Beer storm brewing
The University of Bradford has defended its curriculum after being accused of offering a "course on beer drinking" in the House of Lords this week. Former Tory minister Lord Trefgarne said that...
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Speaking in tongues
C. P. Snow's "two cultures" concept has been most eloquently illustrated by BBC quizmaster Robert Robertson's attempt to pronounce the name of a group of chemical elements during this week's edition...
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Umist should abandon boycott 'witch-hunt'
The university should stop hounding Mona Baker and defend scholarly freedom, say Michael Cohen and Colwyn Williamson. Translation studies is a discipline that does not normally attract attention, but...
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Why I...I believe academics should avoid the mass media
To have an academic reputation is increasingly less to do with research and knowledge development and more to do with having a media presence. For the mass media, experts provide a sense of...
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Top-up plan falls down
A hike in tuition fees will damage efforts to widen participation and restrict the growth of key subject areas, argues Timothy O'Shea The University of Edinburgh and Imperial College, London, both...
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Free us from the public sector
Any changes in fees should be part of a general 'deregulation' of the university sector, argues Peter Knight. More drivel has been talked on the subject of top-up fees over the past few weeks on...
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V-cs' fury over 'at risk' list
Vice-chancellors have accused the Association of University Teachers of damaging the international reputation of British higher education and putting academics' jobs at risk by wrongly claiming that...
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Election win could spell end of scarf ban
Turkey's ban on religious dress in universities could end after the victory of the Islamic-rooted AK party in last Sunday's general election. Party leader Tayyip Erdogan said the ban "would be...
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Scientists call for bio-research safeguards
Academic scientists have a vital role in tackling the threat from biological weapons, according to leading UK scientists in the Royal Society. They called for a universal set of standards for...
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In-fighting blurs Scots vision of flexibility
All Scots should have an educational entitlement to be used how and when they wish, according to a report to be debated in parliament at the end of this month. But the proposals have received a wary...
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Ministers plan to teach v-cs leadership skills
Vice-chancellors will be taught how to run universities under plans being developed by the English funding council, Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals. The government's higher...
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Business schools are told to 'cut apron strings'
Business schools should be given more independence from their universities, according to the outgoing chair of the Association of Business Schools. Steven Watson, principal of Henley Management...
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Funding council slated for RAE waste
Inconsistent standards and wasteful efforts dogged last year's research assessment exercise, according to Universities UK. Moreover, it told the funding councils that "the funding outcome from RAE...
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QAA to target 'failing' MBAs
Scores of British MBA courses could be downgraded or forced to close with the publication of new guidelines on standards by the Quality Assurance Agency. A new national benchmark prescribing the...
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Agency is 'stifling' degree baby at birth
Quality watchdogs are in danger of stifling the development of the foundation degree with too many regulations, the qualification's original architect has warned, writes Tony Tysome. David Robertson...