Ben Upton

Vocational institutions are winning the right to award PhDs, while professional doctorates are also expanding. But how compatible are academic and vocational focuses in research degree provision – and how easily can status disparities be overcome, asks Ben Upton

Ten groups of universities and ministries will explore whether the EU could and should label joint degrees and create a new legal status for cross-border institutions

Only four universities hitting Europe’s 20 per cent target, but immobile institutions say agency figures belie specific barriers and possibilities of domestic exchanges

Decision to deter non-EU students with fees likely to ratchet up pressure in an already stretched labour market, particularly for energy and other engineering graduates

Duisburg-Essen has had to rebuild entire IT infrastructure and postpone admissions deadlines, although teaching and exams are able to continue

Ombudsmen need more resources and voluntary investigators need recognition if fabrication is finally to be taken seriously, says sleuth

Ban could prompt brain drain, warn experts, while university foundations are likely to be restocked with loyalists

Involvement of university staff in prosecution of Olesya Krivtsova a major cause for concern, observers say

Universities and regions must decide whether to step in and meet rising demand for more generous scholarship grants

Government and institutions are aligned when it comes to recruiting genuine students, despite alleged visa abuse becoming a right-wing hobby horse

European Commission hails first association of a highly industrialised country outside of Europe