Vice-chancellor/principal
Institutional partnerships are on the rise, but the sector must do even more to join forces to tackle global challenges, writes Linda G. Mills
Lund University vice-chancellor discusses the challenges of working with business, creating an innovation valley in the Baltic region and managing one’s friends
Monterrey Institute of Technology’s president says it is setting aside £46 million for international hires to compete with the global standard of living
University of Southern Queensland head makes case for teaching students in remote towns regionally to keep them and their skills in the community
Academia and the armed forces may seem worlds apart, but officer training has valuable lessons for university managers, says former Indian army veteran-turned-professor Vikas Rai Bhatnagar
University of Limerick president talks about putting in place university-wide structural changes to inspire cross-pollination between disciplines
Those with passionate convictions must be willing to concede their arguments may be flawed or even wrong if useful debate is to happen on campus, says UCL president Michael Spence
Politicians, the public and judges have grown tired of deferring to universities’ opaque decision-making processes, as illustrated by Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in admissions, say Anthony Carnevale and Peter Schmidt
If Stanford’s now-departed president had fully faced up to dubious practices in his lab and insisted on corrections, his infractions of research integrity could have been forgiven, says David Sanders
University of Aizu president Toshiaki Miyazaki quits after investigation found he published the same conference paper on multiple occasions
The Nottingham Trent vice-chancellor discusses using data to support students, avoiding strike action and why diversity conversations are too focused on Oxbridge
Hong Kong has ‘a special convening power’ that could attract partners from China and the Middle East, CUHK’s v-c tells Tiya Thomas-Alexander
Historian vice-chancellor Evelyn Welch has faced criticism for marking final-year dissertations personally
Historically black colleges offer a useful blueprint on how academic administrators can support progressive change, says John Silvanus Wilson Jr
The former vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg on the complexities of leading an institution in Africa
Lahore University of Management Sciences head Arshad Ahmad says country has much to offer in the battle against climate change – if the world can get over its misconceptions
Newcastle has made environmental justice a core value, aligned all its work with UN goals and built partnerships to drive sustainability and innovation, says vice-chancellor Chris Day
Former minister says major reforms to governance and disciplinary rules needed after exit of ex-dean Martyn Percy
Georgia State’s transformation of student outcomes has been praised by Barack Obama and Bill Gates. Jack Grove talks to its president, M. Brian Blake, about the trailblazing institution’s incredible journey and his own remarkable rise through US academia
Former University College Cork president Michael Murphy reflects on pandemic, Ukraine and Brussels experience as he prepares to step down from top of representative body
Ministers’ blueprint for Horizon alternative will be seen by Brussels as a ‘paper tiger’, warns Crick director
The rector of Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute takes charge of the world-leading medical school after the disruptions of a pandemic and an ethics scandal
Imperial president reflects on his institution’s role in UK growth and the importance of collaboration within Horizon Europe
In the wake of Jacinda Ardern’s and Nicola Sturgeon’s decisions to step down as leaders of their respective nations, university leaders and experts reflect on when is the right time to give up the biggest office on campus
When and how a leader’s tenure comes to an end can be down to many factors – what lessons can be learned from others who have served their time?
