Politics

Australian epidemiologists pressed to defend unscientific aspects of lockdowns, as politicians exaggerate the evidence base

Gavin Williamson says universities should provide face-to-face lectures and should offer refunds if they fall short of student expectations

Vice-chancellors acted like fawning retail attendants in Pretty Woman, former prime minister says

Education minister cites buoyant student experience ratings as evidence of the country’s ‘fundamentals’

As THE survey reveals teaching plans for autumn term, MP warns negative perceptions of digital tuition could figure in fees debate

Ex-Labour adviser claims Westminster government wants to hear students’ views only when they agree with policy agenda

US president follows higher education associations in condemning Republican bans on public health measures such as vaccination and face coverings

Wrangling between DfE and Treasury over direction of policy appears to be main roadblock

Westminster reforms would force leading providers out of sector, representative body warns

New MillionPlus chief executive says blinkered focus on graduate employment data could make life ‘very difficult’ for modern institutions

Any savings on the student loan book will be dwarfed by the costs of making retraining harder, says Jo Johnson 

Former DfE adviser insists proposal is not a return to the days of polytechnics

Shutting off the talent pipeline into the creative industries risks the UK’s reputation for creativity and its potential for growth, says Anne Carlisle

Campaigners at Boğaziçi University say their victory could inspire others – but also fear a harsher crackdown under a new appointee

Ex-pollster who leads Policy Institute at King’s sees public support for universities enduring despite culture wars angst

‘Don’t always stick with what you have,’ says science minister Amanda Solloway, as new innovation strategy points to US and German models

Federal benefit is too big, and former soldiers often choose low-quality institutions, new analysis argues

Minister bills new strategy as helping UK to keep pace with ‘global innovation race’

It is 2041. Knee-jerk politics is conspicuous by its absence and students are willing to actually hear each other. But is this odd spectacle a premonition or just a dream, wonders Jonathan Zimmerman

In first federal court test, Indiana University can keep mandate with exemptions for its on-campus students

Economist’s ordeal highlights the risks of lone advisory roles in unstable countries

Public survey reveals divides among voting, class, age and educational background on the value of higher education

Governments urged to work with universities to expand capacity or system could be ‘overwhelmed’, forcing students to learn online at home

Regulator proposes new conditions of registration that also include standard on grade inflation

It is not in the interests of institutions with high-quality provision to offer courses that fall short of the mark, says OfS chair Lord Wharton 

Court order has little immediate effect but has generated new Democrat vows to seek citizenship for child immigrants

Dharmendra Pradhan faces an uphill struggle to implement the new National Education Policy, says Mukhtar Ahmad

Right-wing politicians’ caricaturing of a mature research approach is a social dominance power play, says Steve Raven

Outgoing UKRI chair says this autumn’s spending review will be a ‘make-or-break moment’

Reduction in paperwork demands comes amid a series of administration initiatives to help low-income borrowers

Exam dates and national policy addressed in first week 

Opposition says it will vote against bill at second reading and urges Tories to join them

Hannah-Jones case points out pathway for wider trustee reform but may just embolden academia’s political enemies

Non-appearance of consultation first promised for spring suggests ‘no agreement yet’ between ministers on what they want from change

Scholars say that the new institute, whose remit describes the genocide as ‘baseless’, will lack credibility

Democratic administration had promised a more welcoming attitude but is also balancing scepticism towards China

‘Significant change’ at college highlights dwindling of former government aim for ‘challenger institutions’

Former chair of government review sees ‘turning point’ on scale of Tony Blair’s target for half of young people to enter HE

Science and Technology Committee says Sir Andrew Mackenzie must improve knowledge of research issues and avoid potential conflicts of interest

Academics bemoan softly-softly reforms to ‘fundamentally broken system’

Half a year into office, moves on student loans, LGBTQ rights and foreign academics counter progressive image

A one-time fix via executive order – which could be overturned by the next administration – fails both future students and taxpayers, says Avery Davis

After 17 years as Ivy League leader, daughter of Holocaust survivor parlays extensive ties to Biden

SFC sector review set up by Scottish government calls for more strategic approach, but does not advocate nationally planned mergers

Academic scientists, frustrated by years of lean budgets, again urged to value stimulating corporate innovation

Calls to use US federal research spending in universities to boost heartland regions gain political traction

Universities come under pressure to investigate scholars’ ties

Students and faculty to be asked annually about their personal opinions, with public funding tied to answers

Federal prosecutor alleges that ‘Ilnur N’ passed on university information to Russian intelligence services in return for cash

Tory peer Lord Johnson’s amendment to skills bill intended to stop ministers using ELQ rule or number caps in lifelong loans

Sector’s social purpose must be ‘unleashed’ post-pandemic, yet government policy could revive ‘old inequalities’, warns ex-Labour minister turned UAL v-c

Education secretary urges universities to go ‘further and faster’ on aligning courses with economic needs or government ‘will step in’

Ex-BHP chief executive and current Shell chair defends himself as ‘committed to net zero’ in pre-appointment hearing

Institution confident of legal victory, but political costs loom in conservative state

Plans to reduce teaching grant are one of ‘biggest attacks on arts and entertainment in English universities in living memory’

Analysis by THE shows how specialist institutions would bear brunt of impact

Politician turned coal boss pulls out of appointment as Australian university’s chancellor

Boris Johnson will head new expert panel, with Sir Patrick Vallance leading Downing Street science unit

Former Tory minister warns using ELQ rule in government’s planned skills revolution would block careers in key sectors like fashion

Scholars, fed up with decades of living from contract to contract, force government to remove video that seemed to celebrate insecurity