“The UK’s reputedly world-class higher education sector has long been a source of pride and consolation for a diminished power. At first glance, universities have relentlessly expanded without any reduction in standards. Since 1990, the number of undergraduate degrees awarded has increased fivefold, while the proportion of Firsts granted has quadrupled …” (more)
[New Statesman, 21 August]
“A chara, – The creation of 75 women-only professorships is a textbook example of how members of the higher socio-economic classes who have connections and influence in political and media circles can bend the the Government into making irrational and fiscally irresponsible decisions to their advantage, with all parties assuming the taxpayer will foot the substantial bill …” (more)
[Dave Slater, Irish Times, 25 July]
“The proportion of students in England awarded first-class degrees continues to increase – rising by 80% since 2010-11, the university watchdog says. The Office for Students, warning of grade inflation, says for almost three-quarters of universities such increases in top grades are ‘unexplained’ …” (more)
[Sean Coughlan, BBC News, 11 July]
“This week saw a sober assessment of the impact – both positive but also depressingly negative – of schemes to improve gender equality. As the Athena Swan Review Group wrestles with how to improve their own awards, it is important to learn from mistakes as well as successes. In years gone by I spoke up for Athena Swan …” (more)
[Athene Donald’s Blog, 22 June]
“Last Sunday a letter appeared in the Sunday Times attacking the LGBT charity Stonewall for its work with British universities as a threat to academic freedom. For context, a non-paywalled version of the text is available here. The letter was signed by some reasonably prominent figures …” (more)
[Chris Bertram, Crooked Timber, 20 June]
“One of the items that sneaked out in the news last week was the Augar report on the future of post-18 education and funding in England. A review led by a former equities broker was never likely to be friendly to the higher education sector, and so it seems to have turned out …” (more)
[In the Dark, 2 June]
“A graduate who sued her university over her ‘Mickey Mouse’ degree has received a £60,000 out-of-court settlement. Pok Wong graduated with a first in international business strategy from Anglia Ruskin University in 2013 …” (more)
[BBC News, 2 June]
“Stressed out academics are inundating university counselling services as they grapple with heavy workloads and oppressive management, a report says. Referrals to such services had risen by three-quarters between 2009 and 2015, the study for the Higher Education Policy Institute indicated …” (more)
[Hannah Richardson, BBC News, 23 May]
“Regular readers of this blog will know that last year I was still employed part of the time at Cardiff University and during that period I was participating in strike action called by the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) over pensions. As a result of that action students on my module on Physics of the Early Universe missed quite a lot of lectures (and I was docked a large fraction of my pay) …” (more)
[In the Dark, 22 May]
“Women are listed as authors of just 30% of academic research from British universities, according to a major new ranking of higher education institutions. Although the number of women named as authors is gradually increasing, the slow pace was described by one expert as ‘disheartening’ …” (more)
[Dalmeet Singh Chawla, Guardian, 15 May]
“Students should be refunded at least 50% of their tuition fees for lost teaching time by universities that failed to minimise the disruption caused by last year’s lecturer strikes, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator has said. The independent body which looks at complaints across higher education, said that was the ‘starting point’ for those affected …” (more)
[Eleanor Busby, Independent, 14 May]
“I am an Irish academic working in the UK, in the fields of Irish and British history. My perspectives on Brexit, Britain and Ireland are centred around universities and education, but I think many of my experiences would be similar to other Irish people in the UK …” (more)
[Joan Redmond, Irish Times, 6 May]
“Universities using ‘gagging orders’ to stop staff going public with claims of bullying or sexual misconduct is an ‘outrage’, according to a minister. Chris Skidmore said using non-disclosure agreements in this way risks the reputation of UK higher education …” (more)
[BBC News, 5 May]
“Students ‘priced out’ of EU universities by higher fees after Brexit should stay in Britain and enjoy higher-quality courses, Theresa May says. The prime minister dismissed a protest that only rich children will be able to afford to study abroad in future by insisting no EU country could match the standards on offer at home …” (more)
[Rob Merrick, Independent, 1 May]
“Applications to Trinity from Northern Ireland have dropped by around 20% this year as a result of uncertainty surrounding Brexit, according to Provost Patrick Prendergast. This drop is on top of a 20% decrease in applications from Northern Irish students last year …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 30 April]
“Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has expressed deep concern at reports that the British Government intends to remove home status fees for EU students to study in Britain from 2021. The party’s further and higher education spokesperson said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 30 April]
“The European Union ‘will never accept’ a move by Theresa May to raise tuition fees for EU students after Brexit, the European Parliament’s Brexit chief has said. Guy Verhofstadt said he would write to the prime minister following reports that EU students would be charged full international fees, instead of benefiting from the same rates as UK students as now …” (more)
[Jon Stone, Independent, 29 April]
“Charging EU citizens full international student fees to study in England risks ‘pulling up the drawbridge’ after Brexit, higher education leaders and opposition parties have warned, calling on the government to clarify its policy …” (more)
[Richard Adams, Guardian, 28 April]
“Student grant rules for eligible Irish students in UK higher education institutions and UK students in Irish HEIs remain as usual for 2019/20. The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today announced the opening of the Student Grant Scheme for applications for the 2019/20 academic year and highlighted a number of improvements that will benefit some of the most disadvantaged students …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 25 April]
“Fifteen students at Queen’s University Belfast have requested to change their gender on official records. Almost 100 students across the UK’s top third-level academic institutions have done so at a time when universities are being accused of ‘disturbing’ failures to protect trans students from abuse …” (more)
[Claire McNeilly, Belfast Telegraph, 22 April]
