Opinion

Existentialism may now seem more relevant to philosophy undergraduates, but a woeful John Kaag shares their mood of blank despair 

What is a university? The Lords debate on the HE bill asked this very question and reminds us that in 2017, clarifying their purpose is more vital than ever

Universities teach attention to evidence and fact-based reasoning, which 1930s Germany, 1990s Rwanda and now today’s US show us are vital, argues Donald E. Hall

There is little sector-wide motivation to address the attainment gap between white and BME students, says Min Rodriguez

Theresa May has hinted she wants to continue research links, but it is unclear why the EU would agree to maintain the UK’s current deal

Kate Riegle van West had to battle to bring her circus life and her academic life together

Nick Hillman on the possible implications of the government’s defeat in the Lords

James McCrostie was shocked to discover the extent of ‘predatory conferences’, but even more shocked by those abetting them

China’s pressure on its academics to toe an ideological line will increase if Trump focuses only on business, says Tao Zhang

In an era of post-truth politics, academics and their research still have a vital role to play in influencing policy, says Graeme Reid

As campus fortunes fluctuate with changing oil, currency and tuition prices, a Brexit bounce is a possibility. The state can steer the academy towards it

Jim Knight on the early committee stages of the HE and Research Bill in the Lords

Lord Stevenson on the problems facing the Higher Education and Research Bill, which was amended on its first day in committee in the Lords

Lords pass opposition amendment to HE Bill in committee stage

Fears about the consequences of Brexit are widespread, says Sally Hunt

Kirsty Williams and Julie James implore ministers to look beyond the Golden Triangle

Phil Newton looks at the case for making essay-writing services illegal

As with Moocs, virtual reality will not replace the physical university

The impact of the bill on Royal Charters is not the main concern, says Smita Jamdar

Fixing problems in the academic job market by reducing the number of PhDs would homogenise the sector, argues Tom Cutterham

The Higher Education and Research Bill is a chance for institutions to show they do more than research and teaching, says Graham Virgo

From respect and metrics to mistakes and biscuits, management scholar John Hendry offers advice

Virtual reality may be set to make an impact on learning, but can it reveal who will keep their resolutions?

Dame Athene Donald laments the lack of progress on gender issues

There really is no need for the Higher Education and Research Bill, says Anne Sheppard

John Tregoning has plans for the UK science budget

Matthew Reisz on when the worlds of higher education and graphic novels collide

More developed critical literacy skills can tackle fake news, say Philip Seargeant and Caroline Tagg

Vijaya Nath on what might be preventing women from climbing the HE career ladder

Trisha Craig on the changing face of study abroad programmes

John Morgan on how the EU used research programmes as a weapon to enforce free movement

The value added by a university matters more than how much its graduates earn, says Bahram Bekhradnia 

There will be thousands of people on campuses on Christmas Day this year, as Geri Ward explains

Trump’s election and Brexit constitute a Great Event, which presages dark days ahead, argues Nicholas Boyle

Short of goodwill after a bruising year? Mark O’Thomas prescribes a viewing of Elf for some much-needed seasonal joy and optimism

Study into the experiences of universities’ top teaching faculty is revealing about the real priorities, says Holly Else

Brexit. Trump and his howling climate changers. A sector bête noire as PM. The TEF. Turkey. Ed Balls cutting a rug. It’s been a year, all right

Although the term still resonates with scholars, it means less and less in today’s academy, says Bruce Macfarlane

James Stirling on how Imperial College London is not shying away from reform

Reflections on event held at the University of California, Berkeley

Jack Grove asks whether Father Christmas could learn from recent ‘Santa studies’ research

Sir Keith Burnett reflects on the future of academia and innovation in the UK and China

Recent university rankings results provide some much-needed discomfort in Japan, says Devin Stewart

Glen Wright reveals the best #AcademicsWithCats of 2016

A ‘professionalised’ police needs to maintain core skills, says this police constable

Billy Bryan and Josh Berlyne are not convinced by the UK government’s doctoral loans plan

Mark Readman offers a guide to help selfish academics ensure that everyone at a conference knows they are very special indeed

For the first time, says the UK’s universities minister Jo Johnson, academic freedom and institutional autonomy will be enshrined in UK law

To help manage their expanding activities, institutions require new corporate leadership personnel, Sarah Shaw says

That students debate how to treat campus memorials to figures linked with unsavoury historical events is perhaps a fitting legacy

Off to an academic conference? Helena Ledmyr offers some tricks to getting the most out of attending a scholarly gathering

Positive discrimination helps students more than it hinders them, find Dennis Epple and Lowell Taylor

Martin Hall on how Brown University is confronting its controversial past

Kate Williams looks at the latest figures and concludes that much more needs to be done

Speaking a foreign language remains vitally important in the Brexit era, says Wendy Ayres-Bennett

Despite concern about the use of predicted grades, Mary Curnock Cook believes the way students apply for university works well

Junior academics can access services without physically visiting premises, writes Holly Else

It’s folly to make my language modules obligatory, says a grande école lecturer confronting students’ boredom and contempt

Martha J. Kanter on making equality of opportunity a reality for ‘the top 100 per cent’ of students