The year 2005 might be expected to be the lull between two momentous periods for higher education: the big decisions were taken in 2004 and their impact will be felt in 2006 and beyond. But the next...
It is time to stop lecherous lecturers of all sexual orientations preying on students and not just the males that Meg Barker highlights in her article ("Power of the laddish predator", December 10)....
Meg Barker is extremely critical of male academics who have sexual relationships with their female students. And she is unhappy about male colleagues who make sexist remarks, no matter how brief and...
I was astonished to read James Tooley describe a professor from Newcastle University as "better than" a professor from Luton ("Is an easy chair culture taking over campus?", December 17). On what...
You state: "Some new universities such as Gloucestershire, which was awarded university status only last year, have a greater proportion of staff who hold chairs than Oxford or Cambridge universities...
I worked at one university where all the executive group were awarded professorial titles. By what process and criteria never became clear. All then gave inaugural lectures. There was pressure on...
The idea that academic freedom is "enshrined in law" (Letters, December 24/31) is more apparent than real. Statutory provisions that make reference to academic freedom do not amount to much, nor do...
Why does The Times Higher print letters from antivivisectionist groups such as the British Union of Antivivisectionists that deny the efficacy of animal experimentation in alleviating human suffering...
Justin Thacker takes issue with my claim that in the absence of independent reasons to believe in something - independent of mere assertion - we are entitled to not believe it and asks what reasons...
It is hardly a "presumption" to state that a proposal requires evidential support. Otherwise the conviction that pigs can fly would be as valid as that that fish can swim. How else should we...
We agree that Higher Education Statistics Agency information for vocational courses often does not reflect the reality of patterns of employment for graduates of vocational acting courses ("Survey a...
Humphrey Evans' concessions to the sensibilities of overseas students overlook the need for foreigners to learn about the norms of societies they visit ("Runny nose?", December 17). By not blowing...
I am delighted (and rather touched) that Tom McAlindon thinks it is still worth firing paper bullets at my Patriarchal Bard , written 20 years ago ("Battle of Will for the Bard's soul", December 24/...
You go to great pains to say that Al Murray is a comedian (Soapbox, December 24/31). It would have been more easily clarified if you called him "Laurie Taylor for the masses". Keith Flett London
Al Murray thinks that the way bar staff move their lips when doing mental arithmetic for a round is "far from impressive". I'm impressed that he knows anyone under 30 prepared to add up without using...