government on how best to make the transition.
Imperial College London on 30 April announced that is to create two leadership roles of “president and rector” and “provost” in a shift to a US-style senior structure.
Former prime minister Tony Blair has called for UK higher education to be seen as “a major export” – but warned that universities risk being “left behind” if they do not adjust to change, including public-private partnerships.
A committee of senior Harvard academics has urged the university’s staff to publish in open access journals amid concern that the cost of journal subscriptions is becoming “untenable”.
The government has announced that uncapped recruitment of the highest-achieving students at A-level will be extended to the ABB threshold in 2013-14, while a further 5,000 places will be allocated to cheaper institutions through the margin system.
Wi-fiand en-suite facilities are a must, but so is a sense of community - and universities are working hard to accommodate students' needs, finds Olga Wojtas
Academics at the Rothamsted Research laboratory have launched a direct appeal to protesters not to trash a trial crop of genetically modified wheat at a protest planned for later this month.
In trying to attract students, institutions must be clear about what they are offering - and careful not to make promises they can't keep. Jack Grove reports
The overreaction of university managers to the impact agenda is narrowing the kinds of research scholars feel able to carry out, academics have warned.
Higher education may become a prime target for government cuts unless the sector presents a compelling case for its importance within the wider economy, the head of England's funding council has warned.
Universities may be forced to use swipe cards that monitor student attendance to comply with tough new immigration rules, a vice-chancellor has warned.
As the internationalisation of higher education increases competition between institutions, universities risk losing sight of their true academic values, according to a report by the International Association of Universities.