President of ‘leftist hotbed’ Wesleyan University reflects on run-ins with students and controversial efforts to increase intellectual diversity
Ex-Birmingham v-c and Hefce chief exec tells MPs that England’s regulator lacks skills needed to engage properly with universities
In National Apprenticeship Week, we talk to the vice-chancellor who kicked off a stellar career with an apprenticeship
After a tumultuous 2022, what will the new year bring for higher education? Some of the UK sector’s respected crystal-ball gazers offer their predictions for 2023
With hostility from the Home Office over international student numbers, membership of Horizon Europe slipping away and heavy demands placed on institutions by regulators, UK university staff will be wondering how 2023 will play out. Patrick McGhee and Emma Rees read the runes
It’s been a bleak year as war brought more pain to a world still shaken by the pandemic and other pressures. Universities will be glad to put it behind them
The University of Rural England’s wildly popular moggie mascot, Mr Tibbles, has disappeared and suspicion falls on the vice-chancellor. As the frenzy mounts, can our lovelorn hero save his reputation, his job, his relationship and perhaps even his mortal flesh in time for Christmas? John Gilbey tells the tale
The array of challenges facing universities and their leaders is daunting, with a broken funding system underpinning the pain in England
University of New England president explains his fearless approach to freedom of speech on campus, including the trans debate
Rising tensions between the West and China and Russia are being seen as an indication that internationalisation may have passed its peak. But are universities, as pre-eminently international institutions, feeling the tide turn? And how do their leaders feel about the challenge? Rosa Ellis reports
Encouraging students to embody their institution’s distinctive values will allow it to present a more rounded view of the true worth of higher education, says Claire Taylor
Evelyn Welch reflects on the legacy of slavery, preventing student suicides, and lessons for academia from her pop star daughter
As Sir Colin Campbell knew, an overseas footprint offers the long-term returns that universities are established for, say Christine Ennew and David Greenaway
New York University’s multiple sites around the world were instrumental in minimising Covid-related disruption, says Andrew Hamilton
A recent email by a UK vice-chancellor is a case study in how not to inspire people to go beyond the call of duty, say two management scholars
Compelling stories of how foreign-born founders drive economic prosperity are more likely to convince policymakers about the need to embrace overseas students, says Alice Gast, who recently stepped down as president of Imperial College London
Mamokgethi Phakeng describes journey from guilt over taking time out to learning to relax into a much-needed break
Backed by state government, an ambitious university-led initiative is aiming to restore the Ruhr Valley’s former industrial glory. John Morgan meets academics behind the experiment in driving regional renewal by building a reputation for world-class science
Students should be encouraged to tackle books, ideas or ways of thinking they may find distressing or offensive – but offering emotional support is important too, says Sussex’s new vice-chancellor, Sasha Roseneil
Universities should decide their funding needs based on their goals in teaching, research and outreach, say Nicolai Foss, Peter Klein and Phillip Nell
From admissions to outreach and student data collection, the undergraduate journey must be reviewed to narrow unacceptable social and educational inequalities, say Kim Hunter Reed and Ray Belton
The pandemic forced universities to rethink their digital strategies but bolder strategies for IT training and investment are still required, says Liz Bacon
The vice-chancellor of FLAME University in India discusses his agenda for reform, lessons learned from his alma mater and the importance of keeping employees happy
The University of Northampton’s outgoing vice-chancellor reflects on how lessons from punk rock led him to survive in academia and deliver one of UK higher education’s most ambitious campus projects. Jack Grove reports
A bitter feud between the head of one of Oxford’s grandest colleges and its dons made front-page news. As a new, internally recruited vice-chancellor prepares to take office, Jack Grove hears from both the dean at the centre of the dispute and those who are glad to see him gone
‘Unclear’ status of main UK science funder has led to slow decision-making, inefficiency and limited cross-disciplinary research, finds report
The University of Hull vice-chancellor explains how she simultaneously reduced costs and improved academic performance at the formerly under-threat institution
British Academy chief Julia Black says Treasury must urgently clarify stance on Horizon Europe and long-term backing for UK science
The Vassar College president discusses creating equitable partnerships, minimising resistance on campus and what higher education can learn from healthcare
The vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University discusses centralising spending, climbing up the rankings and leading the institution for almost 30 years
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor discusses the importance of role models for students, his approach to hiring top staff and how he has stayed in the role for 15 years
Humanities benefit individuals, societies and economies. They should be accessible to students from all backgrounds, says Neal Juster
The president of the University of Würzburg discusses the differences between the two systems, why he’s joined a European university alliance and the benefits of interdisciplinary working
The Princeton University president discusses the oversimplification of the free speech debate and his personal journey of discovery kicked off by his son’s school project
The Fujita Health University president discusses shrinking birth rates, Japan‘s medical school scandal and why more Japanese students should study abroad
