Politics

Two years ago, India published a draft of its most ambitious higher education reforms in decades. Then the pandemic hit. Experts reflect on the future of the NEP, which was approved last year, and what the country’s university sector might look like in a decade

Public knowledge of reasoning behind picks ‘could have avoided past mistakes’

Minister’s assurances not ‘watertight guarantees’ that regular academic activities fall outside law’s purview

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must follow English lead on outlawing essay mills

Home Office staff were due to hear from prominent scholar as part of series to mark Black History Month    

Move bolsters fears of political attacks on US higher education and prompts AAUP to consider boycott

The spending review must confirm the substance beneath the government’s froth about becoming a science superpower, says James Wilsdon

Constitutional lawyer says Australian case will help frame courts’ approach to academic freedom issues

Sector leaders want to see cash flow beyond top universities and borders reopen for international students

Steve West draws on experience of his ‘very different’ educational path to warn against limiting university admissions

As spending review looms, government debate on grade threshold for entry bar may decide whether it is ‘symbolic’ or more

In early days of crisis, ministers should ‘act quickly’ rather than wait for scientific certainty, committees add

Amendment to skills bill would criminalise providing, arranging or advertising cheating services

Michelle Donelan tells Tory conference fringe event that lifelong loans offer universities chance to open to ‘swathe’ of new kinds of students

Conservative fringe event hears civic leaders offer positive account of universities’ economic role

Rachel Wolf says academia’s career incentives should shift away from ‘obscure parts of the globe’ in vision for universities to help level up

Chancellor says investment in new technology could revolutionise economy in same way as steam engine or internet

EUA report imagining scenarios for 2030 also paints picture of higher education being squeezed by markets and authoritarianism   

Black students expected to be disproportionately hurt by local refusals to accept federal aid, analyses conclude

Lifelong Education Commission says ministers should explore how to ‘stack’ microcredentials and drop ELQ rule

Labour shadow minister accuses Eton and Winchester-schooled ministers of ‘culture wars’ approach of cutting HE entry

Ahead of spending review, research universities group argues new fund would help level up UK regions by creating spin-offs

George Freeman must urgently strike alliances across Whitehall to preserve UK government’s ‘once in a generation’ research pledge, say experts

Former universities minister attacks current government thinking and says it should be expanding, not limiting, participation

Up to 40 per cent of wage benefit from degrees could be down to universities being a signal of prior attainment, says report 

MPs tell Australian government to consult more on onerous aspects of its ‘critical infrastructure’ power push

Universities UK submission to upcoming spending review urges Westminster government to support change of provision

Shadow minister Stephen Kinnock sets out vision for party to reconnect with voters beyond ‘cities and university towns’

Minister won’t say ‘openly’ they want participation cut, while lowering loan threshold will hit social mobility, warns Labour shadow minister

Reform of student financing expected as part of comprehensive spending review next month

Legislative ban leaves medical schools vowing to protect women’s health, and faculty and students likely to flee

A pan-European document could also boost institutional autonomy, budgets, policy visibility and common problem-solving ability, says Jan Palmowski

Conservative campaign for control of North Idaho College ends with ousting of Rick MacLennan and anger over masks

Lack of focus on higher education ‘a deficit’ during election campaign, says sector leader

Policies geared to a ‘low-skilled guest worker society’ belie Australia’s pretensions to recruit the ‘best and brightest students’

Ministerial response offers ‘no comfort that there is not a plan afoot to abandon that very specific promise’ on science spending, says ex-minister Greg Clark

Gap between graduates and non-graduates is UK’s ‘biggest social divide’, Baroness Stowell warns

Universities Wales chair says institutions are waiting on Westminster reforms, when England should instead be following their lead

Any changes to borrowing terms likely to hit average earners hardest, warns IFS

University leaders would not exercise freedom even if the state did not have them under its thumb, says Maszlee Malik

While other red state campus leaders struggle, Michael McRobbie stresses consultation and rural services

All students, regardless of subject, need meaningful opportunities to engage with the democratic process, say Meg Little Reilly and Richard Watts

If it all goes wrong, universities will not be able to avert truly disastrous consequences, says Rama Thirunamachandran 

Writing, speaking and advising offer the rewards of scholarly life without the constraints and contradictions of universities, says Harvey Graff

Former life sciences minister founded series of Cambridge biomedical start-ups before entering politics

Nuclear submarine announcement elevates importance of universities’ soft power influence, says former PM

New education secretary may have limited opportunity to significantly change direction of travel at Westminster, say experts

Derby North MP had held role since February 2020

Public investment in higher education falling in many OECD countries, says Education at a Glance

Nicholas Till reflects on the path that has led him from research on opera to direct political action

Former vaccines minister succeeds Gavin Williamson

Controversial post-holder says he is ‘proud’ of ‘transformational reforms’

Trade minister Graham Stuart says cross-government support will allow UK universities to grow overseas student numbers by 30 per cent

But Royal Holloway principal warns against ‘frivolous and vexatious claims’ under planned legislation

Fixation on outcomes data means universities have little incentive to persuade their graduates to stay local 

Inspectors tell Ministry of Education to ‘study deeply and systematically about Xi Jinping’s thoughts on education’

New requirements to ensure migrants are financially self-sufficient will ‘weaken’ Sweden’s universities and high-tech industries, critics warn

Despite chronically low youth turnout, federal agency sees bigger pandemic need to aid elderly with ballots

Walkouts expected as government decides on English reforms in wake of Covid disruption

Australia and New Zealand’s isolation continues, but global collaboration is ever more crucial, says Dawn Freshwater