An academy that boldly goes where leaders fear to tread
University of the West Indies' head says it must lead by example to tackle social ills. John Morgan reports

University of the West Indies' head says it must lead by example to tackle social ills. John Morgan reports
Standards overhaul suggests a move from guidance to obligation. Simon Baker reports
Widening participationRetiring v-c: elite still failing poorNew universities are still key to widening participation and elite institutions are falling short in this regard, according to an outgoing...
LSE professor favours Publish or Perish over peer review for evaluation exercise. Paul Jump reports

Don't be put off by the Commission on a Bill of Rights, say Colin Harvey and Colm O'Cinneide - we must engage with it

Experts fear race to the bottom and a squeezed middle. John Morgan and Simon Baker report

Overhaul will turn funding council from grant-giving quango into 'classic regulator', writes Simon Baker
The inspection of universities by the standards watchdog should move towards a "risk-based" approach that reduces red tape for "well-regarded" institutions, the government's White Paper on higher...

White Paper seeks to ease restrictions on what can be called a 'university'. Simon Baker reports
The University and College Union is set to link up with public sector unions in a national strike over pensions - but one vice-chancellor expects to count the number of strikers "on one hand".

Majority expect to emerge stronger, but a short tail fear reforms' negative impact, writes Simon Baker
Leeds Metropolitan University is pursuing its widening participation agenda by calling on the services of a former horse whisperer who offers "equine-assisted training" to students and staff.The...
The White Paper lacks vision: the coalition's short-termism must give way to long-term thinking, Libby Hackett says

Mike Boxall and Paul Woodgates consider the attitudes to the new academic order revealed by PA Consulting's latest v-c survey
The table (see related file, right) features the top universities and research organisations in the field of plant sciences and mycology based on highly cited papers published during the period 2000...