Cardinal rule for Dearing to consider
ONE EFFECT of the Dearing inquiry is that at last we are beginning to see some serious debate about the fundamental purposes of higher education and its relationship with culture, society and the...
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After-dinner indigestibles
Half-baked, insubstantial conference papers provide poor fare for busy academics. Gavin Fairbairn wants something more to chew on Why do so many contributors at academic conferences abuse the...
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Brains in their tales
Job prospects for humanities graduates are not extinct, says Rick Rylance. He's even got the documentary evidence to prove their existence A usually responsible broadsheet newspaper recently ran a...
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Root of problem
Some senior academic university staff are adopting the title of doctor when not in possession of a doctorate. The General Dental Council recently reversed a rule which previously prevented dentists...
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The new academic vampirism
There is a great deal of talk about how the formation of research centres and networks, on a regional basis, can solve the sensitive problem of allocation of research funding in British universities...
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In good faith
"Faith in the future" (THES, March 21) provided a fascinating vignette of the religious scene in Britain. At a time of structural upheaval in our higher education system it is important that values...
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MBA road to ruin
As a former dean of a United States business school it is disheartening to learn that British companies are starting down a path once trodden and now largely abandoned as ineffective and inefficient...
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Uncertain future
The future of national vocational qualifications seems to become more uncertain, and contradictory, by the week. It is uncertain because cases of fraudulently-issued certificates (THES, March 14)...
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Whistling in the dark
"Ex-super hunts spoofers" (THES, March 21) included a quotation from me which did not deal as fully as I would have liked with the question of "whistleblowing". Blowing the whistle on activities can...
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Missing the target
The remarks by Nelson et al on accountability ("Publish and be praised", THES, March 21) were naive in the extreme. They were also out of touch with recent events in this country. Their scheme for "...
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Surprise, surprise
The cover-up culture continues. Government prorogues Parliament and evades a public report. Crucial evidence fails to reach the principal meat hygiene expert. The nuclear industry withholds costly...
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Don's diary
Monday Work begins at 8.40am. After picking up the morning papers to scan (and produce a cuttings sheet for top management), there is a work report meeting with my female boss. These encounters have...
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Backbiting in a backwater
In the past 30 years I have been associated with 100 vice chancellors. Ten prime ministers have come and gone in ߣߣÊÓƵ and the higher education system has been transformed from a group of 14...
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Moral anchors spin on centralising axis
A colleague from one of the former polytechnics is retiring this year. He is a professor and head of department in the humanities; as well as an excellent teacher and a sound administrator. He is too...
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Observatory chiefs eye cuts
DIRECTORS of the Royal Observatories in Edinburgh and Cambridge are being asked how to restructure the observatories, which are believed to be facing staff cuts of up to 50 per cent. The exercise is...