51³Ô¹Ï

¡®White liberals¡¯ are attacked from all sides of the US political spectrum. And with Donald Trump ramping up the rhetoric, college professors ¨C popularly seen as archetypal liberals ¨C are very much in the firing line, Kevin Schultz tells Matthew Reisz 

Donald Trump¡¯s attempt to end federal involvement in education may be the repayment of a political debt, but the department¡¯s creation was also political and, arguably, sits uneasily with the constitution. Patrick Jack considers what insights are offered by fellow federated nations Canada and Australia 

China¡¯s Double First-Class project appears to be paying off as the country¡¯s institutions continue to lead the rankings. Why have similar schemes elsewhere struggled to reap rewards, and can China keep advancing despite economic slowdown and an ageing population? Helen Packer reports

Sweeping cuts to USAID and the NIH have stranded the numerous overseas research groups in the 51³Ô¹Ï South that relied on their funding. With scepticism already mounting that the SDGs will be met by 2030, the devastation of relevant research is another body blow. Jack Grove reports

The clever stimulation of popular resentment against the perceived elitism of higher education only leaves the masses to the mercy of oligarchs who have aced the populism game, says Saikat Majumdar

In recent years, politicians have flip-flopped in their attitudes and policies towards higher education, amid controversy over ¡®woke¡¯ agendas and the social effects of immigration. Ahead of next month¡¯s general election, universities find themselves in both main parties¡¯ bad books. John Ross reports

With US academia under siege from the Trump administration, universities elsewhere are contemplating offering ¡®asylum¡¯ to disaffected researchers. Here, four former US academics now established abroad reflect on the potential culture shock that awaits US ¨¦migr¨¦s

Medr hatched last year with a radical remit to oversee both further and higher education. But will its baptism of fire singe its wings or provide it with an opportunity to find its teeth and reshape the Welsh university sector for the national benefit? Juliette Rowsell reports

Thousands of academics and professional services staff are losing their jobs across the UK. What are their chances of finding another position, either in higher education or elsewhere? Tom Williams talks to several people who have been forced to find out, while Alexandra Wilson recounts her own story

Discussions about the shape of the next framework programme, due to begin in 2028, are already under way. But the European Commission¡¯s deafening silence is stoking fears that it wants to refocus research funding on short-term industrial competitiveness. Emily Dixon reports

China¡¯s ambition to lead the world in AI is far from unique. Yet its resources, talent and coordination of higher education and industry could just give it the edge, especially as Donald Trump¡¯s policies diminish the US¡¯ allure to top talent. Helen Packer and Futao Huang report 

Alex Salmond¡¯s famous anti-fees pledge remains cast in stone. But with the debacle at Dundee lending credence to the view that Scottish universities are in an even deeper financial hole than their English counterparts, some suggest it is time for students to help haul them out. Tom Williams reports

While not everyone has a flair for it, popular writing can boost audience, income and professional enjoyment. But no silly titles please, says Lincoln Allison

The value of the UK¡¯s research block grants has fallen significantly since 2010, as policymakers have focused funding upticks on projects with compelling narratives. And in a tough financial climate, there are widespread fears that the trend could continue. Jack Grove examines what would be lost if it does

The administration¡¯s hostile edicts on DEI and science funding are sending shock waves through the US¡¯ world-leading higher education system. Here, we present five takes on what is unfolding

The marine biologist and new University of Melbourne vice-chancellor is intent on using insights from beneath the waves to keep her institution afloat through the brewing storms

When Covid-19 forced the sudden closure of campuses, conference venues and national borders, many predicted that academia would emerge from the experience forever changed. But five years on from the first wave of lockdowns, how accurate has that proved to be? Juliette Rowsell reports

Disagreements over the extent to which Catholic teaching should influence academic practice have caused ructions at the Australian Catholic University. But where exactly should the line between academic freedom and spiritual doctrine be drawn in a church-owned university? John Ross reports

