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John Morgan blogs from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester

Campus universities seem to have happier students. Mark Smith and Adam Child think they know why

The Labour Party’s lack of a higher education policy could leave the sector at the mercy of perils far greater than the teaching excellence framework, argues Martin McQuillan

The changing higher education landscape is making a mockery of Ucas, says Zahir Irani

Most REF case studies related simple, short-term impacts, missing a host of wider, longer-term effects, argues Trisha Greenhalgh

Declassified after 50 years, the papers aren’t always reliable sources of information, but they help historians fill in the blanks, says Geoff Andrews

The UK has performed well in our expanded World University Rankings, but intangible assets are a vital source of strength

Kenn Nakata Steffensen takes an in-depth look at the challenges facing Japan’s public universities

The results of the 2015-2016 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, discussed by the THE editorial team.

As Plymouth University announces that its next vice-chancellor is a woman, are we witnessing a shift in the sector?

Ben Neville and Tom Swann set out why they wish some universities made more ethical investment decisions

Jess Patterson on why she fears the teaching excellence framework will be bad news for early career academics

John Morgan looks at the latest spending review developments

Effective engagement and social interaction are key, says Stefan Rennick-Egglestone

This week's edition discussed by the Times Higher Education team

It seems unlikely that charity donors will want to pay for university research overheads – but someone will have to eventually

A Russell Group tagline rap is further proof that we need to reform the academy’s approach, argues Philip Moriarty

Naomi Weir urges caution in the face of plans to reform an efficient research funding system

In an age of extroverts, a scholar’s paean to shyness and Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘radio phone-in’ PMQs tack against the prevailing winds

Matthew Reisz finds everything from pencilled moustaches to stick-on lizards affixed to the doors of academics

Sir Keith Burnett, vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, takes a sideways look at the power of university brands

John Morgan looks at the differences between Cambridge and Oxford on the £9,000 tuition cap – and the idea of ‘going private’

Failing is part of being an academic, says John Tregoning, so we should be ready for it

Studies on urine, pain thresholds and unboiled eggs honoured in annual awards for improbable research. John Elmes takes a look

The Prevent programme will cause real problems for universities, say Phil Lindan and Meriel Schindler

Jack Grove surveys the exhibition hall in Glasgow, and finds institutions keen to impress

This week's issue discussed by the Times Higher Education team

David Price argues that axeing staff selection would remove the temptation to manipulate data and protect careers

Did a huge research replication exercise do a power of good? ask Wolfgang Stroebe and Miles Hewstone

Jo Johnson’s debut UUK speech offered variations on a Willettsian theme, but with a few chords to make his audience shift uneasily

Hefce chief Madeleine Atkins on what a simpler, less burdensome QA system might look like

Matthew Reisz celebrates the joys of profiling scholars

BIS aims to step up competition for universities from new providers – but questions remain about impact on UK higher education

Victoria Bateman looks at the gender mix within economics and details her own attempts to encourage more women into the discipline

Botched attempts to pass higher education reforms likely to be among the reasons unpopular Australian PM has been ousted by party rival, says Paul Jump

Books interview: Karen Shook speaks to David Wootton, author of The Invention of Science: A New History of the Scientific Revolution

Paul Bailey on why Jisc goes directly to the learners themselves when looking for digital innovations

The academic community's spirit of generosity is apparent in the way it has responded to Syria's civil war, says Ellie Bothwell

Is Jo Johnson eyeing an alternative approach? Nick Hillman thinks he is, despite the system’s proven advantages

As the vote closes, John Morgan looks at what Jeremy Corbyn, Yvette Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall have to say on higher education and research

Emulating Germany’s funding model would not be easy, but English critics tend to overlook its strengths, says Howard Hotson

China’s sheer size means that its present economic woes will be felt worldwide, not least across the higher education sector

As he retires, Alan Ryan reflects on how higher education has changed and asks if the sector’s expansion has been a success

This week's issue discussed by the Times Higher Education team

Martin Paul Eve considers the implications of the universities and science minister’s address at the Universities UK conference

Having attended classes in Shanghai for a year, David Matthews returns a little more sceptical about education in the country

There is no easy formula for distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate comparisons, says David Tollerton

Jan Dorosz reflects on life as a mature student at a London university

What becomes of 'expendable ex-employees who are no longer adding value', asks Liz Morrish.

Yes they should, argue Anthony Monaco and Cheryl de la Rey

Research reveals surprising impact of overseas study, says Ellie Bothwell

This week's issue discussed by the Times Higher Education team

Kathryn Fowler speaks up for the benefits of collaboration among university employees

The American system isn’t ideal but it beats the UK’s, says Felipe Fernández-Armesto

Pushing out senior academics to make room for younger ones would only perpetuate an insidious ageism, says Geoffrey Alderman

The traditional medium for assessing students is a tired, restrictive form. It’s time for more dynamic, creative ones, argues Karen Harris

A bid to reproduce key studies is less a tale of failure than of researchers’ willingness to put their own practices to the test

Nicholas Morton is road-testing some unusual ways to get, and keep, students’ attention

Glen Wright, from Academia Obscura, peeks inside a Pandora’s box of scholarly microblogging

We need to stand up for early career researchers, says Catherine Fletcher