Dubious punishment: Hefce's 'ultimate sanction' may prove empty threat

Critics doubt legality of regulatory framework’s disciplinary powers

Hefce leadership search enters interview phase

Hefce interviews for chief executive post: will a woman get the nod at last? John Morgan reports

Stern words for scholars in policy sphere

British Academy’s new president demands clarity and humility

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham - 18 July 2013

Gentlemen v Players

I am very puzzled that Geraldine Van Bueren thinks “an amateur event with no financial reward” is an argument that a sport is not elitist (“Making waves”, Opinion, 11 July). Amateurism at this level...

Consumer rights

My letter made John H. Arnold smile (“Contact assessment”, Letters, 11 July). His made me laugh. He argues that students are buying many hours of “notional contact” with their fees, which brings the...

Social equation

Both your interview with Michael Sandel (“Moneyball and chains”, 11 July) and Fred Inglis’ enthusiastic review of Arts of the Political (“Surging currents of resistance”, Books, 11 July) raise...

Regulated response

The Operating Framework for Higher Education in England, released on 11 July, sets out with admirable clarity practical proposals for holding things together now that plans for a Higher Education Act...

Disputed territory

Sir Howard Newby says that the University and College Union has “misrepresented” the current dispute at the University of Liverpool (“Standard terms, equal conditions”, Letters, 11 July). Regrettably...

Appeal to reason

Geoffrey Alderman should have checked his facts before delivering his opinion (“Darkness visible”, 11 July).I agree with him that Quality Assurance Agency reviews matter to providers, whether in...

A golden anniversary that does not glister

We should give two cheers, not three, for the 50th anniversary of the Robbins report (“Here’s to class act that challenged tyranny of class in admissions”, Opinion, 11 July).The report led to a...

Bond villain?

V-c warns of credit crunch over funding plan

And the brand played on

In India, the US, the UK and beyond, branding is an inescapable part of higher education, for good or ill

The week in higher education - 18 July 2013

University Challenge quizmaster Jeremy Paxman has entered the perennial “dumbing down” debate by claiming that today’s students are cleverer than their predecessors. Mr Paxman, who has hosted the BBC...

Surrey considered grade targets for staff appraisals

Plans were abandoned only after ‘extensive negotiations’ with union