University governance

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

Acting vice-chancellor promises to ‘listen’ to staff concerns after academic body agrees to shelve no-confidence vote until June

From MI5 recruiting, to students spying on each other and intelligence agencies funding research, Matthew Reisz explores the long and often uneasy relationship between espionage and the academy

Ten years into the programme, German universities remain focused on traditional markers of success, say Andreas Knie and Dagmar Simon

Legislation making its way through Parliament could help address ‘brand confusion’ overseas

Vice-chancellor stands down after union members passed no confidence vote

University strategising in the days before JoJo, BoJo and Brexit was more back-patting than visionary, but what universities need now is a plan for survival, says John Cater 

Hefce's Madeleine Atkins received payment in lieu of salary for remainder of contract, but declined 'redundancy payment'

The curricular dominance of popular music may sell tickets but belies the point of a musical education, says Sam Richards

Faculties without borders are the key to turning multidisciplinarity into more than a buzzword, says Duncan Ivison

The protests against pensions reforms reflect not just self-interest but also anger about working conditions and a sense that universities are losing their way. Jack Grove explores how proposed changes to the USS strained and broke bonds of trust

Leaders from Anglo-Celtic and European backgrounds fail to reflect diversity of campuses, says report

Westlake University may be government’s pilot of more autonomous institutions, expert suggests

Tribhuvan University alumni make up almost all of Nepal’s government, but interference from political parties distracts from research and learning goals, says vice-chancellor

Union members call for removal of threat of hundreds of redundancies and ask for consultation on possible industrial action

Rigid, top-down tie-ups will do nothing to foster quality or European identity, says Jan Palmowski

Universities should emulate the private sector in a positive way by eliminating costly duplication, says a worker in professional services

Universities on both sides of the Atlantic are building up big debts, but is it prudent to bet on student numbers growing and super-low interest rates and high fees enduring? David Matthews examines the glut of recent bond issues, and how money makes money for the elite

Experts question whether 60 universities granted special status will face budget cuts or be free from interference

Peter Horrocks faces backlash over claim that academics ‘should be bloody well teaching’

The French thinker Simone Weil’s focus on teaching students to attend to reality is crucial in the social media age, writes Robert Zaretsky

Vice-chancellors have ‘no authority’, says outgoing Melbourne head Glyn Davis

Peter Horrocks’ comments about development of learning materials branded ‘an attack on OU staff and the institution itself’

Casualisation and treating academics like feckless children who can’t be trusted have also taken their toll, says Sarah Colvin

Advance HE will be a supportive friend to higher education as England’s new regulator gets tough, explains chief executive Alison Johns

To survive, UK universities must think far beyond educational products and their own narrow institutional interests, says Mike Boxall

The Republic of Ireland’s embrace of differentiated national missions for institutions offers international lessons, says Ellen Hazelkorn

Political appointees to governing councils are ‘the weakest and most provincial ones we’ve ever had’, says Universities Austria 

Tan Eng Chye says teaching models ‘cannot afford to keep still’, even if some students are reluctant to study programming

University says Thomas Jessell violated university policies and values

Charles Hymas said meeting over new campus was ‘more akin to a Roman amphitheatre where any slave felt to be worshipping the God Mammon was going to be bayed down’

Concern about scholars being ‘put in a position of proxy border guards’

Students would benefit enormously if only universities felt freer to innovate and collaborate, says Nick Bevan

Outgoing vice-chancellor reflects on four years in what many regard as English higher education’s toughest job

The crisis in student mental well-being is no secret, but academics too feel overwhelmed by the demands on them. Universities cannot ignore their plight

The frenzied pace and meaningless demands of university life can often enable a depressed scholar’s existing neuroses. Joe Moran offers some coping strategies

For academics and students alike, pressure to perform coupled with a lack of institutional support can severely affect mental health

Sciences Po’s dean of research reflects on the currents of change within her country’s university sector

Concerns have been raised over how Kuan Chung-ming was selected as leader of Taiwan’s top university

No better place than city state for higher education's new era, says Nanyang Technological University president

Our annual pay review details v-cs’ remuneration, explores the make-up and workings of the governing bodies that set it, and compares the rewards on offer with those of other sectors

Lawrence Bacow’s appointment at Harvard sparks discussion about the ‘greying’ of college leadership

Project at Canterbury Christ Church aims to explore building’s history and create new heritage centre

US universities’ public approval is best guaranteed by boldly defending non-partisan values such as tolerance and free speech, says Darren Linvill

Former Tufts University head to succeed Drew Faust in July

The former Soviet state’s National Academy of Sciences is too focused on its own survival to improve its research performance, says Ararat Osipian

Books offer an experience, evidence trail and egalitarianism that could never be digitised, say Al Martinich and Tom Palaima

Times Higher Education’s first major global survey of university staff views on work-life balance finds academics feeling stressed and underpaid, and struggling to fit time for personal relationships and family around their ever-growing workloads. Ellie Bothwell reports

Suspension is a legal and emotional minefield that can blow up in managers’ faces, says a wrongfully suspended scholar 

Academics routinely offer praise and encouragement to their students. Why are they so reluctant to offer it to each other? asks Terri Apter

Carlo Montemagno caught in nepotism row at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Desire to climb global tables is bringing many institutions together – but there are risks, expert warns

Sexual misconduct is now being openly discussed, but universities still lack policies to safeguard staff from sexual violence in the workplace. This means victims remain afraid to speak out, says a female academic and rape survivor

Asian universities in particular are embracing a technological future, but they should bear in mind the words of two wise Americans, says Alice Gast

In survey of 15,000 university staff, just 2.6 per cent supported the government’s higher education policies

New body to bring together Equality Challenge Unit, Higher Education Academy and Leadership Foundation for Higher Education

Former Soviet state can become destination for international students thanks to its successful fight against academic graft, says minister

Ian Greer succeeds the late Patrick Johnston at Russell Group institution

Lou Anna Simon steps down just hours after gymnastics physician was sentenced for sexually abusing young athletes 

A year-long experiment convinced Michael Marinetto that carving out research time is a fun but unwinnable game