Overseas briefing

AustraliaInstitutions on the city limitsAbout 20 new out-of-town teaching universities will be needed to hit tough targets for higher student enrolment set by the Government's Review of Australian...

Removal of sceptic raises heat in the blogosphere

Controversy after university parts ways with a questioner of climate change. John Gill reports

Harvard's fund managers go as endowment shrinks

As the global economic crisis continues apace, Harvard University has announced that it will axe one in four staff from the company that manages its endowment fund.About 50 jobs in total are set to...

From Word 1, historical data will be accessible

Digital materials pose problems for archivists, but, Zoë Corbyn learns, they are meeting the challenge

Grant winners

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH RESEARCHThe NIHR's Health Technology Assessment programme produces independent research information on the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of healthcare...

What price excellence?

Geoffrey Crossick on the dialogue, evidence and strategy essential to preserving a world-class student experience

Departing with dignity: the ultimate palliative care is a true act of love

Gerontologist Malcolm Johnson once opposed assisted dying, but he now believes that the terminally ill should be given a choice

Cartoon by Ham

Hefce report warns over lack of funds for teaching

Study says financial pressure may erode sector's reputation for quality. Rebecca Attwood reports

The week in higher education

A report that said "white, well-off middle-class families still exert a stranglehold over the top universities" ruffled the feathers of a few vice-chancellors from new universities. The suggestion of...

Lift fees cap to help sector, Denham told

As university user groups report to the minister, John Chisholm calls for more competition and more industry involvement. Hannah Fearn reports

Southampton Solent reviews guidance as relationships turn ugly

Institution acts after students complain when affairs with staff sour, Melanie Newman writes

Charity guide criticised for not declaring GM interests

Sense About Science pamphlet failed to list contributors' links with industry. Zoë Corbyn reports

Home Secretary slammed for ecstasy 'meddling'

One of Britain's leading scientists has accused the Home Secretary of meddling with academic freedom after she ordered an independent adviser to apologise for an article in a peer-reviewed journal....

Imperial faces funding gap as merger takes toll

Imperial College London is bracing itself for a cut in funding when the research assessment exercise allocations are announced on 5 March.Although Imperial's potential losses will be mitigated by a £...