Politics

Labour ex-minister criticises the view that UK ‘can’t afford English identity’

Move follows objections to Woodrow Wilson references on campus

John Morgan on the Green Paper's plans to make universities exempt from FoI

Commitment not to merge the research councils appears to contradict plans for a bonfire of the quangos in BIS

Matthew Feldman reflects on academics’ place in the insatiable 24-hour news cycle

Merger ‘inappropriate’, but seven councils would be overseen by new chief executive

Higher education expert who died in February asks in paper what might replace strengths of the polytechnic system

Higher education Green Paper says director of fair access to higher education could be given power to set entry goals for universities

Student opportunity cuts could worsen part-time crisis, warns Open University v-c, while research concerns focus on ring-fence and ‘tucking in’

It is wrong for universities to ignore learning, says Anthony Seldon

Simon Gaskell says Queen Mary University of London would be ‘crucified’ on graduate salary score because of diverse intake

GuildHE’s chief executive, a former BIS official, warns that Hefce’s expertise on teaching grant should not be lost

Liang Xinsheng removed from deputy chair post after writing ‘radical opinions’ that had a ‘bad social influence’

Ed Byrne warns institutions’ finances could be ‘undermined’ in the name of policy initiatives

‘Concatenation’ of financial pressures could create serious risks, Madeleine Atkins says

We talk Whitehall, tuition fees and Sunderland FC with the veteran Daily Mirror journalist

A. C. Grayling says private college plans offer ‘greater choice and improved quality’ 

TEF seen as paving the way to a market in price by a supporter of differential fees

The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press

Consultation is good, but universities must respond robustly, he says

Going to university ‘influences outlook on life’, research for UK government suggests

Representative bodies sign up to new code of practice on course closure and institutional collapse

Alexis Weedon unveils a computer game for the post-Green Paper era

Panelists call on government to avoid making TEF a ‘bureaucratic exercise’

Richard Black on the ‘lazy and self-serving argument’ that research and teaching are in competition

Science and Technology Committee raises fears that resource spending has not kept up with new infrastructure

Adam Afriyie urges policymakers to test their preconceived ideologies against evidence

What Fulfilling Our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice means for the higher education sector

Government proposals will be detrimental not just to scholarship but to quality teaching in higher education, says Joanna Williams

Much is to be decided on who will distribute research funding, but a metrics-based ‘mini-REF’ may raise eyebrows, says David Matthews

Some of the key points to take away from the government’s consultation on the future of universities

Most institutions likely to be able to increase fees in 2017-18, with subsequent awards to allow for further rises

Hefce and Office for Fair Access would be merged into new body under government proposals, while Green Paper also suggests ministers could set fee caps

John Morgan looks at plans to make it quicker for private colleges to access public funding and become universities

International competitors will be ‘licking their lips’ if the UK labels some universities as weaker on teaching, says Andrew Hamilton ahead of his departure

The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press

More exchange with the policymaking world will only further academia’s vital role in shaping ideas in society, says Nick Pearce

Varying tuition fees by graduate earnings is fair and transparent, argues Dean Machin, and will ensure everyone shares the financial risk

The UK’s female academics are paid £6,146 less on average than men, with lack of women in leadership and management roles a factor, says new report

John Morgan reports from today’s protest in London, which saw a flashpoint between protesters and police at BIS

Mike Ratcliffe looks at why institutions have traditionally had to serve an ‘apprenticeship’, ahead of Green Paper set to change the rules

MoneySavingExpert.com founder who chaired student finance task force opposes government plans to freeze repayment threshold

Government’s social mobility adviser speaks out amid suggestions Green Paper has been delayed to allow tie-in with PM speech on social mobility

Shorten waiting period for financial assistance with study and create bespoke foundation courses to aid entry into higher education, the EUA recommends

Follow reporter John Morgan's live coverage of the Grants Not Debt march in London

BJP's Ram Naik calls on institutions to 'inculcate folk culture' in ceremonies amid concerns over rising Hindu nationalism

University with close links to former prime minister to be home for planned library, museum and resources for both education and research

Outgoing New York University president John Sexton dismisses concerns over academic freedom at his institution’s Abu Dhabi campus

Funding, staffing and alternative providers among issues to be considered as part of £5 million initiative

Government urged to change plans to avoid damage to English universities’ global reputation

Home secretary accused of basing policy on ‘bonkers’ figure about students overstaying visas

The good, the bad and the offbeat: the academy through the lens of the national press

Higher fees are to blame for plunging enrolments, says Claire Callender, and dismantling of provision may make loss irreversible

The country’s young are angry about more than just tuition costs, which is why solutions are difficult, says Martin Hall

Shadow chancellor to address London rally that also opposes scrapping of maintenance grants

Researchers from 72 institutions say they will not visit Israeli higher education institutions, act as referees, or participate in conferences

Spanish scientist and politician Pablo Echenique on why he won’t be visiting the UK again after being thwarted from delivering a lecture by the UK visa regime

Awards will recognise ‘academic excellence’ and ‘real-world impact’ of research, says universities minister

Prime minister announces 2017 change to ‘extend social mobility’

President Jacob Zuma says he ‘understands the difficulty faced by students’ as demonstration also held outside South African High Commission in London