University funding and finances

Likely downturn in recruitment coincides with dwindling domestic funding

Small colleges are renting out dormitory rooms, licensing coffins and selling their own ketchup

The entanglement of the university and tech worlds faces increased scrutiny following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Could joint positions in industry and academia offer a workable and ethically defensible way forward? David Matthews reports

Scholar praises Indian government for supporting only universities that are ‘ready now’ to become world-class

Figures on full economic costs of research and teaching show significant growth in gap that is plugged mainly by overseas student fees

Abandonment of demand-driven funding is working its way through the sector

Rule changes could lead to ‘mis-selling’ of qualifications that are not full degrees, higher education institutions warn

Experts see shift towards international approach in granting of greater autonomy to handful of leading universities

Government rewards three public and three private institutions but fails to reach target of giving 20 universities elite status

China’s internal policies, such as Belt and Road initiative, may hold the key to protecting a critical revenue stream

Visa data, contradicted by Home Affairs figures, raise questions over treatment of Chinese doctoral applicants

Basic research bears the brunt of a general decline in spending

Some commentators have urged the UK to replicate German universities of applied science. It’s not that simple, says Neil Shirtcliffe

Hungarian Academy of Sciences will ‘continue negotiations’ after government bid to take charge of research financing

European Union students enrolling in 2019-20 will pay the same fees as UK students

Last week’s legislative delay has not stopped the government tightening the screws on student debt

Controversial legislation will not be considered before August

Post-18 review likely to be pressed by government to lower fees without extra spending

Appealing to students and their families made electoral sense for the Labour Party, but its promises have saddled it with a lot of low-value spending, says Roger Smyth

Fee-free policy cheaper than expected, as enrolments remain subdued

New analysis shows regions were benefiting directly from uncapping of places

Minutes show investment board saw draft of council decision against full divestment

Regional universities say complex measures are needed to do justice to teaching standards

If the Australian government wants to link university funding to student satisfaction, it must ensure that scores reflect more than students’ gender, wealth or ease of passage, says Julie Hare

The Oakland Promise, like a number of local schemes in the US, aims to be a ‘cradle to career’ programme moving more of the city’s children into higher education. John Morgan visits California to assess it

Only a completely new institutional structure will see teaching and research on organisations become a proper, socially responsible subject, and not merely a cash cow, says Martin Parker

Populist Doug Ford wants to expand mandate of province’s higher education regulator

Danny Dorling suggests limiting debts to pre-2012 levels

Further education has suffered a dark decade in Australia, but now even universities are beginning to think things have gone too far. John Ross reports

Sector vulnerability highlighted as business model tips further towards international education

The boom in international students and researchers on campus has obvious benefits, but Australian universities risk going financially bust if they stop coming, and maybe even if they don’t

Queensland says A$125 million (£71 million) project ‘makes a clear and bold statement’

Slash interest rates and reintroduce maintenance loans, says critical report

Dramatic cuts to public funding and an exodus of talent in the midst of an economic crisis endanger country’s position as a leader in Latin American higher education

Widely varying tuition fees and financial aid programmes prevent students from making fully informed decisions, and policymakers from understanding the effects of interventions, say Ross Finnie, Richard Mueller and Arthur Sweetman

Head of Higher Education Authority acknowledges ‘political appetite’ for organisation to take on stronger regulatory responsibilities

The initial botched attempt to draw up a shortlist of institutions eligible for extra funding does not augur well, writes Pushkar

Government backs report proposals to increase regional people’s participation

As the EU’s proposals for its Horizon Europe research funding framework near publication, the UK must commit to playing a full role, says Paul Boyle

Policy shift in Australia could penalise institutions that focus on widening participation, warns pro vice-chancellor

But study by French academics says they tend to perform more poorly on research owing to multi-campus nature of many institutions

No money left for universities after country’s government introduces free higher education

Giving Irish undergraduates continued access to home fee status and loans could be discriminatory, experts warn

University faces criticism for ‘property developer’ strategy in wake of Oxford’s £750 million issuing

With the consultation now closed, Philip Augar’s review of English post-18 education must begin the hard work of devising substantial but cost-effective proposals, says Andy Westwood 

NAO says government’s oversight of organisation is ‘not up to date and lacks clarity’

Universities and sector experts welcome opposition pledge as boost for students and labour market

Employers make final offer for 2018-19

Nordic country’s higher education system punches above its weight in Universitas 21 ranking

Teaching grant allocations by OfS reveal losers from £30 million drop in funding to aid retention

The demands of the job take their toll, but rigorous application of the smell test can limit the damage, say Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Francine Trachtenberg

Humanities subjects set to be hardest hit by restructure

Regional students and research facilities claim the spoils in a benign budget for universities

Reduction in graduate numbers to hit economic growth and tax revenues, says pre-budget modelling

Government says new student debt figures strengthen the case for change

Theresa May’s call for price competition rejected by sector across the board

Whichever parties form the new Italian government, higher education and research are unlikely to be priorities, says Davide Donina

As Malaysian politicians flirt with fee-free higher education, our Asia-Pacific editor John Ross, reflects on how promises of free tuition are often at the detriment of more useful policy

Universities in the former East Germany are now on a par with those of western Europe while others in the former Soviet bloc still lag. David Matthews visits Poland to explore why

Land-grant university’s seven-year tuition freeze under former Republican governor means out-of-state recruitment drive