Â鶹

£20,000 essay-writing competition shortlist features two UK scholars

But Sutton Trust analysis says that while learning on the job can be a good alternative to university, too few qualifications are at this degree-equivalent level

Interim chief executive Douglas Blackstock warns teaching excellence framework will lack credibility without external assessment

Annual event continues to open up unexpected places and debates

Department’s 250,000 ‘credibility interviews’ in two years questioned after ‘unjustified’ refusals to students

The new-look IMR aims to support and showcase studies across the musical spectrum

Academics debate whether non-subject-specific exams could be used to measure ‘learning gain’ in English higher education

Study recommends that universities use financial and market data to assess whether programmes are likely to succeed

Despite the ironic slips, article sheds light on how journals can tackle flawed science

Study says that importance of survey results may lead to ‘overzealous promotion’ and encourage more generous responses

A round-up of recent recipients of research council cash

The good, the bad and the offbeat – the academy through the lens of the national press

University of Liverpool vice-chancellor says remarks harm UK’s global reputation

Gene Grossman says restrictions on globalising the academy are ‘hugely damaging’

Scholar urges delegates at conference in the Netherlands to use measures like Twitter to measure public engagement, rather than turning them into new metrics

Emeritus Cancer Research UK lab director shares chemistry prize with two US-based researchers for work on DNA

Study finds ‘super ties’ with another academic can lead to higher citation rates

Deeper academic collaboration between Cuba and the United States has now been put on the agenda

Andrew Hamilton warns politicians against ‘false economies’ in his final annual speech

Higher education Green Paper due in the next few weeks, says minister at Conservative Party conference

Â鶹 secretary takes swipe at university ‘lobbyists’ but no mention about speculation that she has lost support of Cameron on students being included in net migration count

Japanese and Canadian professors awarded prize for their work on ‘nature’s most elusive elementary particles’

Former universities minister criticises colleagues by pointing out irony that to cut participation, it is affluent South where numbers would need to be cut

The University of Cambridge is the top UK institution for hosting both international and British students who go on to win Nobel prizes, finds British Council

Money to be set aside for ‘blue skies’ fundamental research

Institutions signed up to IIE’s Generation Study Abroad initiative have pledged to create scholarships for under-represented students, says report

Independent audit ordered by president in wake of claims by black students’ officer

Scientists from Japan, China and Ireland awarded for their work tackling parasitic diseases

Falmouth deputy v-c’s remarks spur artists’ sharp comment on changes to arts education

Academic ‘scallywags’ are gaining doctorates thanks to the circulation of dodgy theses within some universities, says the founder of plagiarism pressure group

Fears that 40 per cent levy could leave academics and students unable to access new research

Habesha Project aims to ‘send a message of solidarity to the Syrian nation’

One of England’s biggest private colleges admitted students ‘who could not complete’ programmes, finds Quality Assurance Agency

Super-selective institutions do not always offer value in teaching and learning, THE World Academic Summit hears 

Paper claims that medical impact case studies focused on policy impact, not improvement in patient mortality or quality of life

Berkeley chancellor says great public institutions can support their missions by looking for funding elsewhere

New education minister Simon Birmingham announces at THE summit in Melbourne that controversial policy will not come in next year

Nobel laureate tells THE World Academic Summit that institutions provide funding and job security too late

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-2016 will include 800 institutions for the first time

A round-up of recent recipients of research council cash

Co-founder of investment firm says that more early career academics should be encouraged to think about the entrepreneurial route

Questions have been raised about the source of data used by Downing Street to accuse institutions of hosting hate preachers

The good, the bad and the offbeat – the academy through the lens of the national press

Government urged to reveal source of claims about universities that allegedly hosted extremist speakers

Funding councils also propose new questions on student engagement

Two cohorts of managers, drawn from universities across the country, will study for doctorates in higher education management

Partnership with Cornwall College Group will see tourist attraction open its doors to undergraduates

Majority of academics publishing in journals with lax peer review are from Asia, study concludes

Hefce research explores proportion of university leavers in professional jobs in years following end of course

British universities are political heavyweights on global stage, says Hepi report

Securing a job after graduation, improving earning potential and enjoying personal interaction with a course leader have been cited as the main perceived benefits of UK higher education by future international students

Increased role for governing bodies also questioned in responses to Hefce’s quality assessment consultation

No institution ranked among the world’s top 200 can be said to be average, but by looking at this cohort’s average indicators, we can learn much about what it takes to become world class

Wider reach is good news for the BRIC nations and other developing economies. Ellie Bothwell reports

The global higher education landscape is changing. THE is evolving, too, developing a collaborative approach to help universities flourish as they navigate challenging terrain, writes managing director Trevor Barratt

Times Higher Education’s six-pronged offer provides the global academy with the tools to find the right path – higher education’s ‘strategic sonar’

More data, more institutions and elimination of kilo-author papers: full control has enabled THE to make world rankings even better, writes Duncan Ross

The growth of the kilo-author paper recognises one form of excellence but challenges measurement, writes Duncan Ross

Our universities’ tradition of openness offers a necessary corrective to insularity and irrationality at home and abroad, argues Louise Richardson

When it comes to the leadership required to enable universities to tackle today’s challenges, one rule applies, says Peter Doherty: quality is everything