News

Strategy statement seen as another step towards harmonisation with VET, as Atec marks the ground for compact negotiations

Institutions have to articulate a ‘clear narrative’ about what makes them different in competitive global environment, summit hears

Martin Jones replaced by former Birmingham City leader Philip Plowden after resigning with immediate effect

Better understanding of state-sanctioned hostage-taking seen as being in academics’ personal as well as professional interests, amid increased targeting of researchers

Mandatory reporting of retractions to Indian science funding agency will force researchers to think harder about perpetrating fraud or working with serial offenders, says integrity champion

Campaigners suggest refusing to take a stance on contentious issues may be the best way to navigate new free speech requirements

Rapid uptake of tests must be accompanied by stronger safeguards given risks of impersonation and unauthorised assistance, says report

UK prime minister warns universities will be required to publish information on scale of problem and what steps they are taking to tackle it

Rules designed to keep students informed could end up keeping them out, disability advocates warn

George Bass’ droll dispatches on life as a university security guard have led to his first book. He discusses his unlikely route into the literary world and the growing pastoral role of campus staff

Institutions secured £1.55 billion in new philanthropic funds last year, with a quarter coming from alumni

Pan-European initiative EuroTeQ has made studying across the continent easier for students, but coordinating between nine different higher education institutions can be harder than building the digital infrastructure itself 

University of Pretoria head warns that current student finance model is unsustainable and suggests a ‘totally new system’ may be the answer

Visa fees paid by prospective foreign students, including those denied entry, balloon into a billion-dollar revenue stream for Canberra as rejection rates soar 

Universities looking to AI to defend against growing virtual threats

Suella Braverman says university system is “rigged” as she calls for change to student finance rules

Planned boycott at Nottingham could disrupt some students’ ability to graduate, while staff at London South Bank University are also set to vote on industrial action

Landmark legal ruling has exposed shortcomings of Office for Students’ approach but also inadequacy of regulatory tools, experts argue

European universities struggling to meet demand for skilled graduates at critical point for region’s role in space exploration

Island nation continues to appeal to parents and students as some Asian nations turn from customer to competitor

Government expected to allow employer contribution rates to come down next year after lobbying by post-92 institutions

Progress on research commercialisation stalls after pandemic peak, with 141 new spin-outs launched last year

Students and educators call for more guidance from immigration authorities as majority of Indian and Nepalese applicants rejected

AI glasses and other smart apparel may be impossible to keep out of exams, adding to universities’ woes about the future of assessments

Research finds collegiate model adds to complex application processes and may be harming institutions’ widening participation efforts

Analysis of university finances finds increasing student numbers and income can cause costs to rise faster than revenue

University leader questions Arif Ahmed’s position after landmark court case highlights conflict of interest, as others cast doubt on future of regulator’s incoming free speech complaints scheme

Council exempts four grant schemes from controversial changes following concerns that plan would ‘discourage bold ideas’

Government urged to provide more financial support to students as research finds some institutions are cutting back on provision of free food

Record fine overturned after landmark High Court case sparked by resignation of gender-critical academic Kathleen Stock

Wendy Thomson steps down as head of federal institution with immediate effect after 11-month suspension over bullying and mismanagement allegations, which she branded “unfounded”

Students not receiving the service they expect amid high fees and mounting cost of living pressures, sector ombudsman warns

Upskilling local students not enough to help region catch up with London’s economic performance, report warns

University of Auckland’s Dawn Freshwater argues higher education leaders should do more soul-searching and less rewriting of strategies in a difficult but privileged job

Plans to limit reapplications to European Research Council will penalise bold and original proposals and early career researchers, senior researchers claim

Regulator investigating how much public money was given to education providers offering course linked to high dropout rates

Compromise move allows university to press ahead with search for Bishop’s replacement by giving Teqsa unprecedented role

College Unbound granted full accreditation for degrees aimed at adults with some college experience but no qualifications, with institution’s flexible design mooted as a remedy for declining student numbers

Students expected to use AI for information before evaluating technology’s output as institution seeks to prepare learners for changing labour market

London-based institutions failing to respond to risks outlined by regulator and setting fewer access-related targets, report finds

Those who are frequently thanked in journals are much more likely to be successful themselves, says PNAS paper

Antonia Bance argues lower-level skills should be prioritised in response to number of out-of-work young people reaching record levels

University says final decision yet to be made after document outlining new redundancy scheme leaked to press

Communication studies academic latest Aston leader to relocate from Australia following Aleks Subic’s departure to Torrens University

A 142 per cent rise in bids for Marie Curie fellowships shows peer review must adapt to ChatGPT era, says Nature study

Turmoil continues for students wrongly issued maintenance loans, while universities argue regulatory changes are needed if they are to deliver on government’s drive to support non-traditional learners

Experiential learning only becoming more important in age of AI, according to outgoing leader of university known for its joint work and study programmes

Informal applications of AI, such as academics using tools to grade student work, could potentially fall foul of wide-ranging legislation, policy expert warns

Patchy uptake of new technologies across region, survey finds, with limited connectivity a potential barrier

Universities urged to play greater role in teaching people how to create their own work, as countries become more sceptical of higher education

Focus on forming manageable consortia of five to 10 institutions instead of ‘sleeping’ agreements that elicit no action, university leaders say

Politicians reluctant to spell out plans to fix university funding issues as review continues, while cross-party commitment to free tuition fees leaves few avenues open for negotiations

Arts university hopes latest ‘transformation plan’ will help it survive, but staff fear much-lauded institution will be left ‘devastated’

Creators hope website will help universities interpret scores more accurately and make fairer hiring and promotions decisions

Institution begins consultation on job losses but union says it is in the dark over who is at risk

Pioneer women university presidents must pave the way by becoming ‘sponsors’ of their successors

Platform hosting the world’s largest biomedical data set has apologised after health information of 500,000 people is listed for sale in China

University joins growing wave of post-92 institutions changing employment practices to cut  pension costs

China’s ongoing strength means small gains for countries like Japan and South Korea are not enough for them to remain competitive. Meanwhile, Malaysia proves it’s one to watch. Tash Mosheim reports

Legal scholar, alumna and current Griffith leader returns as university’s second female chief