Politics

Federal funding has slowed to a trickle over the past two decades

Reforms to the French university admission system have ushered in greater selectivity in an attempt to address high dropout rates. But without adequate filtering by family background, will this disproportionately favour the elite? David Matthews reports from Paris

Hyper-selective universities help create the outrageous arrogance of some politicians. A bit of randomness in the process could lead to more humble leaders, argues David Matthews

Institutions seek guidance over links to Chinese company but are told that it is not their role to start a ‘new Cold War’

England’s loan system and high fees have fuelled students’ sense of entitlement but not of responsibility, says Beth Guilding 

Some in sector believe Tories could adopt only fee cut plans as longer-term commitment, given Commons and Brexit obstacles

Scholars cite concerns over academic autonomy in Taiwan after election of National Taiwan University president is finally approved

It’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t, as minister seeks course for freedom

Funding agency forced to deny scholarship candidates will be required to take an ideology test

Lowering of student loan repayment threshold to recoup an extra A$20 million (£11.3 million) but cost A$19 million

Standardised test scores, interviews, entrance exams, choosing the top percentage of applicants: all are used in university admissions. Ellie Bothwell asks which methods provide the most honest reflection of suitability for higher education

Those who fail to articulate the issues their communities feel strongly about do the academy and society a disservice, says Sandro Galea

Changes to the way the UK accounts for the cost of student loans should trigger a rethink about the sources of university funding, says Ryan Shorthouse

Soldier-students likely to suffer heavily if for-profit institutions don’t deliver on promises

US administration portrays campaign as matter of fairness and equity

Agencies including the National Science Foundation are without funding

Scholars say Moon Jae-in administration is continuing tradition of replacing presidents appointed under previous government

With a renewed share of power, US Democrats promising help for universities and students confront Republicans and themselves

Theory that the protests provided essential fuel for Corbynism has specific relevance for higher education as Augar review looms

In Germany, Brazil and Hungary, students are being encouraged to film ‘biased’ professors, mirroring far-right tactics in US

Australia’s move to performance-based funding must be better thought through than England’s TEF, say Gwilym Croucher and Kenneth Moore

A ban on political advocacy and remedial action for possession of ‘radical concepts’ could undermine the special administrative region’s universities, says Michael O’Sullivan

University leaders are increasingly expected to communicate directly with staff and students, often on controversial topics – how should they handle this tricky task?

Higher education leaders fear shortage of skilled workers if limit is not lowered from £30,000

Government increases funding for project grants but cuts cash for associated costs

Even if tuition-free or ‘debt-free’ higher education cannot be achieved at national level, local reforms are having a big impact

Welcome for abolition of cap on visas for skilled workers, but continuing concern over impact of £30,000 salary threshold

Expert panel given six months to design new system

IFS researcher says ONS decision will make Labour fees pledge ‘a lot less expensive’ and bring more ‘Treasury scrutiny’ of sector

Today’s Office for National Statistics report will make challenging reading for the Augar review panel, but it must not resort to draconian cuts to student numbers, says Greg Walker

Estimated portion of loans that will never be repaid to be classed as government spending, rather than lending

Options said to have been modelled by Augar review could mean students with Ds or Es at A level are in effect blocked from entering university

PhD scholarships in the sights as cutbacks more than double analysts’ expectations

After US government officials escalate warnings against Chinese espionage, university presidents challenge idea that it’s a major campus activity

Universities beg government to cancel cut planned for mini-budget

Academics should not sneer at Simon Birmingham’s appeal to what ‘most Australians’ would think about projects, says Hannah Forsyth

High-cost meritocracy à la française will cut little ice with discerning international students, says Juliette Torabian

Impending ONS student loans review to impact on chancellor’s deficit elimination goal and government’s post-18 education review

Universities offer prestige but vocational colleges offer jobs, say leaders in three continents

Scholars in Riga and the UK explain why political theorist is still worth studying

Universities could also be forced to justify the quality and quantity of their research

As universities are warned of the risks of being politically partisan, Sam Gyimah’s resignation may leave the sector without a champion to defend it

Move by party tipped to form next government triggers speculation over creation of teaching-only universities

Both the rationale and the mechanism for redistributing research activity around the regions are far from clear cut, say Sarah Chaytor and Graeme Reid   

UUK International director also tells peers that ‘period of discontinuity’ in funding is a ‘real worry’

Historian backed Remain in EU referendum but is regarded as an ultra-loyalist

Amy Gutmann insists she ‘speaks out firmly’ on issues that relate to the values of the University of Pennsylvania

Universities minister’s exit removes a voice in government arguing against cut in funding – but adds to potential backbench opposition

Sector leaders fear consultation could be cover for cutbacks

Remain supporter says failed talks with EU on Galileo satellite programme expose Theresa May's proposed deal as “naive”

Strathclyde pollster says taking a side during the run-up to the referendum made institutions seem out of touch with the general population

As reviews pile on reviews, academics urged to get on board

Senior civil servant said Migration Advisory Committee report ‘looks good’ weeks prior to publication of document that backed Theresa May’s stance

Judgement is hard, but limits are appropriate if they ensure the quality of academic engagement with complex, competing ideas, says Sandro Galea

Universities minister says academic mobility will be addressed in UK-EU talks on Horizon Europe

Adam Habib fears ‘race to the middle’ if national fee-setting regime introduced

Reduce applicants’ workload and review funding for indirect research costs, Australian MPs tell government

Universities’ moves follow ministers’ demand for reduction in international student numbers

Legislation leaves government free to ‘ratchet up’ levy, say critics

Japan’s combined budgetary crunch and demographic squeeze has raised questions about the sustainability of its huge university sector. John Ross visits the country to investigate