Management and governance
Internal documents reveal rapid shift to South Asia in Australian university’s international operations
Complaint to Charity Commission alleges that funding to university was suspended, but foundation chair rejects claims as ‘without merit’
As we enter REF submission year, Nicholas Stern and David Sweeney urge universities to broaden their conception of a good submission
Apparently benign aspirations have their historical origins in concern about high levels of admission of certain minorities, says Kate Eichhorn
Questioning the BBC’s agenda in highlighting the problem in Ghana and Nigeria does not make it any less serious, says Eric Fredua-Kwarteng
IE University in Madrid wanted to grow so, in a crowded city, it decided to build upwards
Catholic institution hires TEQSA chief executive who led QAA and Ucas
Overseeing an Athena SWAN application convinced an anonymous academic that if tasks cannot be properly resourced, they should not be attempted at all
The analogy has lessons for both higher education institutions and the bodies that oversee them, says Richard Oliver
Universities are relieved the Greens have replaced the far right, but see challenges ahead over their management and comprehensive subject mix
Perth university offers concession ‘in the spirit of moving towards a resolution’ with Gerd Schröder-Turk
The blessing of big data can be a curse without resources for analysis. But how much computerised help do we really want, asks Kristen Sadler
Former US secretary of state hails ‘strong relationship’ with Northern Ireland institution
Rachel Kyte’s previous roles in supra-national bodies make the new dean of Tufts University’s Fletcher School of international relations determined to see the academy play its part in rescuing multilateralism and addressing climate change, writes John Gill
The apparently political murder of an undergraduate at a top Bangladeshi university by other students has stunned a nation, writes Nahid Neazy
Figures on English governing body members collated by former HEI head suggest some progress on gender, but less on ethnic minorities
UUK vice-president heading back Down Under after five years in Northern Ireland
Tim Blackman also sees green shoots for part-time higher education in Wales that could nourish revival in England
The season of goodwill is upon us once more. But in an era of hyper-competition, does academic kindness extend beyond passing round the nuts at the departmental Christmas party? Six scholars recount their own tales of collegiate benevolence
Being transparent about the existence of poor-quality provision is essential if we are to tackle it effectively, says Nicola Dandridge
New rules at Murdoch limit staff members who senators can speak to and remove obligation to report corruption to external watchdog
Civil service hostility, legislative complexity and political naivety keep restructure in the slow lane
Strikes notwithstanding, more pay restraint and greater pensions contributions from UK staff seem unavoidable, writes Bernard Casey
Universities concede societal push to handle delicate matters in more legalistic ways
Lisa Roberts to succeed Sir Steve Smith next September
Reporting procedures were woefully inadequate, while senior managers frequently enabled intimidatory behaviour, says an anonymous UK academic
Government retains title for top independent colleges, while accepting all other recommendations of provider category review
Independent process ‘found several areas in which we will need to improve our board of governors’ processes’, says UEL
The UK’s support system for disabled students puts the focus on institutional capacity rather than student need, says Stephen Campbell
Offering two-year programmes at FE colleges as part of four-year degrees could redress the UK’s spending bias in favour of HE, says Geoff Mason
Old and new home trade compliments, as former deputy calls time on six-year sojourn out west
Paper warns that Office for Students must work to build ‘constructive dialogue’ and ‘assure itself’ that it meets legal requirements
The first black leader of an Oxbridge college on the need for careers-based initiatives for students, the joys of parenthood and seeking out moments of calm
Asking BAME students to spend significant amounts of time helping universities decolonise the curriculum is far from the ideal solution, says Daniel Akinbosede
As concerns rise about mainstream universities’ affordability, social impact and working cultures, the UK’s Labour Party is mulling the idea of fostering cooperative, comprehensive universities. John Morgan travels to Manchester and Preston to examine some experiments that could point the way
Backers of 19th century war for slavery get millions to preserve Silent Sam
Precarious contracts ‘damage’ universities’ teaching and reputation, panel says
Junior scholars have always needed to curry favour with their seniors, but quantifying research impact exacerbates the problem, says Jonathan R Goodman
Students had called for royal to quit over friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
Universities preach meritocracy but, in reality, bend over backwards to protect toxic personalities, says Irina Dumitrescu
One institution has 26 vice-presidents, research finds, following calls for the number of senior managers to be radically cut
University stands by royal in fallout from Newsnight interview about ties with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
Universities are inherently political spaces, but the current explosion in violent protest must come to an end, says Brian Wong
The ongoing wave of student protests is testing the diplomacy skills of the territory’s vice-chancellors to the limits. But is it possible to keep the peace on campus and maintain good relations with the Hong Kong and Chinese governments while maintaining unrestricted freedom of speech, asks Joyce Lau
Respected policy analyst nominates funding and student loans as key areas of research
Management academics need to be supported to bring teaching and research on global warming into the mainstream, say Amanda Goodall and Susan Hill
University and further education organisations band together
Former higher education minister will leave in December to seek consultancy and advisory positions
Deficiencies in Australian university governance made worse by state government selection of councillors, reviewer says
Andrew Atherton placed on leave after just nine months in post
England’s Office for Students also says 13 providers are in ‘representations process’ after being provisionally refused loans access
If a Canadian programme’s success rates are replicated in the US, it must be adopted, says John Banzhaf
More than a thousand people sign open letter published online by Times Higher Education
The Equality and Human Rights commission’s latest report is just the latest to reinforce what we already know about the extent of racism in UK HE, says Ilyas Nagdee
While some universities are funding huge building projects out of international student fees, an increasing number in Australia and elsewhere are finding that the ground beneath their feet is the best foundation for reaching to the sky. But should universities really be swapping ivory towers for commercial skyscrapers? John Ross cranes his neck and wonders
Universities must improve their career development support for professional and support staff, says Alex Holmes
A much wider use of sophisticated video conferencing will help – but no one is saying this will be easy, reflects Richard Davies
A post-qualification admissions system will pose logistical challenges, but they must be overcome, says Michelle Morgan
The REF is a prime example of the sort of elaborate, burdensome process that potentially adds comparatively little value
London university also plans ban on single-use plastic and creation of new green spaces
