The newsroom blog

John Morgan looks at why the universities and science minister’s comeback was so short and what his exit means

Are today’s students really self-absorbed snowflakes or are lecturers merely experiencing the other side of the intergenerational perspective?

Betting the farm on international students is a gamble – but what’s the alternative? asks THE’s Asia-Pacific editor John Ross 

The prime minster’s speech offers a reminder of Vote Leave’s pledges on UK science, and misleading words about EU support, John Morgan writes

Technological advances mean an ever evolving workplace. While no one can predict the future, HE investment in lifelong learning will surely help us adapt

Conversations with students at the failed for-profit provider reveal much about its business model and the Department for Education’s judgement, writes John Morgan

Brexit will be a disaster for HE, but do the new prime minister’s past utterances offer clues on what else universities might expect?

Matthew Reisz considers the tools we need to explore the wilder shores of performance art

GSM London’s slide into administration leaves difficult questions for DfE on why it granted the college continued loan access last year, writes John Morgan

The fate of big alternative providers has implications for the future of English for-profit HE, writes John Morgan

Our Impact Rankings are global proof positive that universities do a power of good, writes Phil Baty

Quality versus quantity is key in discussing HE expansion, but if Britain wants to succeed on a growing global stage we will need more, not less, HE

Decades of investment in US collegiate athletic programmes have built global talent incubators for women’s football, says Sara Custer

Matthew Reisz considers the fascinating, painful and plain bizarre topics addressed by researchers exploring one of the last taboos

David Matthews asks if elevating individuals to near-deity status undermines modern science’s purpose of deposing authority figures such as priests and popes

Not all pupils see a clear path after leaving school. More must be done to light the way for students from non-traditional backgrounds in both HE and FE

In a perilous time of populist attacks and constant value critiques, universities should focus on rebuilding trust in their local communities

Higher education is often cast as politically insignificant, but look closer and it is frequently a chip in the highest-stakes game around

Post-18 review highlights the chaotic nature of Westminster policymaking, writes John Morgan

A different environment can do wonders for a person; might universities feel a similar refreshment when the UK’s political landscape settles down again?

PM’s plan to resign leaves post-18 education review on shakier ground than ever, while increasing the chances of student visa liberalisation

Disillusionment with the dramatically changed academic landscape has spawned a new literary genre – along with a host of problems for those struggling to adapt

Plenty on the Continent see a link between Brexit and English educational hierarchy, writes John Morgan

Female academics on Twitter have exposed the shocking abuse they endured at academic meet-ups, observes Sara Custer 

Matthew Reisz reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of detachment for those pursuing ghostly research

System expansion is not enough. Admission to higher-tariff institutions must somehow be opened up, says Paul Jump

When credible concerns emerge about research validity, universities and journals must move quickly, writes John Ross

Perspectives on the state of English studies around the world reveal how disciplines are vulnerable to changes in society, policy and technology

A spell of globetrotting shows that no matter their location, universities, and those they serve, face challenges that cannot be tackled alone

Matthew Reisz discovers what anthropologist Ruben Andersson learned behind bunkers in Bamako

Tips from THE’s editor on how universities can shift the negative perceptions of higher education to reassert their value to society

Good PhD supervision is life-changing – and not only for the few who succeed in making it as researchers

The Chinese tech giant’s challenge for universities will be far from an isolated case and universities are not prepared for the nuanced reaction required, says John Ross 

Universities normally resist being used by states to further an ideological goal. Why should it be any different when it comes to the EU? asks David Matthews 

Big datasets linking higher education participation to a range of socio-economic factors are useful and fascinating, but their translation into policy remains fraught 

Many institutions’ missions mean they do work that changes lives but never wins wide attention. Our new University Impact Rankings aim to recognise them

It would be easy for universities to cede the frontiers of research in AI to industry. But history – and the experts – tell us that would be a mistake

Republicans in Congress are far less ideologically driven to avoid deficits and increase military spending this time, writes THE’s North America editor Paul Basken

A large world-class university may eclipse a less renowned neighbour, but an education ecosystem rich in diversity can benefit all in the area

Matthew Reisz considers the work of researchers who have shed light on the ‘invisibility’ of social class in US universities

Lack of detail, not due process, is at the heart of concerns about medical research handouts in Australia, writes John Ross 

Matthew Reisz meets an expert on tracking the movements of animals which are sometimes fierce and virtually impossible to catch  

Upholding the ideal of free speech on campus knowing that conservative politicians hold the keys to the safe puts college presidents in a difficult position

Too often, the life-changing work of less prestigious universities goes overlooked. THE’s University Impact Rankings aim to change that, says Phil Baty

Male voices are over-represented in our pages. We know that we have more to do to better reflect all those in the sector, but we need women’s help

Cutting-edge scientific research requires freedom from political constraint. To maximise progress, both Asia and the West should reflect on their priorities

The hostility pervading online platforms is stifling provocative opinion and reasoned debate, and eroding the foundations of higher education

Academic turned wrestler Dan Mathewson is just one of many educators willing to go the extra mile for scholarship and learning, says Jack Grove 

Fixating on how research misconduct might impact the figures could distract the scholarly world from bigger questions about the future direction and conduct of science, explains Simon Baker

If popular books trump scholarly monographs, what’s the point of academic publishers? asks John Ross 

Matthew Reisz describes talking to Jordanian molecular biologist Rana Dajani about body image, the West’s view of the East and breaking into science’s big league

In sharing his side of the conversation about England’s post-18 education review, Chris Skidmore gives insight into the battle going on inside the government, John Morgan writes

Everyone appears to be behind open access, but scratch the surface and you’ll find that it’s something of a touchy subject in academia, says Rachael Pells 

The idea of mistakes being intrinsic to success has become an educational mantra – but for many students and academics, messing up is not an option

Evidence of strong public demand for access to papers is scant. Might a sophisticated database of lay summaries be more valuable?

But the former education secretary’s interview also makes plain that No 10 – with a hostile agenda towards the sector – has brutally overridden DfE, writes John Morgan

UK university leaders might be bullish on the subject of institutional failure but the divide between managers and staff needs serious redress

Hyper-selective universities help create the outrageous arrogance of some politicians. A bit of randomness in the process could lead to more humble leaders, argues David Matthews

Matthew Reisz considers the advantages – and the challenges – of long-term scholarly alliances and the role that gender can play 

Universities may feel held to unachievable standards, but removing barriers for all manner of talented people will make institutions better and stronger