UK higher education policy
Joining up school and employer networks will help students decide what education option is ‘right’ for them, says v-c
Fixing student accommodation key to tackling raft of other student issues, argues Hepi report
Westminster initiative that brought together people from across the institution to look at climate policy can be replicated elsewhere, participants say
Third edition of British Council survey of international graduates shows continued positivity with UK education, despite sector challenges
Sector pushes to reopen negotiations on controversial tax, while some call for the income raised to be reinvested in universities
Country still on track to reach international education strategy target despite dip in revenue
Natalie Bennett insists resurgent environmental party remains committed to free tuition, and building a system where universities are no longer ‘places of fear’
‘Bad tendency to lift and shift’ undergraduate support on to postgraduate taught cohort, says leader of UK-wide study
Government initiative aims to dismantle ‘systemic factors that slow progression and push too many women out of research’
Long-awaited accounts reveal leaders departed crisis-hit institution with large payouts despite presiding over period where costs grew by almost half
Students’ human rights breached by changes that mean those studying overseas are deprioritised for NHS training places, lawyers claim
Likely next prime minister promises parity between academic and technical education
Just half of white working-class pupils say they’re likely to attend university, compared with 82 per cent of their middle-class peers
Introducing language requirements for whole sector undermines government’s widening access mission, universities say
Prospective future prime minister ‘very engaged’ with sector challenges, according to Manchester leaders who have worked with him
Law professor will deliver talk on gender identity and sex next term after disruption forced abandonment of previous event
Newly revised outcomes data show men who studied philosophy and history earned less than non-graduates with similar GCSE grades
New IFS research suggests going to university is still financially worthwhile for most – but a quarter see negative return
Ministers moot new rules for student finance as government continues crackdown on ‘low-quality’ courses
Labour’s post-16 agency is often tasked by ministers with detailed analysis. But nearly two years on from the fanfare around its announcement, universities remain unclear why they should engage with a body that has no clear role in forming or implementing policy. Helen Packer reports
Lack of transparency over environmental impact of technology leaves universities struggling to assess carbon footprint
Russell Group institution cites changing student demand as it puts 500 staff at risk of redundancy, with 150 jobs set to go
Shadow minister says institutions delivering strong graduate outcomes should be better funded, with money taken off those failing to deliver for students
Range of current providers and questions around which assessment is best requires greater clarity from universities, UKCISA warns
Focus on widening participation and shorter exchanges difficult to replicate in wider Erasmus programme, experts fear
Prime minister fell short of pre-election promise to stabilise higher education sector as focus shifted to other priorities, say policy experts
University of York leader will switch to fellow Russell Group member in October after seven years in charge
Post-Brexit programme established by Boris Johnson’s government shuttered after supporting 200,000 participants
By neglecting to adequately fund university teaching, the UK government is undermining its own growth ambitions for the creative sector, say Goldsmiths’ interim vice-chancellor David Oswell and, separately, Creative Industries Skills Audits co-author Heather Carey
DfE reportedly considering introducing minimum entry standard, potentially blocking tens of thousands of applicants from accessing student finance
New English quality framework over-reliant on data to measure student experience, critics fear
More than 300 social sciences programmes lost in past year, figures show, as critics bemoan decisions made on enrolment numbers alone
Former education secretary says mergers the solution for institutions in financial crisis as he calls for more ‘ambition’ in higher education
New leader of research-intensive grouping says ‘challenging conversations’ needed but critics urge united front against political attacks
Regulator scraps overall ratings after consultation on revamped exercise but commits to plans to limit growth at bronze providers
Labour politicians defend student finance system, including retrospective changes, as they suggest uplifting higher education funding is not a priority
Anand Menon criticises ‘absurdities’ of government policy, pointing to contradictions in UK’s efforts to rejoin flagship exchange scheme
Sector’s absence from Starmer’s trip to Beijing and Shanghai ‘wasn’t for lack of trying’, says Birmingham vice-chancellor
Updates to UK counter-terror monitoring scheme incoming despite concern Prevent not built to deal with growing problem of extreme right-wing views
Coming reduction in funding for high-cost subjects and access programmes ‘extraordinarily frustrating’, says Universities UK leader
‘Time is right’ to lower tuition fees for some accelerated degrees, says UK’s oldest private institution
Five-year tuition fee freeze, ban on franchising and introduction of new national entry test among other recommendations from Policy Exchange
Encouraging students to take part in employment opportunities essential, leaders say, but Manchester could find new commitment hard work
Fifth of job hunters report applying for more than 100 roles amid continued questioning of the value of a degree
Risk that universities will only be accessible to wealthier students owing to sky-high accommodation costs, report warns
With the NHS desperate for more capacity, increasing the number of doctors entering the system seems an obvious remedy. But with the system lacking the resources to boost training places or offer permanent jobs, insiders say that the flow of extra medical graduates must be staunched. Helen Packer reports
Renowned research sleuth says Stanford University president scandal underlines need for external inquiries when senior staff are accused
Sector stalwart picked to lead new UK grouping in next stage of development
Campaigners say UK government has not thought through plans to phase out support in favour of ‘freely available’ software
Falling UK government investment in teaching must be considered as part of review of student loan system, MPs told
People increasingly sceptical of higher education’s benefits, according to social attitudes poll, while majority back limits on international students
One in 10 out-of-work young people have a degree, major review finds, as UK prime minister warns too many are missing out on ‘high quality alternatives’ to university
‘Catch-all’ responses risk driving out high-quality provision, report warns
Findings strengthen case that UK should agree early access to next framework programme as soon as possible, say v-cs
Union fears remaining staff will face even heavier workloads as 500 jobs have already been lost over past two years
New fee structure for English regulator seeks to relieve ‘higher burden’ being placed on smaller providers
Hertfordshire’s announcement of course closures is the latest example of a dynamic that narrows access and deepens inequality, says Dragan Plavsic
UK institutions look to structural changes to address cost pressures, but warn there is only so much they can do without government support
Attitude towards proposed deal mixed across two institutions, with Cranfield staff hoping for more security while many King’s employees see move as risky
For the initiative to fulfil its potential, we need funding incentives, clearer understanding of demand and better policy alignment, says Jamie Roberts
