Politics

Universities praise continuity of reappointments in era of reform, as post-election reshuffle ushers in new assistant ministry in international education

New levy on income from international students proposed as government outlines wide-ranging changes to immigration system

Macron criticised over €100 million package while ‘underfunding’ higher education at home

‘Third way’ approach to international students would see country strengthen educational offer but also send more of its own citizens abroad

University groups urge more flexibility and funding for ‘crucial’ cross-border education in next long-term budget

Having teaching and research under one ministry would improve policy, but it is the Home Office that could be the real problem, says Nick Hillman

Whole role of science in societies ‘being threatened’ by period of great turbulence, says scholar who chaired Ireland’s Covid vaccination drive

Higher education and business leaders write to Stormont over the sector’s ‘real and current jeopardy’

Maintaining opportunities only for young people dismissed as little better than wholesale defunding

Europe needs effective responses to attacks on science in the US and elsewhere, says Jan Palmowski

Institutions forget their importance to countries when they let themselves get embroiled in political debates, summit hears

Newly re-elected government urged to treat students with more compassion, with high visa costs ‘putting off a generation’

Amid talk of an asylum crackdown, any policy changes must avoid harming overseas graduates’ post-study work opportunities, says James Pitman

After comprehensive election win, Labor faces pressure to push on with wide-ranging agenda for higher education reform that stalled during last parliament

Research, teaching and external communications affected as academics report refraining from certain activities during second Trump presidency

Regardless of how the courts and voters respond to Trump’s actions, the government’s funding ability is likely to decline, says Nathan Decety

Australia re-elects governing party after it promises to rein in costs of graduate repayments, with foreign students greeting ‘least worst outcome’

Neither party has offered realistic estimates of fee increase windfalls or implications of loan scheme proposals, critics say

Proposed 60-hour limit another ‘cynical ploy’ to use students to balance the books, representative group says

University transformation relies on more open relationship with government, says group focused on sector-wide cost reductions

Having won three previous lawsuits, Jokowi in court again over supposed inconsistencies between typed thesis and its printed cover pages

Having pulled off an unlikely victory in snap poll, Canadian prime minister is told to make position on controversial policy clear

Buoyant figures reflect enrolment decisions made before politicians attempted to bring in restrictions, vice-chancellor says

Doubling of international fees, closing visa ‘loopholes’ and tying student debt to mortgages among the ideas proposed ahead of poll

Unregistered providers account for more than half of franchised tuition fee money claimed in past three years, new figures show

Labor proposes A$400 hike to what are already the highest fees in the world with the opposition Liberal Party planning even steeper increases

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

Iranian HE was once an engine of social mobility. But now it is buckling under economic strain, mismanagement and political neglect, says Roohola Ramezani

Academic who has been a vocal critic of long-running student blockades joins government, sparking further demonstrations

Deputy first minister chairing ministerial group to consider fresh help for university, amid continuing doubts over its viability

While main parties battle over debt-wipe proposal in Australian election, critic says scale of fees is the real issue

This is American universities’ 9/11 moment. But now, as then, understanding why we are hated is important, says Jonathan Zimmerman

Concerns framework programme’s budget could be redirected to back projects with military uses ‘threatens to undermine its core purpose’, say leading research universities

French institution reports 300 applications as state funding bolsters efforts to ‘offer refuge’ to those fleeing Trump funding cuts

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 

Union says means-tested grants of up to £4,224 should be reintroduced on top of existing loans, as spending review looms

Planned restructure of key government departments under new coalition must keep dual responsibilities of universities together, leaders say

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson takes action over concerns about attendance and recruitment at Oxford Business College

New restrictions following pro-Palestinian encampments appear to contravene Australian universities’ commitments on free speech, says legal academic

Union tells scholars to avoid all but essential trips and academic conferences choose non-US locations amid ‘sea change’ in research collaboration

University’s refusal to concede to demands over protests and DEI despite risk of ‘grave consequences’ has led to renewed optimism among staff

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

Medical training a bright spot for the sector, in an election campaign mostly focused elsewhere

Australian university council members bear far less onerous ethical and reporting obligations than volunteer mums and dads, analysis finds

Bill proposing screening of all scholars working on ‘sensitive areas’ will create ‘huge administrative burden’, leaders warn

UK should aim for growth in student numbers but recognise ‘opportunities to reform’ post-study work rights, finds commission convened by former universities minister

Debt forgiveness could reduce graduates’ borrowing capacity, as home ownership becomes defining issue of upcoming election

Alarm that immigration targets may trump universities’ pleas as government mulls new policies

European universities urged to review dependence on Amazon, Google and Microsoft as Trump policies expose vulnerabilities

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

Resistance strategies emerge as White House attempts to make elite universities fall in line

Bill requires universities to promise not to ‘take positions’ on non-core issues or ban invited speakers because of what they might say

Australian university set to become first foreign institution with base in Middle Eastern country, but its staff think it should focus closer to home

‘Lingering doubts’ over future of higher-level opportunities adds to anxiety for institutions that have become more financially reliant on levy money

Alan Langlands to chair taskforce set up to look at teaching and research offer of stricken institution

Institutions scramble to quell ‘panic’ caused by visa revocations, while seeking to avoid incurring wrath of regime intent on cutting funding

Renewed push for country to join Horizon Europe, as foreign minister urges universities to ‘diversify’

Cost of living concerns and difficulties finding graduate jobs drive students to join widespread protests 

Reviving caps could ‘backfire’ if Treasury given more control over what courses universities run, says former universities minister

Key parliamentary ally seeks explanation over apparent discrepancies in reporting of consultancy spend