Politics

Home Office generates anger in India by omitting nation from list of countries granted relaxed student visa rules

Dedicated department aims to accelerate move towards knowledge economy

Home Office hailed as being ‘on a roll’ after move, which also benefits other major Asian nations

University system ‘is not a market that is working in the interests of students or taxpayers’, committee claims

Sam Gyimah says institutions must be able to tell parents when students are struggling with mental health issues

Danny Dorling suggests limiting debts to pre-2012 levels

Further education has suffered a dark decade in Australia, but now even universities are beginning to think things have gone too far. John Ross reports

France’s new ‘Parcoursup’ system for university entry is intensifying the nation’s historical agonies over whether selectivity is compatible with égalité, says Louise Lyle

There are hints of a thaw in the Home Office’s icy hostility to immigrants, but universities could also do more to protect their own staff, says Paul Jump

Hard-pressed officials may struggle to implement reform agenda effectively, observers say

Scholars want an end to stifling university legislation, but differ on proposed approach

Slash interest rates and reintroduce maintenance loans, says critical report

Dramatic cuts to public funding and an exodus of talent in the midst of an economic crisis endanger country’s position as a leader in Latin American higher education

Public suspect researchers are performing ‘impact’ and hitting targets for the benefit of government regulators, not them, European academies argue

Architect of Browne review says he is yet to hear ‘wholly convincing’ case for reducing fees

Event hears rallying cry for liberal education in the face of ‘false dichotomy’ between learning and jobs

Sam Gyimah criticises institutions for trying to get ‘bums on seats’, as graduate earnings analysis reveals wide variation in performance

Unions and universities worry that agreements could leave them vulnerable to for-profit competition and entrench privatisation

Concerns about the teaching excellence framework’s rigour and integrity have not been addressed. The exercise needs a fundamental rethink, says Guy Nason

Widely varying tuition fees and financial aid programmes prevent students from making fully informed decisions, and policymakers from understanding the effects of interventions, say Ross Finnie, Richard Mueller and Arthur Sweetman

A home-grown alternative to the research assessment exercise would better reflect local practice and sit better with the special administrative region’s new political reality, says Michael O’Sullivan

Toronto president says international ventures have diverted resources from institutions’ core activities

Review of international students in net migration target must be priority of home secretary’s ‘fresh look’ at immigration policy, say sector leaders

Although ousted prime minister Najib Razak supported strategy, there were signs it had already reached its limits

To what extent can universities drive economic development – or vice versa? Rachael Pells explores the ways in which higher education and economic success interact

Moral and cultural organisations such as universities must strive harder to rid the body politic of populist infection, in central Europe and elsewhere, says Tomáš Halík

The initial botched attempt to draw up a shortlist of institutions eligible for extra funding does not augur well, writes Pushkar

As a Brit leading HKU, Peter Mathieson had no baggage. The University of Edinburgh’s new v-c tells Ellie Bothwell about academic freedom, internationalisation and being treated to taxi drivers’ views on students

Creation of Ministry of Science and Higher Education seen as potential boost to Project 5-100

Albert Schram may not return to Pacific nation to defend claims that he faked his PhD

Five Star Movement offers ‘detailed’ policies on HE, but has been attacked as anti-science

University expertise gives decision-makers breathing space, says former foreign secretary

Task ahead for universities to show return if country is to be part of next framework programme

As the EU’s proposals for its Horizon Europe research funding framework near publication, the UK must commit to playing a full role, says Paul Boyle

The new UK home secretary must reinstate workers’ right to participate in industrial action regardless of national origin, says Shreya Atrey

Major survey finds widespread support for universities among party’s supporters, but reveals clear divides with Democrats on funding

University of Florence professor in line to lead coalition of the Five Star Movement and the League

PM says UK would ‘willingly’ pay to enter Horizon Europe, but wants ‘influence’

Academics raised concerns about ‘loaded’ questions asked by Migration Advisory Committee

Education minister says top-down reforms are needed to ensure better regulation of standards

No money left for universities after country’s government introduces free higher education

Giving Irish undergraduates continued access to home fee status and loans could be discriminatory, experts warn

With the consultation now closed, Philip Augar’s review of English post-18 education must begin the hard work of devising substantial but cost-effective proposals, says Andy Westwood 

UCL provost Michael Arthur warns on potential impact of immigration restrictions and exit from EU research

Academics from North and South Korea are exploring how reunification could work, says Incheon National University president

Analysis of academic boycott of Central Powers after WWI prompts warnings over Trump administration plans

NAO says government’s oversight of organisation is ‘not up to date and lacks clarity’

Universities and sector experts welcome opposition pledge as boost for students and labour market

Minister given explicitly political task of boosting Tories on campuses, just as policy gets even more complex

The new remit for the Higher Education Standards Panel flags up various regulatory issues that the minister wants to see addressed, says Gavin Moodie

Former president of the Czech Academy of Sciences warns of online dirty tricks that may have cost him country’s presidency

Reduction in graduate numbers to hit economic growth and tax revenues, says pre-budget modelling

Theresa May’s call for price competition rejected by sector across the board

MPs on Science and Technology Committee not satisfied with government response to Brexit report

Thailand’s education minister tells conference that a consensus is better for ensuring universities help local communities

MAC report on impact of international students will be ‘hard to ignore’ for new home secretary

Objections to the suppression of ‘sensitive’ articles should not be based on outmoded claims about consumption, says Michel Hockx

Whichever parties form the new Italian government, higher education and research are unlikely to be priorities, says Davide Donina

It was at a Munich university that a group of students formed a non-violent movement to resist the Nazi regime. Their courageous idealism sets an example that, Kenneth Asch hopes, continues to flower on campuses

Drug-related crime, rising unemployment and low salaries are all contributing to a postgraduate shortage that indicates an uncertain future for Mexico’s higher education system, finds Rachael Pells