Academic life

Investing in UK science may be cheaper after Brexit but the true cost to innovation system remains to be seen, says Holly Else

New study into medieval universities describes how paupers studied alongside the elite despite financial barriers

Look to Canada and northern Europe for lessons on reducing inequality, says Simon Marginson

Editors of journals should face ‘negligence’ investigations over extensive delays, suggests a new paper

We talk about the social responsibilities of universities, crime scene investigation and attracting talent to the North East of England with the vice-chancellor of the University of Cumbria

Has scholarly pessimism helped fuel anti-expert rhetoric? Panglossian we are not, but when hope fails, there’s humour, says Shahidha Bari

Nobel laureate Sir Angus Deaton on why he signed an anti-Trump petition, and why universities are partly to blame for Trump’s rise

But some academics suggest move would harm US universities and scholars ‘who desperately need support’ 

Some scholars are already planning to boycott conferences and meetings in the US in response to Donald Trump’s executive order

We talk about mathematical misconceptions, public engagement and lecturing with tigers with the recent winner of the Euler Book Prize

Jeffrey Beall’s blacklist of predatory publishers has disappeared, and so too should ideas about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ journals, argues Martin Parker

Universities need to open up communication channels to help retain women in science, says study

Lecturer Rachel Moss on the casualties of a demanding academic culture

Universities need to adapt to stay relevant, says Gordon Redding

Universities need to adapt career paths to accommodate scientists who tap into different fields, says research

List creator to now pursue ‘new areas of research’

Overall higher education staff headcount up 2 per cent, new data reveal

Existentialism may now seem more relevant to philosophy undergraduates, but a woeful John Kaag shares their mood of blank despair 

Some universities in Germany are using extra cash to create elite flagship courses, says study

Scholars are ‘doing as much as they can’ to promote critical thinking among students despite suppression of liberal thought, study claims

We talk student protests, forgotten heroes and lessons from history with Northwestern University’s next provost

A leading exploration geologist has died

University of Bath’s Glynis Breakwell and other vice-chancellors are facing criticism from staff and students over pay increases

James McCrostie was shocked to discover the extent of ‘predatory conferences’, but even more shocked by those abetting them

Typography expert’s rules for making messages easier to read elicit both praise and claims of pedantry

Attributes of top scientists mapped in new paper

Seven scholars relate how they stepped back or stepped in as they saw fit, while one contributor’s daughter describes the flip side

Fellow scholars pay tribute to the thinker who transformed our understanding of the contemporary world with his concept of ‘liquid modernity’ 

From giving up Bremoaning and plastic cutlery, to publishing 10 papers in one year and sketchnoting, scholars share their goals for 2017

From respect and metrics to mistakes and biscuits, management scholar John Hendry offers advice

Keep it brief, tailor to the job requirements and do not mention your hobbies. Our panel of top university administrators offer some tips on how to write a top-notch CV

The Olympian and chancellor of Oxford Brookes University talks about camaraderie between athletes, competition in the HE sector, and how her academic and athletic careers have complemented each other

Universities should be providing students with the skills to understand and handle media manipulation, say academics behind a new study

Education adviser to president says ‘lifetime affiliation’ to universities could be model for future learning

Analysis casts doubt on fears that ‘publish or perish’ culture undermines quality

Comic strips present a rich, varied – and surprising – picture of life on campus, researchers have found, but also may explain prejudices

We talk to the new chancellor of Bath Spa University about censorship, Brideshead Revisited and why campuses should be a place for outrage

Research-intensive universities may not be matching rhetoric with actions on teaching support

Chances are you’ll get at least a bit of ‘spam dressed as lamb’ this Christmas

Study into the experiences of universities’ top teaching faculty is revealing about the real priorities, says Holly Else

Although the term still resonates with scholars, it means less and less in today’s academy, says Bruce Macfarlane

Jack Grove asks whether Father Christmas could learn from recent ‘Santa studies’ research

The most popular Times Higher Education stories of the last year revealed

Glen Wright reveals the best #AcademicsWithCats of 2016

A leading expert on corporate crime and social responsibility, who also wrote extensively about the funny side of the law, has died

Mark Readman offers a guide to help selfish academics ensure that everyone at a conference knows they are very special indeed

Our panel of leading university administrators explain how applicants should approach a meeting of this kind at their institution

The incoming dean of arts and humanities at UCL speaks about tuition fees, snobbery in film studies and making Margaret Thatcher likeable

Off to an academic conference? Helena Ledmyr offers some tricks to getting the most out of attending a scholarly gathering

Provost says institution 'must do better' as independent researchers find focus on excellence has had 'negative impact' alongside top results

New analysis suggests university offers should take greater account of where students went to school

Key recommendation of Stern review is adopted to help reduce workload for institutions

Many early career researchers have ‘not gone to the library for years’, according to report

Lincoln Allison, Eric Thomas and Richard Larschan reflect on the ‘next phase’ of the scholarly life

Junior academics can access services without physically visiting premises, writes Holly Else

Physical stores on and off campus are facing down threats such as Amazon’s Berkeley book ‘hangar’ by evolving, argues Andrew Thacker

We talk with the new president of the European University Institute about the politicisation of British universities, being a European citizen (whether you like it or not) and having no regrets

Landmark exhibition explained the significance of university research to the public