Today's news

Architecture reprieved
Cambridge's architecture department won a reprieve this week as the university authorities decided to restructure rather than close it completely. Six of the 17 academic staff will take early retirement or leave the department under changes agreed by Cambridge's ruling General Board on Wednesday. The department, which must cut costs by £200,000, was threatened with closure amid concerns over research quality. A new professor and lecturer will be appointed and research will focus on sustainable design, the university said. 
The Times Higher , The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent

Clearing may see deals on fees
Students who fail to make their A-level grades next year may be able to secure a university place for less money than students who perform better in the exams, it has emerged. Universities will be able to offer "bargain-basement deals" during the final clearing rush for degree places in 2006, despite fears that charging some students more for the same degrees would be unfair and would prompt complaints from undergraduates and parents. 
The Times Higher , The Times, The Financial Times

Universities 'turn out immoral and uncouth students'
A leading academic last night accused universities of turning out a generation of students who are uncouth and immoral. Steven Schwartz, vice-chancellor of Brunel University, said it was increasingly common for them to plagiarise work from others and to fail to pay back loans.
Daily Mail, Evening Standard

What are... corporate universities
Go on enlighten me, what is a corporate university?
The Times (Career)

How do I get rich? Get a degree
Entrepreneurs skip college to make billions while the rest of us serve fries to pay off out student loans; but generally, if you want to make money, it pays to study.
The Times (Career)

...Bad week
Anyone who thought that a science or engineering degree would deliver money and success has been duped.
The Times (Career)

Sheffield University hoping to transmute stem cells into gold
A company controlled by the University of Sheffield is seeking to raise £10m to fund the commercialisation of its academics' discoveries, ranging from stem-cell science to repairing severely burned skin.
The Guardian