GSM exit ‘shows need for insurance plan’ for stranded students Students who suffer financial loss from institutional failures should be compensated by sector scheme, says English ombudsman By Jack Grove 19 November
UK master’s students’ satisfaction dipped after lockdown Survey of taught postgraduates suggests many were unhappy with handling of move online By Simon Baker 19 November
Researchers in post-Soviet states seeking out international funds Analysis of publication data since break-up of Soviet Union suggests collaboration could be making up for a lack of domestic resources By Simon Baker 17 November
Michelle Donelan: ‘not useful to talk targets’ on HE enrolment Minister sidesteps question of whether she wants participation cut, while saying rapid Covid tests will be deployed for post-Christmas campus returns By John Morgan 17 November
England’s higher education regulator to ‘raise quality bar’ Office for Students sets out plans for tougher minimum standards related to student outcomes, including degree completion rates and graduate employment By Jack Grove 17 November
English universities plan charter to tackle ‘low-quality’ courses Move will include guidance around when to close, merge or reform courses, but Universities UK points out difficulty of assessing courses’ value By Ellie Bothwell 16 November
Universities may ‘struggle’ to run mass Covid tests, v-cs warn Sector leaders raise questions over timing of pre-Christmas plans and workload involved By Anna McKie 16 November
Russian politics ‘plagued by PhD plagiarism’ Half of regional governors’ dissertations contained copied text, and these plagiarists went on to perform worse in government, research suggests By David Matthews 16 November
New book provides self-help for those struggling in academe Being Well in Academia offers guidance on ‘bullying, conflict, death, poverty, racism and violence’, says author and ‘agony aunt’ Petra Boynton By Matthew Reisz 15 November
We need to talk about student homelessness UK universities must investigate how many of their students are affected by homelessness – and what can be done about it, says Ricardo Visinho By Ricardo Visinho 15 November
Williamson confirms plan to consider post-qualification admissions Education secretary says use of predicted grades in English system ‘breeds low aspiration and unfairness’ By Chris Havergal 13 November
Universities and pension bosses at loggerheads over USS future Vice-chancellors criticise level of contributions proposed by Universities Superannuation Scheme By Chris Havergal 13 November