World news

Visa data, contradicted by Home Affairs figures, raise questions over treatment of Chinese doctoral applicants

Basic research bears the brunt of a general decline in spending

‘Verbose’ language, bad English and unexplained abbreviations all figure highly in reasons for rejection

Minister will decide whether to give go ahead to Dublin consortium in ‘engine of the economy’ plan

Last week’s legislative delay has not stopped the government tightening the screws on student debt

Nobel laureates call for early career researchers to be freed from ‘publish or perish’ mentality

Chemistry laureate Michael Levitt also warns younger scientists are now far less likely to be awarded grants

Biggest campus protests since 1989 have disrupted legislation that many fear will lead to more state control of universities

Fee-free policy cheaper than expected, as enrolments remain subdued

Australian regulator confirms it is investigating institution

Australian National University outlines why it refused multimillion-dollar humanities gift

New analysis shows regions were benefiting directly from uncapping of places

Ramsay Centre insists that negotiations with other institutions are under way

Parliamentary moves to outlaw Islamic face veils from classrooms have been strongly criticised by universities

Admissions overhaul could trigger wider insistence on mathematics prerequisites

National strategies also debate merits of basic versus applied research in rapidly expanding field

Academics complain of losing work on reference management tool

Dedicated department aims to accelerate move towards knowledge economy

Move aims to promote traditional Chinese culture through student courses and academic research

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania agreement is part of Europe-wide shift towards mutual recognition

Istanbul scholar Büşra Ersanli is one of 241 scholars to face legal action for signing a 2016 peace declaration

After more than a decade of inflation-busting growth, now could be time to ‘pause and consolidate’, says Anja Karliczek

Sector vulnerability highlighted as business model tips further towards international education

Media storms risk closing off funding stream, Australian academic warns

Scholars want an end to stifling university legislation, but differ on proposed approach

Dramatic cuts to public funding and an exodus of talent in the midst of an economic crisis endanger country’s position as a leader in Latin American higher education

Public suspect researchers are performing ‘impact’ and hitting targets for the benefit of government regulators, not them, European academies argue

University representatives disappointed by lower than expected budget increase for European Research Council

Unions and universities worry that agreements could leave them vulnerable to for-profit competition and entrench privatisation

Parisian university to work with controversial cab company to develop ‘autonomous three-dimensional transport systems’

Steady decline in undergraduate continuation blamed on unusually open admissions system

Government allows fully online degree programmes in a bid to boost share of young people enrolling in higher education

President unveils new target of attracting 350,000 foreign students despite ongoing concern over human rights abuses

Interdisciplinary and risky projects in particular led to projects that made big strides in understanding, evaluators say

Michael Spence maintains status as Australia’s highest-paid university leader despite cut in salary

Bums-on-seats model ‘failing millions of Chinese’, conference hears

Buenos Aires rector says public universities remain committed to their social mission

Proposals also curtail opportunities for dependants of international students in the country

World-first study suggests scientific societies may offer an underappreciated avenue for female academics to burst through the glass ceiling

Institutions themselves could create their own megajournals in response, report from European universities suggests

Government backs report proposals to increase regional people’s participation

Australian National University introduces early applications and ‘whole-person’ tests in latest snub to ATAR

Melbourne university reports improved student achievement and retention

Nearly two decades on, reports suggest the goal of a unified higher education area in Europe is still some distance away

Albert Schram may not return to Pacific nation to defend claims that he faked his PhD

International recruitment set to rise in Australia as visa applications rebound

University expertise gives decision-makers breathing space, says former foreign secretary

Sixty-four staff from a university in south-west Turkey have been imprisoned over alleged links to a banned organisation

Despite country’s reputation for egalitarian access, survey finds affordability is a struggle for some

Scandinavian executive education also told that it needs to look beyond profit

Policy shift in Australia could penalise institutions that focus on widening participation, warns pro vice-chancellor

A rediscovered fascination for space means blue-sky opportunities for universities

University of Florence professor in line to lead coalition of the Five Star Movement and the League

Concerns over increasing accounts of alleged sexual violence spark protests

No money left for universities after country’s government introduces free higher education

Crackdown leaves professors needing to pay back almost €250,000 each on average

Criticism of ‘obsolete’ passages by Gallic political leaders has led to a ban on new students learning French

Campaigners fear a huge increase in EU military research spending will lead to development of autonomous weapons

Study focuses on benefits of giving students hands-on experience – including via Lego

Humanities subjects set to be hardest hit by restructure