Opinion

UK universities’ multiple missions can be accelerated under the new government’s ministerial briefs, say Chris Husbands and Natalie Day 

Even women with identical performance ratings to men suffer large pay deficits. This must be fixed, say Ann Brower and Alex James

Removing biases in the system may not be enough to achieve a truly equal gender balance, says Sun Young Lee 

Canada’s excess of directive funding programmes risks hobbling scientific imagination and progress, says Jim Woodgett

The financial urge to allow Chinese students to begin the new university year must not trump public health concerns, says Salvatore Babones

Impersonating the Messiah is apparently a necessity for funding success – but it’s hell, says Piers Kelly

Student protests have won victories since the movement began two years ago, but big changes must be made to protect women’s rights in China, says Lü Pin

We need a global Silicon Valley because open collaboration is essential to closing the artificial intelligence skills gap, says Huawei’s Jack Lyu Ke

In a class full of highly opinionated young scholars, it’s hard to get a word in edgewise, but more structure is needed, says Desiree Thorpe

Both Beijing and Hong Kong must adjust their approaches and sensibilities to restore confidence and trust in HK universities, argues John Burns

Working to the exclusion of all else is unhealthy, but a one-size-fits-all limit is hard to set when careers and reputations are on the line

UK academics love the ERC, but selective participation in Horizon Europe is unlikely to be on the table, says John Womersley

Coventry University’s endeavours notwithstanding, other international education initiatives are more sustainable, say Philip Altbach and Hans de Wit

Our rankings have helped to reveal overlooked pockets of potential, says Ellie Bothwell

Sinn Féin’s desire for an all-Ireland education system could see it reject fee rises north of the border, says Diana Beech

A five-year state initiative is bringing problem-solving, global engagement and diversity to Taiwan’s higher education system, says Chia-Ming Hsueh

UKRI and other funders must prevent good intentions on open access from undermining good science, says Lee Cronin 

Academic publishing needs more transparency, clearer appeals processes and more safeguards against citation fraud, says Afroz Ahmad Shah

After a fleeting fear that the digital world was passing her by, the ubiquity of internet trolls has made Mary Joannou realise that might not be so bad after all

Developing countries cannot cower from technological progress if they and all their citizens are to advance, argues Tshilidzi Marwala

Students often overcome traumatic experiences to sit in our classrooms, and we must support them to find new opportunities, says Ayesha Ahmad

Stereotyping Chinese students as a threat is as wrong-headed as pretending that there is no problem at all, say Kerry Brown and Ed Byrne

Universities must meet the disruption caused by the new coronavirus with technological dexterity, tactical flexibility, strategic vision – and compassion

If a college education makes people more liberal, it is potentially the best remedy for bigotry, says Kate Eichhorn

Long after they have finally landed a full-time job, many academics still find themselves feeling insecure and guilty, says Rachel Moss

The UK’s structures for supporting and nurturing research leaders are woefully underdeveloped, says Matthew Flinders

Striking again would rob students of vital lecture time and damage the progress we’ve made through bargaining, says one anonymous UCU member

Even as medics scramble to address the coronavirus, research into its social and political entanglements is vital, says Robert Peckham 

Many emerging higher education systems in Asia are paying external faculty members to collaborate on scholarship when they should be investing in staff development, write Bruce Savre, Laurene Chua-Garcia and Anna Nguyen Loan

Large investments are needed to make research data open and accessible but tackling global problems depends on it, says Paul Ayris 

With business backing for education declining, the government must invest to ensure that universities can offer a lifetime of learning opportunities, says Jonathan Michie

As China’s influence grows, UK scholars question how best to collaborate. A post-Brexit transition may offer change to more than our EU relationship

Why is there so little concern about the catastrophic decline in part-time adult learners in England? asks John Butcher

Excessive criticism reflects a dearth of research funding and space in top journals. But peers needn’t play ball, says an anonymous academic

A feudal approach to intellectual property has turned the academy into a modern police state, says Steve Fuller

Academics are key to lifting public engagement with climate change and stopping the spread of nonsense passing as news, says David Lloyd

The appointment of Manuel Castells as the country’s universities minister signals a change in fortune, says José Martinez-Sierra

Universities must learn how to handle the medical, sociological and academic fallout of global emergencies like the coronavirus, says Brian Wong 

The Decade of Action towards the UN’s sustainable development goals has begun and universities must pay them urgent attention, writes Mark Charlton 

With so much pressure to publish, when will we ever have time to read and reflect? asks Christiaan De Beukelaer 

With Brexit, we’re on the precipice of a new world order, but UK universities have first mover advantage if they act fast, says Simon Marginson

Letting go of acrimony is not easy after three years of trench warfare. But post-Brexit Britain needs academics and their evidence-led approach

As the UK finally leaves the European Union after years of turmoil, Simon Usherwood says it is time for remain-supporting academics to focus on the future. But Tanja Bueltmann says that for EU academics the scars are too deep

UKRI’s decision to axe the impact sections of grant applications could hobble consideration of the process and politics of research, says Jude Fransman

Impostor phenomenon is real, but its ubiquitous, misnamed cousin invites accusations that it is a fad or fantasy, says Theresa Simpkin

Reversing the relationship between authors and publishers would ease perverse incentives that impede progress, say Hilal Lashuel and Benjamin Stecher

India’s students have surprised many observers by standing up together to protest against injustice, says Pushkar

Supporting global talent on campus and in our communities will help build peace around the world, writes Lisa Porter, who lost a research assistant in the Iran plane tragedy

University staff are being asked to perform duties that only the border force should do, says Gustaf Houtman

UK research funding and sector awards should be linked to institutions’ work under the Race Equality Charter, says Kalwant Bhopal 

Mid-career learners, and some of the world’s biggest employers, are looking beyond the ‘graduate club’ for laser-targeted courses and skills

Capping the public contribution to degree costs means universities can’t move to address skills gaps, says David Lloyd

There is evidence of success in changing attitudes, but effects on admissions remain woefully under-explored, says David Robinson

As we enter REF submission year, Nicholas Stern and David Sweeney urge universities to broaden their conception of a good submission

Augar’s questions remain largely unanswered but proposals for further education are largely comprehensive and coherent, says Nick Hillman

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

From alienating alumni to excluding contingent workers from governing councils, societies and university departments risk doing a disservice to 70 per cent of academics in the US, says Zeb Larson 

The proposals set out in India’s Draft National Education Policy 2019 are a positive step towards it becoming a knowledge economy, including strengthening the country’s research capacities and international collaborations, writes Tanya Spisbah 

Brave researchers who challenge powerful interests and angry activists cannot be left to fight alone: colleagues and institutions must support them