Vice-chancellor/principal

Technological know-how and compassion key in the post-Covid era, leaders say

Ron Daniels told Times Higher Education summit that fears that elite universities remain inaccessible have hit trust in science

But unlike in the spring, not all countries are taking a blanket approach, and there are louder concerns about the mental impact on students

The vast majority of university staff and students are hoping that Joe Biden’s predicted win comes to pass in next week’s presidential election. But with the nation’s finances reeling from Covid-19 and its political fabric fraying in the partisan tug of war, how much would really change, asks Paul Basken 

Done properly, teaching in front of a webcam is more effective than teaching from behind a visor, says an anonymous academic

The BJP’s permeation of every aspect of higher education will hamper India’s ambitions to be a world leader in research and innovation, says Aditya Sharma

Living in a parallel universe of perfect systems and obedient citizens could blow up in vice-chancellors’ faces like Chernobyl, warns Craig Brandist 

The economics are murky but the damage that closing departments will do to universities’ missions is crystal clear, says Peter Tregear

Chinese universities’ pursuit of excellence with socialist characteristics aims to put them in the company of Harvard and Oxford, says Futao Huang

Those temporarily plucked from the academic ranks would have no motivation or ability to wreak havoc and then move on, argues Bruce Krajewski

Universities must accept a level of risk and implement measures to minimise the transmission of infections, says Andrew Lee 

The Netherlands’ cautious, common approach to teaching during the pandemic contrasts with the full reopenings planned by many UK and US universities. But what will students get out of it? And is even 20 per cent campus capacity sustainable? David Matthews travels to the Netherlands to talk to the key players

As Australia pivots to local concerns, university leaders flag importance of international students beyond just their fees 

Recent attacks on high-profile scholars by government and by a university executive should give us pause, say Christopher Vaughan and Daniel Ncayiyana

Government should ‘pump in’ more resources for online infrastructure to address inequality, expert says

A large ongoing survey at King’s College London is informing the institution’s approach to Covid-19, say Gabriella Bergin-Cartwright and Sharon Stevelink

Jean-Eric Paquet warns that on open data, research collaboration and academic mobility, EU-China links are not always reciprocal

We must move away from small-scale mitigation efforts and think on a larger scale about how to radically revamp teaching and research, says Joy Carter

The modern university should be an honest broker who sets self-interest aside and works for the common good across all areas of its activity, says Sally Kift

The readers’ editors employed by some quality newspapers offer a model for how to protect and promote universities’ core values, argues Priya Rajasekar

It’s been 26 years since apartheid ended, yet South African campuses were convulsed by protests against racism and inequitable university access as recently as four years ago. Much progress has clearly been made – but is it enough? Ellie Bothwell reports

UK science minister hits out at ‘spurious’ research metrics and ‘publish or perish’ lab culture

Cost transparency isn’t in universities’ DNA, but those who teach and design modules must be able to apply a clear budgetary model, says Terry Young

To navigate the pandemic, organisations need a frank review of their competencies, at both senior management and board level, says Michael Hartmann

It makes no economic sense for job-retention schemes to postpone the inevitable, says Paul Oslington

Mamokgethi Phakeng says universities often ‘part of the machine’ that perpetuates white privilege and exploitation of Global South

A coalition of US universities is freely sharing technology and intellectual property related to coronavirus, but this approach must not stop at the pandemic, writes Moo Hwan Kim

Those planning new universities might think that a good institution will attract top staff wherever it is located. But is the quality of the environment beyond the ivory tower really so insignificant – and has the pandemic changed the calculus? Paul Jump runs through our survey results

University teaching will change as a result of the forced switch to online, but in-person interactions will still have enduring value, argues Rebecca Blank

Economic revival in the wake of the pandemic will require all sections of society to play their part, says Janet Beer

Covid-19 offers universities a chance to accelerate the transition towards a more digital, open and inclusive research environment, says Cisca Wijmenga

International collaborations should focus on building institutions rather than individuals, say Adam Habib and Imraan Valodia

The pandemic has shown how public investment in research and healthcare pays off, argues Ana Mari Cauce

The loss of international income makes the improvement of universities’ online offerings all the more urgent

Obliging women to adopt ‘male’ characteristics is not just unfair – it also impoverishes university management, says Corinne Houart

Even with a rock-star border collie on side, allowing students to flock back takes careful planning, says Neil Quigley

India’s National Education Policy aims to establish a seamless connectivity between humanities and science, says Rup Narayan Das

System consolidation, regulatory simplification and undergraduate flexibility are positive steps, says Pushkar

Sustainable changes in digital learning will result from best practice alongside bold experimentation, say Friedrich Hesse, Volker Meyer-Guckel, Bitange Ndemo, Alexandros Papaspyridis, Rahim Rajan and Suzanne Walsh

Academics may wish we weren’t here, but burying heads in the sand about the depth of the deficit is no longer viable, says Bernard Casey

Universities and colleges are having to promise physical classes to protect enrolments, says Joseph Guarneri

University leaders laud overseas collaboration, but express concern about ineffective communication back home

Most institutions say they will take Erasmus+ students in the autumn, with Swiss universities universally open, while the UK and Netherlands are more closed

Sexual violence at the student level is being addressed, but what about when the perpetrator is a member of staff, asks Heather Savigny

Higher education is no panacea, but critical thinking is the best antidote to inequality, say Chris Cunningham and Colin Samson

Stilted and unengaging Zoom lectures must not be allowed to become the new normal, says Nuria López

Appointing Sir Steve Smith to spearhead the UK’s strategy could see Australia lose ground, warns Tim Dunne

The recent lockdowns highlighted the strains in student housing provision in several countries. As students puzzle over why their universities have so little power to extract refunds from private providers for unused accommodation, Anna McKie asks whether it is time for some rewiring of the system   

Daily tweets, cake baking and discussion of James Bond film titles have all helped keep Anthony Smith sane

Horizon Europe will receive only a tiny fraction of an unprecedented €750 billion pandemic recovery package

Widening eligibility for the new round of the initiative would accelerate the balanced development of global higher education in China, says Li Qingquan

Two years ago, universities claimed to be selling the student experience. So where are our lockdown refunds, asks Maria Magdalena Gajewska

Legal challenges may succeed, but US universities must plan how to maintain physical classes come what may to avoid mass deportations, says Brian Wong

If universities don’t commit to underwriting a riskier investment strategy, pension contributions will have to rise sharply, says Bill Galvin

Female representation in Asian academia’s senior ranks is low by international standards. There are some encouraging signs that the situation is being addressed, but might the disproportionate effect of the Covid-19 lockdowns on women undo the good work? Joyce Lau reports

Latin American university leaders tell THE summit that countries will need skills of non-science graduates as they recover from coronavirus

The cash injection announced by the government last week is the most ambitious plan of its kind Ed Byrne has seen in 40 years

Universities are in a powerful position to help societies address history in a way that informs the present and shapes the future, says Andrew Thompson

Volatility has become part of university managers’ new normal, but the effort won’t quickly become wasted, says David LeFevre

The government and universities are not doing enough to protect their students from the effects of the lockdown, says Futao Huang