Leader

Political purity is a badge of honour in the hashtag age. But the real world is nuanced and messy, as universities should know better than most

Rejection can be felt more intensely in academia because of the level of personal investment – but it is a normal and necessary aspect of any career

Some are wary property development will detract from core missions. But it can provide helpful home improvements and boost community partnerships

The REF is a prime example of the sort of elaborate, burdensome process that potentially adds comparatively little value

As student numbers pass the 50 per cent mark, it is more important than ever to promote the value of HE, and counter perceptions that more means worse

Obama’s election supposedly heralded a ‘post-racial’ era, yet inequalities persist for the black community. Today, HBCUs have lessons for us all

Universities should be engines that drive social well-being and mobility, but this noble purpose can so easily be hampered by inappropriate incentives

A policy to recruit genuinely the brightest and best students would have to look beyond revenue maximisation

Top universities demand the best in the world as leaders. But when does a fresh international outlook outweigh domestic knowledge and experience?

Are today’s students really self-absorbed snowflakes or are lecturers merely experiencing the other side of the intergenerational perspective?

While insults fly on social media, student references can be excessively bland. Is society served by either?

Poland’s underperforming university system raises hard questions for those who advocate academic self-government over ‘managerialism’ 

A Times Higher Education survey bears out the growing difficulty of finding time for research

The long overdue top-up to England’s quality-related funding stream is a reminder that project grants are not the only show on the beach

Our survey offers vital insights and data to help universities thrive, says Phil Baty

Quality versus quantity is key in discussing HE expansion, but if Britain wants to succeed on a growing global stage we will need more, not less, HE

Not all pupils see a clear path after leaving school. More must be done to light the way for students from non-traditional backgrounds in both HE and FE

In a perilous time of populist attacks and constant value critiques, universities should focus on rebuilding trust in their local communities

There is nothing devilish about government oversight of research, but the Haldane Principle checks more sulphurous instincts, says Paul Jump

Higher education is often cast as politically insignificant, but look closer and it is frequently a chip in the highest-stakes game around

Disillusionment with the dramatically changed academic landscape has spawned a new literary genre – along with a host of problems for those struggling to adapt

For a few ‘super universities’, the amplifying effect of their brand turns independent incidents into powerful patterns in the public mind

System expansion is not enough. Admission to higher-tariff institutions must somehow be opened up, says Paul Jump

Perspectives on the state of English studies around the world reveal how disciplines are vulnerable to changes in society, policy and technology

A spell of globetrotting shows that no matter their location, universities, and those they serve, face challenges that cannot be tackled alone

Big datasets linking higher education participation to a range of socio-economic factors are useful and fascinating, but their translation into policy remains fraught 

Many institutions’ missions mean they do work that changes lives but never wins wide attention. Our new University Impact Rankings aim to recognise them

It would be easy for universities to cede the frontiers of research in AI to industry. But history – and the experts – tell us that would be a mistake

Upholding the ideal of free speech on campus knowing that conservative politicians hold the keys to the safe puts college presidents in a difficult position

Male voices are over-represented in our pages. We know that we have more to do to better reflect all those in the sector, but we need women’s help

Cutting-edge scientific research requires freedom from political constraint. To maximise progress, both Asia and the West should reflect on their priorities

The recent exodus of vice-chancellors from UK universities raises questions over what is going on in the sector. Is inadequate governance the root cause?

The hostility pervading online platforms is stifling provocative opinion and reasoned debate, and eroding the foundations of higher education

As Brexit reaches fever pitch, who knows what damage the 2028 research excellence framework might reveal

Evidence of strong public demand for access to papers is scant. Might a sophisticated database of lay summaries be more valuable?

UK university leaders might be bullish on the subject of institutional failure but the divide between managers and staff needs serious redress

If institutions are serious about widening participation, they must somehow strike a balance between social engineering and social mobility

Recent political interventions in university affairs are symptomatic of the perception that higher education institutions need a firm hand

It’s easy to say academics should be kinder and more giving to students, but they already face myriad other demands and must mind professional boundaries

A survey reveals readers’ opinions on whether professional editors or active researchers should be responsible for academic editing

In an unpredictable, increasingly digital age, Singapore’s universities are rethinking how to equip alumni with relevant skills throughout their lives

Universities must be clear about their ethics to avoid tripping up on the precarious path from principle to guidance

Universities in China are once again the fastest-advancing group in the THE World University Rankings. A closer look at their approaches shows why

Where will higher education be in 2030? Our survey asks university leaders what they think the next decade holds for the sector

Although universities share a common goal, they face diverse challenges that make it unhelpful to view them as a homogeneous mass

UK academics prize the USS pension. Sacrificing a scheme ‘in rude health’ on the basis of overcautious calculations would cause more disaffection

The mercury has fallen, but an alarming number of issues threaten to ignite and, potentially, give the UK sector some painful burns

Laurie Taylor’s campus creation was loved because it mirrored academics’ own experiences. Although it’s closed, it will live on

The UK’s highly internationalised university system – a major factor in its research success – is a treasure that must be saved from a political altar

University managers can learn from Geraint Thomas’ example that success can be won without having to be domineering and overbearing

If students aren’t charged fees, who gets stuck with the bill, and can they keep paying enough to keep the quality of the offering from suffering?

In furthering technological leaps, how close should institutions be to Silicon Valley and how can they ensure that everyone, not just business, benefits?

For all the good ascribed to Twitter and the rest, is this time-consuming activity improving things or distracting us from achieving transformative impact?

There is no holding back the king tide that is the Asian country’s higher education ambition – yet while the torrent carries some riches, what will it sweep away?

Invisible hands are pumping up an era of inflation inflation. Is it possible to discern what’s behind the alleged crisis of ever more top marks?

Scholars keep feelings of inferiority well cloaked yet self-doubt can strike any of us and only disclosure alleviates the pain of this hidden epidemic

There are hints of a thaw in the Home Office’s icy hostility to immigrants, but universities could also do more to protect their own staff, says Paul Jump

Mismatch between the TEF and the Student Engagement Survey hints at whether a marketised system offers students good options or just branding bling

As universities mull their partnerships with outsiders, all eyes study their power within national economic hierarchies

Politicians and social media warriors could learn a lesson from the ‘ivory towers’ they are so quick to deride: plurality and exchange of ideas are good things