The HEA is as relevant as ever, new leader says Despite scaling back, the organisation has much to offer universities seeking to improve the student experience, says Don Nutbeam By Jack Grove 11 September
Shakespeare scholar disputes decision-reversal by journal Memoria di Shakespeare’s new editors backtrack on acceptance of Oxfordian academic’s paper By Matthew Reisz 11 September
Dublin students forced to dig it as rents rise Property shortage has made accommodation unaffordable for many By Naomi Powell 11 September
Labour to table Lords amendment on private colleges Private colleges would need to subscribe to the higher education ombudsman service under plans proposed by the Labour Party. By Jack Grove 10 September
Clark refuses to back net migration calls Greg Clark has refused to back calls for the government to remove overseas students from the net migrant count. By John Morgan 10 September
Canada tops the heap for HE investment The UK’s spending on higher education has fallen once again, with Canada taking over as the world’s biggest spender on universities. By John Morgan 9 September
UUK president calls for ‘stability’ from politicians Universities UK has called for “stability” and “political consensus” from an incoming government on fees and funding. By John Morgan 9 September
Encourage students’ identities to flourish, says Galway academic Learning technology conference keynote explores student, and scholarly, online presence By Chris Parr 7 September
Challenges for early arts and humanities careers highlighted Major challenges facing early career researchers have been highlighted in a new report. By Matthew Reisz 6 September
Animal research: public support falls Public support for animal experimentation has fallen again, according to a new survey. By Paul Jump 5 September
Living costs at 20 of the UK’s ‘top’ universities revealed Report reveals price of everything from accommodation to a pint of beer at 20 institutions By Chris Parr 5 September
Efforts to tackle extremism can cause campus conflicts The government’s Prevent counter-terrorism strategy is causing controversy in universities By George Ryan 4 September
Racism seen but not heard at UK and US institutions Senior managers often dismiss racist incidents or believe them to be exaggerated, says paper By Chris Parr 4 September
AHRC/British Library research project on academic books launched UCL/King’s College London team to consult broadly on future of monographs, open access, peer review, publishing and more By Matthew Reisz 4 September
Graduates ‘more likely’ to favour smaller higher education pool Analysis of British Social Attitudes survey finds class bias with regard to future student numbers By Jack Grove 4 September
Tougher visa rules may affect 40 institutions 10 per cent threshold for refusal rates may cause many to lose their licences to recruit overseas students By John Morgan 4 September
Opening of private medical school delayed after GMC raises concerns Uclan will recruit senior staff and secure student placement before course begins in September 2015 By Holly Else 4 September
Soas fractionals reject final offer of improved terms Staff claim revised terms fail to address their concerns over hours spent on preparation and marking By Holly Else 4 September
Battle scars: Did Achilles suffer from PTSD? A historian mulls modern and ancient soldiers’ susceptibility to PTSD By Matthew Reisz 4 September
Campus close-up: University of Hertfordshire An oral history project seeks to collect the memories of the ‘Ten Pound Poms’ and those they left behind By Chris Parr 4 September
How to get your first research paper published Ian McNay advises new researchers on how to get their work accepted by academic journals. Plus the latest higher education appointments By John Elmes 4 September
Industry backs women-only ad in Switzerland Business sponsorship ‘enables’ gender-specific recruitment at ?cole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne By Holly Else 4 September
More budget cuts at City University London are ‘unrealistic’, warns union Council demands for extra savings to boost surplus will harm staff morale, says UCU By Jack Grove 4 September
National data centre for academics goes live The UK’s first shared hub for medical and academic research will initially serve six scientific and academic organisations By Chris Parr 4 September
US researchers protest at rules restricting drone use Lawsuit led by 200 universities over regulations allowing hobbyists to keep rights while academics face virtual no-fly zone By Jon Marcus 4 September
Top 20 universities for students’ first impressions Survey reveals the universities that are best at making new students feel right at home By Chris Parr 4 September
