Throwing a spanner in the text
Physicist Alan Sokal was unconvinced by the abstractions of cultural studies. So he sent a spoof article to the discipline's leading US journal couched in the right jargon but, at heart, utter...
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One rule for the old and another for the new
There is one aspect of the Harris review of postgraduate work (THES, May 17) that seems to have gone almost unnoticed: the proposal to "freeze" the proportion of taught postgraduate students at...
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What some might say
The second report of the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life recommended that, where confidentiality clauses in severance agreements were "absolutely necessary", those signing them should be...
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French fear genes release
French researchers are spearheading an initiative to get governments and international organisations to impose a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the...
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Ecology unit eyes freedom
Edinburgh University's radical Centre for Human Ecology is considering re-establishing itself as a "Free University of Scotland" following its effective closure by the university court. The centre,...
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Survey highlights Britain's pluses and minuses
The United Kingdom outshines five international competitors at producing highly-qualified professionals, according to a survey by the Institute of Employment Studies. But the proportion of the...
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Viking hell
Better not let the Government know, but Dundee University's European studies department organised a highly successful bash to celebrate European Day earlier this month. Hundreds of visitors turned up...
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Ministers: minister
Scientists are entitled to feel gloomy this week: many years of work went bang on Tuesday and will take years to recover. But this week's report on research equipment (page 6) shows that less...
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It's not always good to talk
The amount of electromagnetic radiation produced by mobile telephones is below the level regarded as safe in Britain, according to research by Bradford University. Researcher Peter Excell said all...
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Graduates find degrees pay in jobs market
Graduates are getting a pay-back for their years at university, a study by David Armstrong at the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre has discovered. Of those earning less than Pounds 5,000 in...
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Marriages made in heaven?
The Further Education Funding Council for England has a thankless task. Like the hapless guardian of 450 teenage kids, it has to distribute inadequate pocket money, offer advice and then take the...
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Up to his neck
Breaking the record for the largest student overdraft is David Close of Northumbria University. He arrived home from his summer job, which he hopes will clear his debts by next term, to find a letter...
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Dearing targets cited
* Five working groups named to lead inquiry * Privatisation on the agenda * Super league seems likely Five working groups are to spearhead Sir Ron Dearing's official inquiry into higher education, it...
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Real force needed to smash ceiling
There are lies, damned lies, statistics and bad timing. It is true that on July 31, 1995, when the survey was taken, Umist had no women professors in post. Several were in the glass pipeline, however...
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Could you rethink Robbins?
Last week, the Department for Education and Employment named six objectives for higher education as part of its input to the Dearing committee. Now you are invited to do better, courtesy of Peter...