India¡¯s opening up to overseas outposts has injected new life into a form of transnational education that many observers had considered to be moribund. But will the clutch of early adopters blaze a successful trail for others to follow? And what exactly would that look like? Helen Packer reports

With its Trump-style promise to smash woke ideology on campus, Germany¡¯s far-right populist party is widely seen as a threat by academics. And with even the country¡¯s mainstream parties promising little for higher education or research, few are relishing Sunday¡¯s election. Emily Dixon reports

The benefits of a strong brand are accruing for universities and academics alike. Jack Grove explores why reputation matters ¨C and examines the latest results in the list of the world¡¯s most prestigious universities

The long-mooted Oxford-Cambridge corridor is one avenue chancellor Rachel Reeves intends to pursue in search of a way out of the economic doldrums. But where does her focus on existing strengths leave blue-skies research and levelling up? And can a sector in crisis possibly deliver? Tom Williams reports

Higher education news feeds are currently dominated by near-daily announcements of large job cuts across the UK. But what effect is all this having on the atmosphere within the departments affected ¨C and, indeed, across the sector in general? Four scholars give their takes

Amid financial turmoil, post-92s are creating subsidiaries to employ staff without having to enrol them in the expensive Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme. But what does that mean for grant and REF eligibility ¨C not to mention hierarchies and industrial relations in an already restive sector? Juliette Rowsell reports

Can it be our responsibility as employees to better prioritise our well-being when the workload imposed on us goes so far beyond what can be done in a 35-hour week, asks Joan Taylor

Five years on since the UK officially left the European Union, Patrick Jack examines whether the consequences for universities have been as drastic as many feared at the time

The outgoing prime minister was widely welcomed by researchers as something of a knight in shining armour after Stephen Harper¡¯s ¡®anti-science¡¯ administration. But his international student caps have made him look more like a horseman of the apocalypse to many observers. Patrick Jack reports

Switzerland¡¯s agreement to join Horizon Europe follows a roller-coaster decade during which it was twice excluded from EU research programmes owing to political squabbles with the European Commission. Emily Dixon assesses the fallout ¨C and asks whether a third exclusion can be ruled out

A handful of glistening new universities have been established in recent years by Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs. But are they sufficiently numerous, free and well funded to make a real impact on India¡¯s patchy higher education scene? Helen Packer reports 

Ten years ago, just a handful of UK universities had policy institutes. Now, amid the drive for impact, they are ever more common. But are they really the golden ticket to policymakers¡¯ parlours? Are academics willing to be marshalled by them? And do they risk drowning each other out? Jack Grove reports

Institution-wide policies must affirm the necessity of engaging critically with AI tools in ways that foster human agency, writes Joseph Moxley

¡®Experimental public establishments¡¯ such as PSL and Paris-Saclay have suffered growing pains of late, but hopes remain high that France may finally have found a way for its complex web of institutions to compete on the world stage without trampling cherished historical identities, writes Emily Dixon

2024 saw swathes of jobs cuts amid concerns about universities going bankrupt. So is the sector now in a better position to weather the adverse financial climate? Are even worse storms ahead? Or will Labour undertake the systemic change that might see the sun shine again? Tom Williams reports

With the University of Rural England¡¯s hopes of survival resting on a bailout from a disgruntled tech bro alumnus, John Gilbey¡¯s seasonal tale sees its embattled vice-chancellor go back to the future in Silicon Valley 

Nokia¡¯s runaway success may have rung off a decade ago, but the Nordic nation hopes to dial up its tech prowess by increasing state investment in R&D by 80 per cent, putting the nation among the world¡¯s top spenders. Jack Grove travels to Tampere to hear about academics¡¯ role in the innovation nation

Winners of this year¡¯s 51³Ô¹Ï Awards hope to use their moment in the spotlight as a catalyst for further achievement

With working hours full of interruptions, early mornings offer the best chance to pursue labours of love. But how to get going ¨C especially if you are not a morning person? Three scholars debate the virtues of online versus in-person meetings, companionship versus solitude, and coffee versus pipe tobacco