Warm welcome encourages students to stay the course Positive early experiences for new undergraduates help to reduce dropout rates By Martha Elwell 4 September
Swansea dean has no regrets over controversial reforms Nigel Piercy is unapologetic about antagonising some in drive to turn around School of Management By Paul Jump 4 September
Student recruitment agents sometimes engage in ‘outright fraud’ Report from OBHE says ‘no question’ some are involved in suspect practices By Chris Parr 3 September
Scotland-based life scientists issue independence warning Open letter casts doubt over future of clinical and biomedical research in event of ‘yes’ vote By Paul Jump 2 September
EU student support targeted under government plans Plans to slash maintenance payments to European Union students have been unveiled by universities minister Greg Clark By Jack Grove 1 September
University finance heads want to spend despite uncertainty Universities are set to increase investment in their estates despite growing financial uncertainty, a new survey shows By Jack Grove 1 September
Warning over EU research budget Negotiations on the European budget could result in cuts to Horizon 2020, the European University Association has warned By Holly Else 31 August
Hackney has become ‘focus of academic study’ Hackney is one of the most highly-researched places in the UK, a conference has heard By Jack Grove 30 August
Investigated private college granted further loan access A private college that was the subject of a newspaper investigation has been given continued permission by the government to access public funds. By John Morgan 29 August
Stephen Hawking and Cambridge v-c take on ice bucket challenge Academics worldwide also post videos to raise awareness of motor neurone disease By Martha Elwell 29 August
Net migration figures push 250,000 Net migration has risen to 243,000 in the past year, dashing government hopes of meeting its target, although student immigration has remained stable. By John Morgan 28 August
Oxbridge influence over key public roles laid bare New research has demonstrated the monopoly of a small social elite over public leadership positions in Britain By Martha Elwell 28 August
Labour vision for HE set out by Liam Byrne Labour would make new “earn while you learn” degrees delivered by “Technical University” partnerships the priority in higher education expansion By John Morgan 28 August
Charities more generous than MRC in funding studentships ?100,000 PhD funding from the Macular Society and Fight for Sight outstrip offers via MRC doctoral training partnerships By Holly Else 28 August
Graduate calls University College Suffolk ‘unhealthy’ for black students Jason Haye says his 2.2 degree would have been higher but for institution’s environment, citing artist Maggi Hambling’s ‘slave’ comments By Chris Parr 28 August
Alliances overseas can ‘secure future’ for languages Lack of succession planning is eroding research base, says head of Institute of Modern Languages Research By Matthew Reisz 28 August
Campus close-up: University of Warwick As the Coventry campus with global reach turns 50, it looks to alliances without forgetting its roots By John Morgan 28 August
Southeast Asia ‘needs a strong sector identity’ British Council report recommends that the region develop an identity revolving around a student experience based on links with employers By John Morgan 28 August
State turns to Pearson for help placing for-profit outcasts Thousands of students may be stranded as colleges lose student loan access By John Morgan 28 August
Institute a ‘veneer for the state’s projects’, claims professor US scholar says he was sacked after speaking out at National University of Singapore institute By Holly Else 28 August
Dame Ann Dowling makes a case for ‘use-inspired’ research First female president of the Royal Academy of Engineers hopes to change UK’s ‘sniffiness’ about applied research By Holly Else 28 August
Innovation investment unveiled The Technology Strategy Board will commit more than ?535 million to fund innovation in 2014-15 By Holly Else 28 August
UK students join Minerva Schools’ fledgling class US for-profit start-up institution’s peripatetic, online-delivered degree draws undergraduates keen to try something different By Chris Parr 28 August
‘Shock and derision’ as Kent Anderson named Science publisher Open letter from researchers decries AAAS journal’s high fees and points to Anderson’s combative views on open access By Paul Jump 28 August
University participation rate fell back in 2012-13 Introduction of higher fees led to a bulge in numbers the year before, report says By Jack Grove 28 August