Strong words from the education secretary on free speech, and new figures show that two in five 18-year-olds now apply to university   Gavin Williamson gives universities final warning on free speech The Times, 07/02/2020, Rosemary Bennett The education secretary has given universities a final warning to guard free speech or face legislation. In an article for The...Read More

If grade inflation continues at the current rate, by 2030 all students at some universities will graduate with first-class degrees. Plus: regulation is costing universities more than £500k a year   First-class degrees for all students by 2030 The Times, 27/12/2019, Rosemary Bennett All students will graduate from some universities with a first-class degree in...Read More

Nottingham Trent University is cutting the number of firsts, while one of their academics has faced a backlash for encouraging students to register to vote   Universities ‘central’ to solutions on UK regional inequality Times Higher Education, 15/11/2019, John Morgan Universities could play a central role in addressing the UK’s dire levels of regional inequality,...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

As figures show that half of young people now go to university, Labour has announced plans to limit the number of students universities can accept from private schools   UUK president aims to show degree value ‘not all about money’ Times Higher Education, 03/10/2019, John Morgan The new president of Universities UK has said that...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

University admissions, drop-out rates and grade inflation are all in the news – and a vice-chancellor is sacked for gross misconduct   Swansea University sack vice chancellor and dean of management school for gross misconduct Wales Online, 26/7/2019, Sion Barry Swansea University has sacked its vice chancellor Richard B Davies and the dean of its...Read More

In England, record numbers of school leavers apply to university – and a record proportion of students are awarded first-class degrees   England university applications hit record numbers BBC, 11/07/2019, Anon Record numbers of 18-year-olds in England have applied for a place at university, figures from Ucas reveal. The admissions service statistics show 236,350 school...Read More

Staff referrals to counselling services rose by 300% in six years to 2015. Elsewhere in our round-up, the Russell Group launches a new website to advise on A-level choices, and a tribunal has decided that Oxbridge can force older professors to retire   External examiners ‘need more support on standards’ Times Higher Education, 24/05/2019, Simon...Read More

Professor David Midgley reviews English Universities in Crisis: Markets without Competition, by Jefferson Frank, Norman Gowar and Michael Naef   The policy objectives against which this book measures the effectiveness of the current system for funding and regulating universities in England are those of the Browne Review: to improve participation rates in higher education among...Read More