University funding and finances
Wary of backing a ‘toxic’ big rise in fees, vice-chancellors are coalescing around a demand for more public subsidy for higher education instead. Despite the cost, could this option be more palatable for Labour?
Doing so would do a service not only to Muslim would-be students worried about usury but to everyone concerned about debt, says Steve Connolly
Paper gains masked last year’s losses but harder times lie ahead, watchdog warns
College closures and job losses ‘inevitable’ as enrolment caps loom and visa waits lengthen
The UK’s austerity-fixated new government is highly unlikely to find significant extra money for universities, says Andrew McRae
Process for limiting international student recruitment ‘like a game of musical chairs’, Senate committee hears
Former universities minister agrees with King’s principal that ‘now is the moment’ for fee increase
Report attempts to quantify economic benefit of universities as financial issues heap doubts on their future
Regional institutions hope to benefit as they are handed quotas higher than current numbers at expense of rich Group of Eight universities. But will effect of the policy merely put students off ߣߣÊÓƵ altogether?
Latest figures showing that growth has fallen to lowest level in decades should be a ‘wake-up call’ for government, says Universities ߣߣÊÓƵ
Increased American targeting of foreign enrolments expected to prompt policy response and reduce competitor countries’ access to ‘low-risk’ students
Universities may be discouraged from taking on displaced students for fear of them counting towards their quota, policy expert warns
Nearly 100 academics placed at risk of redundancy, with union claiming staff are ‘paying the price for failed pet projects’
Top-tier institutions accused of not engaging with concerns about scale of overseas cohorts
Schumacher College in Devon shuts down programmes after more than 30 years of offering degrees in ecology
Academics question why some universities should be pushed to the wall while others swell their intake
Newly announced quota ‘like a levy by stealth’, analyst says, as universities evaluate the impact at institutional level
Institutions mull estates buyback schemes and more major cutbacks as post-clearing reality hits
No currently enrolled students will be disadvantaged, bureaucrat insists, despite quarrels over data and assessment that bill ‘is more suited to national security legislation’
Firm whose lawyer helped initiate ACU saga handed job of finding leakers
Vice-chancellor says it is ‘fine’ for international students to make up nearly half of Melbourne’s enrolments
University lobby demands revocation of ‘ministerial direction 107’, after education minister insists student quotas will be a ‘better mechanism’
Baroness Smith suggests new UK government will not bail out at-risk institutions but says she wants to secure ‘financial stability’ of sector
As they brace for big policy shifts, inflation and flat domestic demand have left ߣߣÊÓƵn universities more vulnerable than before Covid
Universities must not use international education reforms as a smokescreen to jettison staff, ߣߣÊÓƵn union says
Need to pay athletes, including in money-spinning American football and basketball, could limit subsidies for other sports
It is heartening to have an education secretary who values universities as a public good, but public goods require public funding, says Jo Grady
Proposal denigrated as ‘wealth tax’ better than the alternative, architect says, as ߣߣÊÓƵn universities unite to oppose caps
Labour has placed its faith in better regulation sorting out the financial issues in the sector, but what tools and powers does an already overburdened organisation need to tackle its biggest challenge yet?
Canberra should avoid unnecessary damage by waiting to assess the impact of no fewer than nine other policy changes, professor says
Fees for humanities degrees reach dizzying milestone, raising questions over how many will ever be repaid
University funding across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ‘consistently unstable’ despite policy divergence since devolution, report highlights
Future financial health of UK institutions reliant on increasing student numbers after Labour rebuffs funding requests
Larger proportion of people back charging more for certain courses when given context, Policy Institute at King’s College London finds
Returning leader says UK instead needs ‘major rethink’ of funding model and how it supports low-income and mature students
Government urged to appoint new higher education commissioner to oversee £2.5 billion loan scheme in case of institutions going bankrupt
Almost half of institutions say insufficient funding is biggest obstacle to better teaching and learning
Scholars express concern as the University Grants Commission has its budget slashed by 61 per cent
State governments, policy experts and law council present united front against federal proposal
Education secretary to update parliament amid reports of three institutions heading close to bankruptcy
Years of tight funding settlements, exacerbated by high inflation and recent research cuts, have left New Zealand’s higher education and research sectors in a parlous state. Will the comprehensive reviews under way help them dodge the looming cyclone? John Ross reports
English universities can expect ‘new chapter’ after facing ‘destructive behaviour’ under previous government, former Labour business minister says
While ߣߣÊÓƵ says it wants universities ‘going to the world’, its policies are making it harder
University says donation was meant to have been made personally by Ravi Gill, owner of the operating company
Big business and states join universities in opposing proposed limits
Annual Transparent Approach to Costing data shows returns on international students fell again last year
Universities haemorrhage money as students face months-long waits
Further €92 million needed to cover existing staff costs, Irish University Association tells government
All eyes are on Tohoku University and its grandiose future plans as excellence initiative gets under way, but critics question whether goals are achievable
‘Outrageous impost’ to fund domestic education initiatives is ‘robbing Ranjit to pay for Richard’
Sector leaders say stopgap solution needed to ensure institutions remain viable, but extra funding is likely to come with strings attached
Nearly three-quarters of people want next government to take action to support a higher education institution at risk of closure
If the best books aren’t REFable, UK research will appear artificially weak, say Heather Widdows, Fiona Macpherson and Simon Kirchin
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be treated little differently from their privileged cousins, critics say
Kiwi institutions committed to ‘academic audit as a concept’ but look to save costs
Union demands parliamentary inquiry as instances continue to emerge
Major parties have been ‘silent’ on higher education challenges ahead of general election, event hears
Money lent to those from wealthier backgrounds to pay for university may be better spent elsewhere, says Dame Margaret Hodge
On-site childcare is seen as vital for meeting equality and access goals, but with funding squeezed and demand unpredictable, many institutions are deciding the costs outweigh the benefits
University leaders anticipate financial challenges as government invests elsewhere, with job losses and course cuts expected
