Today's news

Treasury starts to rank business schools
The Treasury, custodian of statistics on public finance, economic indicators and taxation, is branching out into the unlikely area of business school rankings. It has published on its website a list of what it considers to be the world's 50 top MBA programmes, ranking Harvard Business School in the US number one. Graduates from the 50 schools will be entitled to work in the UK for up to 12 months after completing their MBA programmes by bypassing the usual visa requirements.
Financial Times

Wales fears fee student influx
Welsh universities fear that they will be inundated with English students avoiding top-up fees, which could cost the country hundreds of millions of pounds.
Times

Study looks to US model for fundraising
Universities could raise millions of pounds in extra revenue from the private sector if they introduced US-style fundraising techniques, according to a report published today. The research, sponsored by the Sutton Trust, calls on ministers to match private donations to encourage alumni and big donors to hand over money to universities.
Guardian

Exeter faces legal fight over closures
Exeter University could face a legal challenge if its ruling council, which meets today, decides to press ahead with plans to scrap its chemistry and music departments. (See Times Higher , December 17).
Guardian

From the weekend papers

University chiefs have warned that more than 100 arts and science departments are at risk of closure after being starved of research funds. Sunday Times

The student newspaper at St Andrews has been shut down after making a light-hearted joke at the expense of the Welsh. Sunday Telegraph

Of the 17 per cent of students who drop out the vast majority quit in the first year. Mail on Sunday

The Conservatives have warned Ruth Kelly that charging £3,000 for postgraduate teacher training courses could jeopardise uptake. Guardian