Better education can help science deliver for democracy amid populism

Across schools and universities, students must be taught how the scientific method reveals workable policy options – not diktats, says Peter Calow

Use of fixed-term posts ‘stifling more critical research’

Scholars with short contracts seen as more likely to favour doing ‘safer’ work, with ‘serious ramifications’ for their disciplines

Improve working conditions to get SFC funding, universities told

Scottish institutions made to address workplace inequalities and zero-hours contracts as condition of receiving grants

Union brands London Met cuts an ‘act of institutional vandalism’

University’s plan to cut more than 100 academic roles puts its reputation for inclusive education at risk, fears UCU

Bursaries only for full-time students ‘discriminatory’

Inclusion worker challenges institutions whose scholarship programmes are not open to all after missing out on place on master’s

China aims for ‘quality’ overseas students with admissions exam

Experts say introduction of compulsory test for all undergraduate courses shows country’s shifting approach to internationalisation

Vice-chancellors under pressure from OfS to cut China ties

Leaders face grilling from free speech director amid concerns about Chinese government-backed scholarships

Academics turn to TikTok in search of new ways of engaging public

Scholars with large followings on app say it is a good way to change misconceptions about what they do

Humanities cuts leave us defenceless in the age of AI

It is vital to examine what chatbots’ behaviour reveals about their underlying structures – and human responses to them, says Agnieszka Piotrowska

Justices consider state laws banning trans women in sports

Scottish budget promises £55 million extra for universities

SNP announces ‘real terms’ funding uplift pre-election but universities say extra money not enough to combat financial challenges

Researchers may be forced to rely on a court you’ve never heard of

‘Shrinking talent pool’ for leadership vacancies amid US turmoil

Institutions looking to conclude long-running searches for new presidents likely to favour candidates who can stay out of the limelight, experts predict

‘Serious failings’ in UK security checks on researchers

Syrian scholar stopped from seeing dying father among those affected by long waits for clearance, says MP Wendy Chamberlain