Higher education leadership
After 13 years running Canterbury Christ Church University, Rama Thirunamachandran blames leaders’ ‘self-interest’ and government pressure for current ‘lose-lose’ funding model
With polls predicting defeat for Viktor Orbán in Sunday’s elections there are hopes that controversial governance reforms – copied by Donald Trump and other populist politicians – will be abolished. Yet not all scholars are convinced that reversing a decade of contested legislation criticised for restricting academic freedom would be straightforward, says Seher Asaf
New leader of top business school believes it has been ‘underselling’ itself and needs to show its worth in world buffeted by Trump, AI and continued questioning of MBAs
Female early career scholars found to be ‘largely absent’ from higher-level governance structures in many European countries
Agricultural and environmental research lose out, as scientists criticise ‘dangerous confusion’ of government’s switch to ‘smarter investment’
Vice-chancellor Wendy Thomson has been suspended for 10 months but institutions’ concerns stretch back much further than that
New president of leading Singaporean arts college discusses how creative industries are helping cities grow and importance of thinking differently and impact of moving into federated model
Institution faces growing backlash following media reports about allegations of bullying and harassment
Experts welcome milestone from THE analysis as ‘cause for cautious celebration’
Under-fire Charles Darwin University decides to concentrate on core business after resignation of vice-chancellor
Konstantin Novoselov to lead Constructor University in Bremen
Lauded bench scientist-turned-administrator Anne Kelso reflects on gender balance, ‘keeping it real’ and why she left her ‘happy place in the lab’
Sudden departure of Scott Bowman follows outcry over issues in dual-sector university’s training arm
New leader of the University of Washington warns job has become ‘more challenging than it has ever been’
Pastoral pragmatism reigns as Dunedin’s returning students let their hair down for infamous ‘Flo-Week’
Failure to use biological sex as ‘basic variable’ will make research ‘weaker and less reliable’, says City St George’s head Anthony Finkelstein
Quarter of UK universities changing vice-chancellors after several retire and some forced out, with experts predicting continuing challenges mean churn at the top will only continue
Outpouring of grief, love and laughs at commemoration ceremony for leader who was ‘still in the making’
New president of Canada’s largest university hails renewed sense of purpose as nation takes leading role on world stage
Resignation follows series of scandals involving academics at the leading institution
Institutions looking to conclude long-running searches for new presidents likely to favour candidates who can stay out of the limelight, experts predict
Former leader returns to the role following the death of the university’s first female vice-chancellor, Emma Johnston, from cancer complications
Vice-chancellor Dave Phoenix tells THE that focus should be on using partnerships to deliver for city and UK, not switching to face-to-face education on new campus
Professors from UCL and Plymouth Marjon University receive damehoods, while four vice-chancellors commended
Marine ecologist remembered for ‘unwavering commitment’ to students and work advocating for science and research
Facing a £12 million deficit and a beloved but underutilised rural campus, former barrister who led murder cases says she took lessons from legal career when attempting to modernise an institution with Victorian-age origins
Funding must be part of the conversation, crossbench senators warn, as final report of Australian governance inquiry published
Cardiff’s January announcement of plans to cut 400 academic jobs and close several departments prompted a media firestorm that heaped opprobrium on its vice-chancellor. But she also received lots of quiet support for her efforts to put the university back on an even financial keel, she tells Chris Havergal
Nuclear physicist departs next spring having set up first branch campus in India
Serial reviewer and interim higher education steward to head governing body of sunshine state’s sandstone university
Washington University in St Louis chancellor warns that universities need to be more self-critical when engaging with politicians
In wide-ranging interview, crisis-hit university’s interim principal admits further redundancies are ‘uncomfortable’ for ministers and acknowledges ‘moral hazard’ of £62 million bailout
Departing vice-chancellor of Middlesbrough institution crowned University of the Year discusses riot aftermath, serving a deprived area and the importance of ‘learning gain’
Africa’s flagship university may have escaped the arson that has blighted some South African campuses but its research prowess could have gone up in smoke earlier this year when Donald Trump began slashing research funding, Cape Town’s vice-chancellor tells Jack Grove
Swinburne’s Pollaers reportedly asked for more money while confronting governance inquiry fuelled by resentment over overpaid leaders
Innovation expert who previously held senior roles at RMIT back Down Under after four-year stint in West Midlands
Governments leaning on agencies to convert autonomous institutions into ‘strategic national asset’ but face task like ‘herding cats’
Universities are ‘defined by who we fight for’ and can win back social licence by focusing on students, Australian vice-chancellor argues
However turbulent our times become, our responsibility as scholars and citizens alike is to keep that search for truth alive, says Bill Flanagan
Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University was founded only 15 years ago but it is already the region’s leading higher education institution. But that is far from the limit of its ambitions, its new president, Waqar Ahmad, tells Chris Havergal
Newly appointed vice-chancellor wants to embrace university’s interdisciplinary heritage while managing financial pressures
Institution’s provost also gains access to on-campus residence after stepping up to replace former leader who left amid funding crisis
Four factors are demanding a radical strategic rethink at universities in Australia and around the world, says Massimo Garbuio
Homecoming of sorts for criminologist Paul Mazerolle, who faces challenge of returning institution to surplus
Bosnian-born president of University of Connecticut says her unusual academic career shows how US promotes outsiders like no other country
Knowledge transfer should include the university itself, says thinktank after identifying disconnect between managers and those who study them
Former politician not for turning, amid denunciation of culture, oversight and spending at national university
New chief executive of Advance HE discusses university finances, EDI pressures and plans to pivot body from ‘development to transformation’ agency
Expat Ian Findlay says his fourth retirement will be his last. Before that, his task is to ‘transform’ the breeding ground of Papuan prime ministers
Sutton Trust research finds university leaders more representative of the general population than other professions including judges and diplomats
Frances Corner, the first woman to lead Goldsmiths, will leave her role as vice-chancellor after period of job cuts and restructuring
Donna Whitehead warns university leaders must be candid with staff as sector’s financial crisis endures
The retirement of arguably the UK’s most politically adept university leader leaves big boots to fill. The Glasgow principal talks to Jack Grove about 40 years of sectoral evolution, his thoughts on Scottish university funding and his concerns about the now-paused changes to the 2029 REF
Political campaign against ‘damaging’ v-c highlights tension between obligations to constituents and respect for institutional autonomy
Social licence ‘more fragile than people realise’ in a world where populism rules, science diplomat warns
UK universities have no need to oversell their benefits to individuals or societies, but they do need to demonstrate an ability to foster both free speech and civil disagreement – while carefully navigating their ‘slightly nerve-racking’ reliance on overseas students, UCL’s provost tells Chris Havergal
Outgoing rector of University of Oslo says culture of openness changed into one dominated by national priorities during his eight years in charge of Norway’s top-ranked institution
Under-fire national university says union has never flagged ‘any systemic issues of underpayments’ as it faces fresh allegations of governance failures
Chancellor insists she acted with ‘respect, courtesy and civility’, amid claims of intimidation and bullying
Incoming McMaster head Susan Tighe says record number of women at the top represents ‘important change’
