University governance

Seven-figure pay packets raise questions over strategic leadership in year when universities’ business model crashed

Oldest state-funded military college has history of venerating Confederacy

Scant feedback raises transparency concerns over Australian regulator’s compliance activities

An Australian university history brimming with modern-day parallels shows how collectivism helped forge the sector

The establishment of online learning and the routine use of email were long overdue, argues Ali Adnan Mohammed

The pandemic underlines the need for executives to be instilled with a more radical approach to sustainability, say Lars Moratis and Frans Melissen

Former culture secretary and BBC director to succeed Sir Nigel Carrington

Former Australian vice-chancellor says gains for women in recent decades ‘cannot be lost’

Staff criticise proposals to shutter Institute of Commonwealth Studies and Institute of Latin American Studies

Done properly, teaching in front of a webcam is more effective than teaching from behind a visor, says an anonymous academic

The BJP’s permeation of every aspect of higher education will hamper India’s ambitions to be a world leader in research and innovation, says Aditya Sharma

Neoliberal administrators’ policing of institutional reputations and academic colleagues’ condemnation of dissenting voices on issues such as race and gender have led to claims that scholars are losing their ability to engage in free enquiry and open debate. But is academic freedom really the operative concept in the controversies that arise? John Ross probes a highly contested debate

Civilised adults should not have to demonstrate that they can stand up to bullying before being offered a job, says an anonymous academic 

Living in a parallel universe of perfect systems and obedient citizens could blow up in vice-chancellors’ faces like Chernobyl, warns Craig Brandist 

The country’s deep belief in cooperation coexists with a quiet opportunism about recruitment and funding, say Tim Seidenschnur and Georg Krücken 

Vice-chancellor faces fresh charges of acting outside authority after old allegations deemed not ‘material’

The economics are murky but the damage that closing departments will do to universities’ missions is crystal clear, says Peter Tregear

Chinese universities’ pursuit of excellence with socialist characteristics aims to put them in the company of Harvard and Oxford, says Futao Huang

Those temporarily plucked from the academic ranks would have no motivation or ability to wreak havoc and then move on, argues Bruce Krajewski

Universities must accept a level of risk and implement measures to minimise the transmission of infections, says Andrew Lee 

Lecturers are being denied the flexibility they are compelled to offer students, despite being more vulnerable to the virus, says an anonymous academic

The Netherlands’ cautious, common approach to teaching during the pandemic contrasts with the full reopenings planned by many UK and US universities. But what will students get out of it? And is even 20 per cent campus capacity sustainable? David Matthews travels to the Netherlands to talk to the key players

Recent attacks on high-profile scholars by government and by a university executive should give us pause, say Christopher Vaughan and Daniel Ncayiyana

Tide of rebrands is evidence of intensifying competition and subject profile shifts in sector where status matters, say experts

The pandemic’s demolition of barriers and bureaucracy clears the way for a better higher education sector, says Pat Tissington 

Despite numerous announcements by the University of British Columbia, indigenous leaders see big talk from a big institution, but no clearer answers on finding balance

It makes no sense to oblige students to risk their own and others’ health by travelling long distances and converging on campus, says Brian Wong

A large ongoing survey at King’s College London is informing the institution’s approach to Covid-19, say Gabriella Bergin-Cartwright and Sharon Stevelink

Ransomware victims must either line the pockets of criminals or face the financial penalties and PR disaster of a data breach, says Chris Cobb

Universities in Lebanese capital focus on student funding and retaining staff after explosion, but leaders say future of sector will depend on make-up of new government 

We must move away from small-scale mitigation efforts and think on a larger scale about how to radically revamp teaching and research, says Joy Carter

The modern university should be an honest broker who sets self-interest aside and works for the common good across all areas of its activity, says Sally Kift

The readers’ editors employed by some quality newspapers offer a model for how to protect and promote universities’ core values, argues Priya Rajasekar

Chinese universities now operate on a confusing ‘mixture of Chinese and Western institutional logics’. An anonymous scholar describes the practical and emotional challenges of dealing with constant uncertainty

It’s been 26 years since apartheid ended, yet South African campuses were convulsed by protests against racism and inequitable university access as recently as four years ago. Much progress has clearly been made – but is it enough? Ellie Bothwell reports

The normalisation of burning out should no longer be accepted, say academics who have experienced it, particularly with coronavirus exacerbating the problem

With infection rates increasing and online teaching well established, why risk everyone’s health by reopening, asks Richard Watermeyer 

Interstate universities drawn into scandal amid questions over how serial predator kept getting promoted

Cost transparency isn’t in universities’ DNA, but those who teach and design modules must be able to apply a clear budgetary model, says Terry Young

Move is part of package on red tape that also includes call for universities not to ‘feel pressured’ to join voluntary awards such as the Athena SWAN gender equality charter

Simone Buitendijk emphasises that efforts to improve diversity must not be left to under-represented groups as she takes top job at Yorkshire powerhouse

To navigate the pandemic, organisations need a frank review of their competencies, at both senior management and board level, says Michael Hartmann

Admonishments from student leaders will ring louder than punishments for non-adherents, say Sheldon Jacobson and Janet Jokela

While finding seats as university directors, minorities still lack teaching equity and questions remain over ‘check-box representation’

A Pakistan-based institution saw a new generation of leaders emerge during Covid-19

Manchester v-c says Covid response has transformed inter-university and regional government collaboration in city

Those planning new universities might think that a good institution will attract top staff wherever it is located. But is the quality of the environment beyond the ivory tower really so insignificant – and has the pandemic changed the calculus? Paul Jump runs through our survey results

Chancellor fell on his sword after respecting victims’ pleas for confidentiality, accepting poor legal advice and swallowing ‘lies’ about sex scandals

Hampshire College bounces back from the brink

Latest allegations against controversial president prompt resignation demand

Institution says proposed buyout will ‘secure the university well into the future’ but former v-c fears move will damage its reputation

The loss of international income makes the improvement of universities’ online offerings all the more urgent

With the Covid-19 pandemic likely to prolong the need for mass online learning for some time, we seek the experts’ advice on how to do it well – from designing courses and maintaining engagement to choosing applications and carrying out experiments remotely

Obliging women to adopt ‘male’ characteristics is not just unfair – it also impoverishes university management, says Corinne Houart

Even with a rock-star border collie on side, allowing students to flock back takes careful planning, says Neil Quigley

University seeks successor with mathematics professor planning to aid in key roles

Universities and colleges are having to promise physical classes to protect enrolments, says Joseph Guarneri

Study also proposes creation of new ‘free’ universities to move away from marketisation

Administrators must stop asking faculty of colour to do more than our fair share and then punishing us for it, says Josh Hiller

Scandal-driven ousting brings reflection to campus steeped in partisanship and power