As wars, both real and cultural, rage around the world, disputes about academic freedom are becoming ever more fraught. Is freedom of speech under threat on campus? And are some restrictions a reasonable price to pay to avoid offence or harm? We present the views of more than 450 academics

51³Ô¹Ï journalists name the change-makers at the heart of the sector¡¯s biggest debates over the past 12 months

The removal of recruitment caps in 2015 was hailed by ministers as a boon to institutions¡¯ and students¡¯ ambitions. But the tuition fee¡¯s declining value and the Russell Group¡¯s ever-growing market share now threaten the viability of some institutions, and calls are growing for a U-turn, writes Juliette Rowsell

Academics who rely on the British Library¡¯s unmatched collection are still feeling the impact of a devastating cyberattack a year ago. Jack Grove hears from those affected and considers how another catastrophic breach might be averted

Plagiarism accusations that led to the downfall of black US academics and politicians have sparked criticisms of ¡®sloppy¡¯ writing practices. But these controversies actually reveal how academics are struggling with the many writing technologies now essential to their jobs, argues Genevieve Creedon

The rise of Asian higher education has coincided with increasing graduate un- and under-employment in several nations, calling the value of degrees into question and threatening national stability. But is the problem underprepared students or dysfunctional politics and economies? Helen Packer reports

New crackdowns on overseas students have recently been introduced by Australia, Canada and the UK in response to concerns about immigration levels, housing costs and visa abuse. But will they work? Will they last? And where do they leave universities struggling to stay afloat? Patrick Jack reports 

Donald Trump¡¯s election as president in 2016 prompted a slew of academic books grappling with how such a figure could have been chosen to lead the free world. But what are the chances that any of those bleak tomes will dissuade American voters from re-electing him next month, asks Matthew Reisz

Diverging financial pressures are putting untold strain on common pay and pension arrangements. As recent pay awards constrain richer universities¡¯ ability to reward their staff as they see fit while pushing others into further strife, might a breaking point be close? Tom Williams reports 

Providing a pathway from community colleges to universities, the US¡¯ credit transfer system is admired around the world for driving social mobility and offering a vital second chance for late bloomers. But opaque and complex university rules are undermining it, argue Lauren Schudde and Huriya Jabbar

Papyrologist Roberta Mazza faced intimidation and legal threats when she blew the whistle on the multimillion-pound trade in illicit papyri

With the audiobook industry booming, university publishers are turning everything from hot new scholarly titles to Karl Marx¡¯s catalogue into engrossing listening. Matthew Reisz speaks to academics, producers and publishers about what makes a great audiobook and where the industry goes next

Thousands more students on the autism spectrum are entering universities thanks to improved diagnosis and support from schools. John Ross examines how institutions are adapting to this challenge and what more can be done

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?

A merit-based admissions lottery and strict caps on how many private school pupils go to Russell Group universities are necessary for a more egalitarian society, argue Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman

Junior scholars are urged to do all they can to build bridges with the people who can give them jobs and promotions. But how calculating should they be about who to approach? How should they do it? And isn¡¯t it all a bit grubby? Six established academics explain their perspectives

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 Australia altogether?

Tormented by playground thugs as a child, Jonathan Taylor reflects on why the insidious bullying found in universities is similar but much worse

A new law permitting foreign universities to set up Greek outposts is seen by some as a first step to transforming a very statist system. But with doubts over the law¡¯s constitutionality compounding the usual uncertainties of overseas ventures, will there be much interest, asks Emily Dixon

New Labour government believes decade-long budgets will lead to more industry investment in science and fewer precariously employed researchers, but not everyone is so convinced

Many scholars loathe generative AI but it has immense power to engage the intellectual curiosity of students as long as academics truly embrace it, argues John Kaag

At a time of increasing financial constraint, jobs are being shed even in UK departments that ride high in the Research Excellence Framework, while time allocations for research are being cut. Can a loss-making activity like research survive outside traditional institutions, asks Jack Grove 

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?