Higher education policy

Struggling universities unlikely to see greater support as warring parties focus on political reform

Capital seen as being able to absorb ramifications of a market exit, while regional towns and cities would feel much greater impact

Number of higher education institutions applying to take part in UK student mobility programme fell this year

Pandemic-style redundancies feared as universities count their losses

Parliamentarians dismiss warnings about workload and academic freedom infringements 

With major parties backing the legislation, controversial enrolment quotas appear a done deal

Irene Tracey says policymakers and universities need to work together to tackle funding crisis

Former minister says his government was right to focus on outcomes of degrees but disowns talk of ‘Mickey Mouse degrees’

Funders and prestigious universities ‘cannot compete’ as budgets stand still or go backwards

Experts fear ‘high-risk strategy’ as universities urged to double down on existing strengths and retrench from other areas

Funding aims to ‘educate people about antisemitism’ and ‘better equip’ universities to tackle antisemitic abuse

Baroness Smith references October budget as she says government is ‘working on a whole range of options’

More than half of survey respondents say result won’t impact study decision, but most would prefer Kamala Harris to win

Veterans face many barriers to attending university. Let’s give those who have served our country free access, says Zlatko Skrbis

Inquiry recommends unamended passage of Universities Accord reforms bill

Last-minute decision leaves some institutions safe and others stranded

With many of the world’s top universities sporting new heads, and tenures shrinking, experts call for initiatives to develop future leaders

Labour has put skills front and centre of its plan for government but where does the omission of higher apprenticeships from the growth and skills levy leave universities – and how will these skills be funded otherwise?

Dartmouth College president discusses seeking criticism, prioritising mental health and getting more women into engineering

The new administration must also adopt systemic measures to rebuild trust within the academic community, says Roohola Ramezani

Christian Ehler insists that additional funding must not come with political strings attached

Leadership hopeful takes aim at universities in latest of series of controversial remarks at party’s conference

But increases to PhD stipends are ‘too little, too late’, postgraduate union says

Reputable colleges stripped of students while thousands of places go to institutions focusing elsewhere or facing closure 

Survey of pro-growth economists by innovation thinktank UK Day One finds weak support among economists for extra higher education spending

Leadership recruits from outside academia bring new perspectives, and a few skeletons in the closet, to university administration

Universities’ ‘inadequate’ responses ‘just like their handling of sexual assault’, says Australian parliamentary committee

Conservative Party conference divided on impact of Labour’s rebalancing of skills funding

Party was ‘irresponsible’ to let per-student funding erode during last six years of governing, says ex-universities minister

Leaders urged to be more ambitious in their proposals in order to secure long-term health of universities

Vision for future direction of English sector calls for fees to be indexed to inflation and an increase in teaching grants

All the key suggestions for reform as Universities UK outlines how the sector can be put back on a firm financial footing

New Labour government wants an ‘effective tool in increasing the value of education exports’

Educators must take responsibility for their own contribution to the crisis, forum hears

Body proposed by former government was seen as a way of upskilling workforce and growing the economy

Economist who invented furlough scheme shares expansive blueprint to redraw English higher education funding

Leading anglophone nations risk squandering hard-built reputation for welcoming international students, say sector leaders

Businesses encouraged to fund roles equivalent to master’s degree level outside levy system as government focuses on creating new opportunities for younger people

Science minister says he took job in DSIT because he ‘didn’t feel like shutting up’

Institutions must focus on creating ‘well-rounded’ individuals equipped with both skills and knowledge needed for technological-driven world, according to academic-turned-politician

Planning cuts of more than €1 billion (£840 million), ministers opt to save academic positions and instead target ‘starter’ grants

Sussex leader tells ministers to go further than declaring war against universities is over

Increased support for students ‘has to be a part’ of Labour’s thinking on improving access, Baroness Smith tells party conference

Top universities have feasted on international students this year while other institutions withered

Outgoing Erasmus University Rotterdam president discusses the underappreciated value of the social sciences, managing student protests and the differences between Dutch and German higher education

Union calls for increase in corporation tax to address university funding difficulties

Critics question upfront expense, cost effectiveness, timeline and viability of Waikato proposal

Lord Johnson ‘extremely pleased’ by change of tone on international recruitment from new government

Administrators’ tolerance for ‘unacceptable’ behaviour tempered by ‘politicised’ winds, witnesses suggest

Success of anti-immigration AfD in Saxony and Thuringia alarms German sector

State must step in, according to submissions to major university review

Passions run deep, as views on proposed commission of inquiry split mostly along political lines

Wary of backing a ‘toxic’ big rise in fees, vice-chancellors are coalescing around a demand for more public subsidy for higher education instead. Despite the cost, could this option be more palatable for Labour?

Caps proposal sparks public spat among political stablemates, as analysis of social media chatter suggests student sentiment is plunging

Ursula von der Leyen names Ekaterina Zaharieva as European commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation

University umbrella groups welcome report’s emphasis on research while critiquing some proposals

College closures and job losses ‘inevitable’ as enrolment caps loom and visa waits lengthen

Latest Home Office figures show number of sponsored study visa applications from dependants has fallen by over 80 per cent since restrictions were introduced

Chi Onwurah and Helen Hayes elected to lead key committees for higher education sector

Senate committee inquiry extended as members scrutinise impacts on vocational colleges