THE LATEST CDBU NEWS: – New on the CDBU blog: ‘Getting off the back foot – and taking the offensive’ Words by Peter Scott, CDBU Trustee, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education Studies at the UCL Institute of Education and former Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University. – Contribute to our blog series on academic freedom! Email cdbupress@gmail.com. You...Read More

Words by Dr Heather McKnight, founder of the social enterprise Magnetic Ideals and Doctor of Legal Studies. In 1970, the Commission on Academic Freedom and the Law (CAFL) released research exposing changes in how universities were using the law: a discontinuity that both marked and reflected the historical moment. The joint commission between the National...Read More

Post-Brexit visa delays have hindered UK students’ hopes of studying in Europe, with many reporting that it has become increasingly difficult to obtain appointments at embassies to secure the necessary paperwork. Meanwhile, there has been widespread criticism of the government’s decision to ‘pause’ scholarships offered to Afghan students through the Chevening programme. Students were told...Read More

The government’s Brexit withdrawal bill saw defeat for an amendment requiring the government to continue the UK’s participation in the Erasmus + exchange scheme   Fears for future of private university after recruitment ‘pause’ Times Higher Education, 10/01/2020, John Morgan A private university in London whose students are eligible for public loan funding has “paused”...Read More

The election result could have major implications for the higher education sector, including the possibility of recruitment challenges in the wake of Brexit   UK universities face up to Brexit after Tory election win Times Higher Education, 13/12/2019, John Morgan The certainty that Brexit will happen, a potential reshaping of the research funding system to...Read More

Female academics are less likely to reach senior positions than male ones, and since the referendum, there’s been a big rise in EU academics leaving the UK   Gender not children ‘holds women academics back’ BBC, 17/10/2019, Hannah Richardson Women academics do not rise through the ranks as fast as men with the same credentials...Read More

A mixed bag this week: Gavin Williamson supports the OfS review into university admissions, a record number of disadvantaged pupils are winning university places and universities are likely to face delays to funding when the UK leaves the EU   Ethicist warns universities against using AI in admissions Times Higher Education, 20/09/2019, David Matthews Using...Read More

Once again, the country finds itself without a universities minister, while plans to allow EU nationals to stay for only three years in the event of no deal could hit student recruitment   Ucas accused of abusing its position with debt firm advert The Guardian, 06/09/2019, Richard Adams The consumer finance expert Martin Lewis has...Read More

A master’s degree boosts earning potential, but male graduates still earn more than female ones. And there’s cross-party backing for plans to reintroduce the two-year post-study work visa   Women with master’s degrees paid less than men without them in England The Guardian, 26/04/2019, Richard Adams Women in England with postgraduate degrees still earn less than...Read More

The gap between rich and poor starts to widen again – and responsibility for the rise in unconditional offers lies with just 20 universities   Gap between rich and poor students at top universities widens for first time in decade Independent, 31/01/2019, Eleanor Busby The gap between rich and poor students going to Britain’s best universities...Read More