Politics

It is “perfectly possible” to fund the government’s plan to abolish the student numbers cap by selling off graduate debt, David Willetts has claimed.

A leading activist has called on the academic community to do far more “to help promote and defend human rights”.

Controversial passage removed pending review as prime minister intervenes

The government’s plan to fund extra student numbers by selling loans omits billions of pounds in lost repayments, the chancellor has admitted.

Universities UK has published legal advice which backs its controversial guidance on the segregation of men and women at campus events.

The government’s claim it can fully fund extra student places by selling loans is “wrong”, according to the MP in charge of examining public accounts.

Following student protests, government mulls a sector report calling for change. Cyrille Cartier writes

Legislation a must after scrapping of student quotas

Admissions standards have fallen to balance budgets, Adelaide chief argues

Academics and students unite in condemnation of ‘violent’ crackdown on sit-ins and demonstrations

As long as applicants fulfil language, qualifications and maintenance criteria, ‘they are welcome’, says BIS spokeswoman

Martin Hall considers the legacy of academic values left by South Africa’s first black president

Russell Group critical of abolition of student numbers cap

How big a role did scholars play in abolition of heinous system?

The Treasury’s stated plan to fund expansion in student places by the sale of loans omits £1.7 billion in lost repayments arising from the sell off.

Sir Adrian Smith suggests protesters wanted police involved to generate ‘headlines’

Shadow universities minister delivers vision for sector in first major speech

Universities are to work with the government to appoint Muslim chaplains to “challenge extremist views” on campus.

The plan to fund extra student places by selling the student loan book is “nonsense” in economic terms, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Yesterday’s announcement that student number controls are to be abolished has attracted comment from all quarters. Here is a round-up of responses:

Universities across the UK have been paying tribute to Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, who has died at the age of 95.

The Russell Group has attacked the government’s decision to abolish student number caps, warning of a potential decline in quality.

The government will abolish the cap on student numbers “altogether” the year after next, George Osborne has announced

David Willetts has “lost control” of his department’s budget in “spectacular fashion”, according to his Labour counterpart Liam Byrne.

The government has been warned by a leading peer not to cut the science and research budget in today’s autumn statement.

Shadow universities minister also vows to tackle overseas recruitment barrier

Global coalition advocates ‘insulation’ against state and non-state actors

Times Higher Education poll finds few bans in place as UUK guidance elicits criticism

The state is confronting student protest with an iron fist while promising to relax its grip on the academy. Jack Grove reports from the country

The latest student occupation of Bramber House at the University of Sussex has ended after seven nights.

Social mobility could be harmed if cuts of £45 million are focused on the so-called “widening participation premium”, a new study says

The government has suspended all funding for overseas EU students at private colleges, and for Bulgarians and Romanians at public universities.

The government has suspended 23 private colleges from the publicly-funded loans system after a surge in their student numbers.

Britain’s poorest students are set to lose bursaries and other support worth £100 million next year after ministers fast-tracked planned cuts.

Ministers have been accused of “industrial scale incompetence” after a damning report on student loans was released by the public spending watchdog

‘Uncontrolled’ growth in HNCs and HNDs may lead to university retrenchment

Ourania Filippakou and Ted Tapper consider whether they are heading for extinction

Bahram Bekhradnia warns of the clear and present dangers facing the UK academy

Coalition government policy to create a market in higher education has pushed England’s sector into “a terrible muddle, unmatched in the world”.

An independent Scotland would seek to continue to share research councils with the remainder of the UK, a new blueprint for independence has said.

Universities UK warns rights of religious speakers could be “curtailed unlawfully” if institutions insist on mixed seating

Business secretary talks of ‘significant advance’ in college higher learning

Peers criticise ‘ad hoc’ spending announcements on infrastructure

Julia Droeber is humbled by the courage of everyday resistance

Corruption in the academy is being challenged by a ‘clean universities’ ranking and the power of press coverage, says Alina Mungiu-Pippidi

The Economics of Higher Education network aims to highlight neglected areas of economic research on the sector

‘Parliament of dons’ bypassed in decision-making process

New shadow wants ‘much stronger paths’ between sectors, conference hears

David Willetts has confirmed that public spending on students at private providers trebled this year.

Film shows how Indian students successfully navigated the process

The Green Party is organising protests across the country against plans to sell off the student loan book.

UCU protests over sacking of free speech champion

Feargal Sharkey tells GuildHE conference of hits, myths and the cost of ‘free’ in the Mooc era

Scrapped mission group was close to high-profile rebrand

Losing on the political stage has prompted public intellectual to change how he teaches

Vince Cable has criticised the “qualification inflation” that means entrants to “very standard” professions such as nursing require a degree.

The immigration minister has accused universities of creating “a self-fulfilling prophecy for bad news” on student visas

“Right-on” lecturers and student campaigns cited as among the reasons, Commons event hears

Scotland risks losing its thriving research base if it becomes independent, analysis by Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has claimed

The 1994 Group of small research-intensive universities has decided to disband 19 years after being set up.