Opinion

As Pride Month draws to a close, Nick Braisby reflects on what it means to him 

We distract from the debate on the importance of the arts if we don’t review and re-energise our humanities offerings, says Chris Husbands

The higher their performance, the more interdisciplinary scientists are penalised by colleagues as a threat to the status quo, find four researchers

When employers and governments state preferences for particular universities, it further overheats entry competition, says Hiroshi Ono

While the results may be difficult to hear, they might provide some pointers on how universities can improve their image, says Zachary Michael Jack

Ad-hoc modules that bear little relation to a student’s degree are too easily forgotten – especially if they aren’t road-tested, says Boris Walbaum

Academics rejected by university presses may turn to hybrid or self-publishers. But Harvey Graff’s experience suggests they should tread very carefully

Universities are too often used for political point-scoring. Finding a way to implement and protect long-term plans for the sector would benefit all

A constant demand for more evidence increases the chances of discovering something nobody has been looking for, says Gerd Gigerenzer

There is always more to a research question than the underpinning science. So work with the people you are studying, says Nicola Ray

Loss of an institutional position closes too many doors for those whose passion for research outlives their academic careers, says Maria Cohut

It matters that non-donating alumni are missing out on much of the aftercare value they could be receiving, say Andy Shaindlin and David Williams

The University of Juba has emerged strong from decades of turmoil, topped by a pandemic. But other institutions are suffering, says Kuyok Abol Kuyok

Researchers need to be confident enough to lift the veil on the debate that is at the heart of scientific progress, says Rebecca Lawrence

Barring collaboration with 236 Russian universities raises more questions than it answers, says Ararat Osipian

The myths underlying politicians’ insistence on a blanket return to face-to-face teaching must be busted carefully, says Alistair Jarvis

Humanities benefit individuals, societies and economies. They should be accessible to students from all backgrounds, says Neal Juster

High costs, opaque contracts and the difficulty of finding peer reviewers all point to the need for a divorce, says Robert Kaplan

Low-quality studies waste resources, abuse patients and undermine trust in science. Ethics committees should be more stringent, says Edzard Ernst

A reliance on critical thinking alone will fall foul of students’ cognitive biases, says James Southworth

If the emphasis in the job market is on skills-based hiring, a college transcript ought to reflect that, says Darren Catalano

Our higher valuation of scarce commodities and our aversion to losing things we value now play in digital education’s favour, suggests Paul Penn

The pursuit of truth is at the heart of academia. But public perception is also crucial if universities are to sustain themselves – and fiction can help

Leaders must mandate objectives for research, teaching and external engagement, with major reviews every decade, says Warren Bebbington

Preserving human capital for the post-Putin era is in everyone’s interests, say Dmitry Dubrovsky and Gleb Yarovoy 

Meeting the continent’s need for more doctoral graduates is hampered by a lack of resources and qualified supervisors, says Teklu Abate Bekele

Few academics abused the autonomy they used to have – and fewer still complained about their salary, says Adrian Furnham

By helping colleges deliver degrees, the OU will be fulfilling its founding mission, say Nadhim Zahawi, Tim Blackman and David Hughes

Disabled, disadvantaged, introverted and international students may all appreciate ongoing online options, says Robert Phillips

The professionalism and collegiality with which editors used to respond to complaints has all but disappeared, says Harvey Graff 

Retention, progression and completion data arguably better reflect the work universities do to help students fulfil their potential, says James Miller

Lifelong learning and industry collaboration are also priorities for higher education in the region, says Choltis Dhirathiti

The passions roused by the culture wars show that people care deeply about history and culture right now, says Edward Harcourt

The National Education Policy is like a breath of fresh air; now universities need to make the changes happen to reap the rewards, says Pankaj Mittal

Language is a powerful tool for breaking down resistance and normalising unhealthy cultural change, says Bruce Macfarlane

Why can’t scholars acknowledge that a professor was both mistreated by Princeton and mistreated his former student lover, asks Jonathan Zimmerman

For UK universities, there seems to be an endless flow of crises to be overcome. But what if this is not just a tough spell, but the new normal?

The next exercise should clarify its purpose and language, relax its disciplinary focus and refine research culture, says James Wilsdon

A US university’s requirement of 10 in-person office hours per week is an anachronistic sales pitch, says Jonathan Beecher Field

While the benefits of impact accrue to institutions, any backlash is focused on individuals, says Erin Pritchard

More systematic work is required to learn the lessons of efforts to generate policy impact, says Matthew Flinders

Without practical teaching at their heart, many departments of music technology, drama and dance could face closure, says Ian Pace

Ditching digital provision will waste pandemic progress and make life harder for students who are disabled or carers, says Meredith Wilkinson

If Western universities don’t respond to India’s opening up in the way envisaged, a clampdown could quickly follow, warns Peter Brady

Northumbria’s REF 2021 results emphasise that growing research capability can benefit teaching, business and employment, says Andrew Wathey

Long timelines, siloed training and the prioritisation of drug development make life-saving advances in detection less likely, says David Crosby

Interactions with his student neighbours have convinced Harvey Graff that they crave a supportive, broadly based, interactive education

Long-standing debates about what ‘research quality’ means make it obvious that the REF can be little more than make-believe, says Martyn Hammersley

The extent of research‘s cross-subsidisation by overseas student fees is too rarely understood by policymakers and academics alike, says Ruth Arnold

Even students who have spent many years in UK secondary schools struggle to make the transition, says Pat Moores

There is no evidence in art and design that the REF drives a wedge between research and students' interests, says Victoria Kelley

The REF may no longer be the only game in town, but it remains a dominant force in UK research. So as the REF 2021 results are released, is it still fit for purpose?

The latest iteration of the UK’s national research audit has fulfilled its aim to identify research quality across the whole system, says David Sweeney

Linking impact to funding is breeding mistrust, apathy and unrest. Researchers must be free to do the work they find most meaningful, says Mark Reed

Research-led teaching is undermined when academics’ research is pushed into areas only obliquely related to students’ interests, says Ian Pace

Politicians’ false claims to be implementing evidence-based policy risk undermining academia’s reputation, says Gary Thomas

Resignations from the Australia India Institute suggest that politicisation of university management is not confined to the mainland, says Mukhtar Ahmad

Thinking in terms of disembodied abilities undermines again well-rounded learning and secure employment, says Gavin Moodie

Progress on widening participation may go into reverse if mounting scepticism about university’s value isn’t addressed, says Zahir Irani

Pursuing research relevance is important, but the risk is that it becomes a form of deference, co-option and control, says Matthew Flinders