Vice-chancellor/principal

Shutting off the talent pipeline into the creative industries risks the UK’s reputation for creativity and its potential for growth, says Anne Carlisle

The pandemic highlighted UK creative industries’ innovative capacity. Public research spending choices should reflect that, says Andrew Thompson

The quality of universities’ statements in the wake of Atlanta’s mass shooting correlates with their curricula, say Charles Crabtree and Yusaku Horiuchi

Bosses of private institutions that collect millions of pounds from student loans have received generous share and dividend awards

It is not in the interests of institutions with high-quality provision to offer courses that fall short of the mark, says OfS chair Lord Wharton 

Dharmendra Pradhan faces an uphill struggle to implement the new National Education Policy, says Mukhtar Ahmad

England’s free speech bill should outlaw gag orders that stifle revelations of bad practice, says an anonymous author 

It will take real courage to unpack the failures of leaders over the past year, but there are important lessons to be learned, says Patrick Sanaghan

Pride Month may be over but inclusion needs year-round commitment that goes beyond noisy and colourful gestures, says Karen Lambert

The University of California’s decision to back away from the SAT and ACT will only further benefit privileged applicants, says Matt Larriva

A post-qualification applications system is the best way to ensure equity in admissions, says Sasha Roseneil

With a vast youth population but relatively low participation rates, higher education in the Asean region looks ripe for expansion. But can challenges over funding, quality and regional cooperation be overcome? Joyce Lau reports 

Initiatives on mental health and sexual harassment are welcome, but racial discrimination also demands greater attention, says David Mba

As the government moves left on economics and right on culture, institutions must show the depth and breadth of their impact, says Sir Chris Husbands

Government, enterprise and education must contribute to a multi-pronged, long-term programme to boost social mobility, says Anulika Ajufo

Universities are anxious to meet social priorities, but new demands must be properly resourced, say Jo Angouri and Jan Palmowski

Perhaps, says Duncan Angwin – but probably not with an institution of similar size and standing, and not without long-term staff buy-in

Tributes paid to Brown University and Carnegie Corporation president: ‘a man of the world who inspired the world’

Non-disclosure agreements that silence staff or students should be banned, says Mark Geoghegan

Covid has only widened gender inequalities among researchers, data show

Outreach with less prestigious and rural institutions vital, sector leaders say

Neither the Equality Act nor campus groups’ good sense will circumvent the duty to give a platform to anyone who wants one, says David Renton

As post-92 departments close, non-traditional students and scholars risk being shut out – again, says Panikos Panayi

Making campuses sustainable will help limit future climate change but won’t protect against current threats, say Frank Fernandez and Hilary Coulson

European Commission says it has heard pleas for more long-term funding, and is considering allowing extra universities to join existing alliances

When the country embarks on recovery from its brutal second Covid wave, public spending on universities is unlikely to be a priority, says Pushkar 

Politicians developing the European Research Area must grasp how new knowledge comes about – and what it can do, says Jan Palmowski

Doing everything by the book makes it easy for opponents to plan ahead. So shake them up a bit, says Marcia Devlin

Even in a post-pandemic era of STEM and vocational education, the study of history must remain an option for all, says Sir Keith Burnett

Country’s excellence strategy has pushed German universities to dial back rivalry and instead coordinate their research plans

Visa reform would offset declining domestic enrolments, spread US values and give students the education they want, says Kent Devereaux

The opportunity exists to reimagine the UK’s post-18 education system in a way that will improve society as well as the economy, says Susan Lea

Churches’ grip on former religious teacher training colleges is incompatible with their remit as publicly funded universities, says Keith Sharpe

The sacking of the Higher Education Commission’s chair provides an opportunity to rethink the organisation's entire rationale, says Tahir Shah

With wealth and donations becoming concentrated in ever fewer, ever more influential hands, and with some institutions languishing while the elite flourish, Paul Basken asks whether it is time for American colleges and universities to start biting the hand that feeds   

Institutions band together at Tsinghua event to address climate change and other crises

A decline in admissions standards suggests that foreign outposts will have to up their marketing game, says Hongqing Yang

Book sets out to challenge the simplistic and divisive thinking to be found in disciplines as diverse as economics and literary studies

Online teaching could have been much better if institutions had previously taken a communal approach to digital evolution, says Doug Specht

Restrictions are rare, but the Russell Group is putting its commitment to the open and rigorous contestation of ideas beyond doubt, says Tim Bradshaw

Action is clearly needed to shore up the USS, but the trustee needs to be more flexible, says Alistair Jarvis

The woeful environmental record of the UK’s research-intensive universities illustrates a lack of leadership and incentives to cut emissions, says Bill Spence

The UK has an ambitious R&D road map but the necessary steps must be taken by politicians and funding bodies, says Andrew Thompson

Three countries even received double-digit increases in 2020, but with so much new government debt, some fear cuts could be in store further down the line

The pandemic experience shows universities of all kinds are willing to be partners for policy delivery, says Debra Humphris

Nearby communities are the priority – but impact is maximised via universities’ crucial global networks, says Dawn Freshwater

Research is for public benefit. The UK’s next deal with Elsevier must accelerate the abolition of journal paywalls, says Paul Boyle

The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities added to the scepticism but, done properly, training makes a difference, say Jules Holroyd and Jennifer Saul

Attempts to impose the IHRA definition have prompted the formulation of an alternative that respects academic freedom, says Bahram Bekhradnia

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Covid-19 have buried the idea that learning for learning’s sake is enough, says Nancy Gleason

Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s resignation from Ashoka underlines that financial autonomy doesn’t remove fear of government anger, says Saikat Majumdar

With overseas enrolments hitting the buffers during the pandemic, debate rages over whether higher education’s excessive reliance on this income stream is self-inflicted – and how universities can keep themselves on the financial rails in future. John Ross reports

The cuts will hit organisations helping women and girls to evade violence and access justice, say Christine Chinkin and Sanam Naraghi Anderlini

Minister behind gender equality plan reflects on influx of female university presidents ahead of Trinity College Dublin’s provost election

As physical retail declines, universities can keep high streets vibrant by moving into vacated shops, says Matthew Andrews 

Partnerships are vital in addressing global problems, sector leaders say

The shortfall will damage the UK’s reputation and halt projects that are making a real difference to communities worldwide, says Joanna Newman

Amid the economic ravages inflicted by the coronavirus, the EU has agreed a huge stimulus package. But while research in some countries looks set for a transformational boost, it may be a different story for teaching

The promise of the new lifelong learning loan allowance is undermined by the insistence on separate and impermeable tracks, says Tim Blackman

Trusting in the continuing power of prestige to open employers’ doors is a dangerous strategy, say Alejandro Caballero and Sean Gallagher