Management and governance

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

Failure to act robustly risks legal, reputational and financial consequences for universities, says Susan Matthews

Managers must acknowledge that supervising some types of doctoral candidates is more labour-intensive, say Roger Watson and David Thompson

Universities Australia chief executive tells THE Live ANZ that institutions must become more resilient

Green light for international universities to operate in new National Education Policy

Lockdowns, campus protection and the new security law risk permanently cutting off scholars from the city and wider world, says Michael O’Sullivan

Pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests amplify pressure on multibillion-dollar sports programmes over levels of athlete remuneration

Commission recommends launch of Digital Service Academy to address shortage of talent in federal government

Too-high targets overburden female academics with administrative work and hold back their careers, research foundation concludes 

Daily tweets, cake baking and discussion of James Bond film titles have all helped keep Anthony Smith sane

University’s former boss will not return from indefinite leave, as misconduct probe continues

Simplistic performance measures hold research back, says Jim McCluskey, as Melbourne becomes the first Australian university to sign up to Dora

Australian university’s financial problems force a restructure and 500 redundancies, but vice-chancellor stresses opportunity in adversity

Legal trailblazer to oversee governance of Australia’s third oldest university at a troubled time

Oceania’s pan-national university enveloped by scandal, duelling governance bodies and tit-for-tat accusations

Covid-19 ushered in a very different first 100 days for new University of Auckland head Dawn Freshwater

Covid-19 has underlined the need for more coordinated and comprehensive engagement with policymakers, say David Price, Sarah Chaytor and Andrew Wathey