The glut of prizes is undermining the true value of research and teaching Universities are now committed to ‘celebrating success’ and to treating every failure as just a stepping stone on the way to further success. Yet this, argues Joe Moran, is a betrayal of what really matters in the academy By Joe Moran 26 November
January university start ‘off the table’ for UK admissions reform Ucas signals that admissions body has moved towards supporting post-qualification offers By Anna McKie 25 November
UK boosts research budget but fails to confirm £22 billion target Chancellor’s spending review research boost leaves questions around earlier promises, as funds committed for Erasmus replacement By John Morgan 25 November
Three universities unite for new bid to scale up Sheffield’s AMRC Plan seems to unite various factions after acrimony, but could hinge on Whitehall’s post-Cummings appetite for research ‘levelling up’ By John Morgan 25 November
Nature journals pilot payment for ‘editorial assessment’ Prestigious journal group seeks to spread cost of publishing across a greater number of authors than those accepted for publication By Jack Grove 24 November
UK v-cs ‘should take lead on tackling racial harassment’ Universities UK guidance says institutions must introduce training on concepts such as microaggressions and white privilege By Ellie Bothwell 24 November
One in five homeworking university staff ‘struggles to do job’ Some find it difficult to make decisions on their own off-campus, survey suggests By Anna McKie 24 November
HE expansion critic ‘leads Treasury probe’ into university costs Controversial Tory peer said to head Treasury committee, prompting concerns it could be eyeing funding and fee cuts By John Morgan 24 November
Most returning students’ campuses to get pre-Christmas Covid tests More than 100 universities sign up to take part in rapid testing programme, but plans for post-festive return yet to be set out By Chris Havergal 23 November
UK Arpa ‘would be laughing stock’ if led by Cummings Plans for new research funding agency expected to go ahead despite exit of former top adviser to PM, but mission yet to be defined By John Morgan 23 November
Poland trying to destroy universities’ independence, warns rector New education minister threatens to withdraw funding from universities following abortion law protests clash By Ellie Bothwell 23 November
Don’t bank on promised UK research spending increases This week’s spending review could see commitments revisited and important policy documents released, predicts Nick Hillman By Nick Hillman 23 November
