Nearly half of British public want some student debt cancelled Poll shows support for eliminating some or all of the money graduates owe the government, as calls grow for reform of the loan system By Patrick Jack 2 February
University severs ties with former chancellor over Epstein links Queen’s University Belfast to drop name of US senator George Mitchell from its peace centre, and remove bust from campus By Seher Asaf 2 February
More ‘tough decisions’ on science spending to come – UKRI head Further funding cuts will be announced in coming months after STFC savings and research council funding pauses, warns Ian Chapman By Jack Grove 2 February
Universities try to woo Reform as party gains ground Serious lobbying efforts under way, with right-wing party expected to be more sympathetic to elite universities than rest of the sector By Helen Packer 2 February
Journal impact factors still exert ‘undue influence’ ‘Lack of alternatives’ blamed as majority of researchers admit they rely on journal prestige metrics to make decisions on grants and hiring By Jack Grove 2 February
A lower fee for EU students would help fund Scottish HE sustainably The downturn in overseas student numbers shows the folly of relying on a small number of volatile markets, say George Pavlakos and Estelle Zinsstag By George Pavlakos 2 February
Are UK universities still engines of social mobility? King’s vice-chancellor Shitij Kapur made waves last month when he said that a degree is no longer a passport to professional success. But was it ever? Could it ever be? And what does it mean for universities if it is not? Patrick Jack reports By Patrick Jack 2 February
Just 12 per cent of public aware of LLE a year off launch New polling finds policy intended to foster lifelong learning and reskilling in England still suffering from very low levels of engagement By Tom Williams 1 February
ERA must avoid extra rules and red tape, universities warn Borderless market for research across the EU seen as ‘major opportunity’ but key groups fear ‘overly restrictive measures’ By Seher Asaf 31 January
Three UK research councils suspend funding opportunities Temporary block on grant applications by MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC heightens concerns over funding cuts By Jack Grove 30 January
Dutch universities open shared campus in The Hague Former department store transformed into an institution focused on climate, energy, digitalisation and security By Seher Asaf 30 January
Impact tracking tool Researchfish to be closed down next year Platform previously accused of sending ‘threatening’ tweets shuttered by Elsevier as it ‘searches for new solutions’ By Tom Williams 30 January
