A more equal relationship

Tanya Ovenden-Hope welcomes the Leitch report's model for higher education provision in further education colleges

It's horses for courses when you want a real sense of track record

Peer review is no more or less subjective than metrics in measuring research quality. We abandon it at our peril, says Claire Donovan

These directions map out a one-way road into service, not open inquiry

The AHRC is so aligned with the government agenda of impact and knowledge transfer that it betrays its very raison d'etre, Peter Barry argues

Cartoon by Ham

The week in higher education

Barack Obama's stratospheric rise from political obscurity to the White House is well documented, but now his influence might go beyond earthly boundaries. John Holdren, the US president's chief...

'Big Brother'-style plan to track grant winners' output

Research councils assert 'right' to see evidence of what is produced with their cash. Zoë Corbyn writes

Downturn sees senior management reject pay rises

Vice-chancellors and other senior managers from at least eight universities have chosen to forgo their annual pay rises.

Ebdon defends sector's student visa methods

Accusations that universities have been complicit in the exploitation of the student visa system by bogus applicants have been rejected by a leading vice-chancellor.Last week, police arrested 12 men...

Out-of-touch academy is unfit for grant role, says former fellow

British Academy must change age profile or lose public money, philosopher argues. John Gill writes

Researcher shortage could mean empty plates

Agricultural research in the UK could face a serious skills shortage at a time when the world is struggling to ensure that it can feed the human population.The warning comes from the Royal Society,...

Strike threat as pay offer is non-forthcoming

The spectre of strike action over pay has been raised by the University and College Union.On 8 April, Sally Hunt, secretary general of the UCU, wrote to all university heads after the first meeting...

Brush up your writing skills if you want to get published

Well-written academic papers are far more likely to pass editorial scrutiny. Matthew Reisz reports

News in brief

Economic downturnCumbria scoops £1m grantThe University of Cumbria has emerged as the biggest grant winner from the Higher Education Funding Council for England's £25 million Economic Challenge...

Medical students need live patients

Training needs to move out of lectures and on to the wards, GMC head says. Melanie Newman reports

Daytime TV: Excess baggage

Gary Day on Henry VIII's appetite, the malaise of teenage drunkenness and pro-anorexia websites