The targeting of a Netherlands-based online Persian university represents a state grappling with limits on its control of knowledge circulation, says Roohola Ramezani
Misuse of ‘cumulative PhDs’ should prompt debate over whether stacking research papers is really equivalent to writing a dissertation, says Brian Bloch
After a shambolic Budget day, it is hardly surprising that universities have been landed with a costly and overcomplicated international student levy, writes Nick Hillman
The government needs to signal its demand for elite foreign language skills before more universities leave provision to inferior alternatives, says Ian Proud
The global collaboration enabled by associating to the world’s largest research funding programme is critical to national impact, says Cecilia Hewlett
A successful merger requires leaders to be mission-grounded and brave enough to move on, say David Lloyd and Peter Høj, in the final instalment of their series on the largest merger in Australian university history
Today’s graduates have grown used to relaxed standards. But their employers will not give them rolling deadlines, say Natalie Schoettler and Kailea Manning
Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
It is difficult to think of another sector that has so dismally failed to strategically engage with the transformative potential of IT, says Ian Richardson
Universities should adopt proportionate anti-racist measures informed by the diverse voices of those most affected, say Michael Rosen, Catherine Rottenberg and Des Freedman
Financial restrictions oblige funders to reject vast numbers of sound proposals. Why not retain them for other funders to consider, asks Mikhail Spivakov
Writing a letter of gratitude for an inspirational talk or piece of advice sounds schmaltzy but it’s the best self-help therapy available, says Adrian Furnham
The post-16 White Paper was a missed opportunity to correct a mistake that will stymie government missions in areas like housebuilding, says John Somers
Social sciences funding would be best spent on narrower calls. But would it dry up if we stopped pretending we can save the world, asks Andreas Schedler
A policy that locks in more process and expense while the public sector stands still doesn’t protect students: it protects the status quo, says Conrado Briceño
Even successful applications lack specificity and ambition, ignoring universities’ own data about where problems and strengths lie, says Pat O’Connor
Decolonisation is not just about scholars’ colour. It is as much about welcoming a diversity of non-Western ideas, from South Africa and beyond, says Srila Roy
The flexibility and insightful observation that cultural ‘outsiders’ are forced to develop confers several advantages for academics, says Adrian Furnham
Demographic and political headwinds are threatening the future of many colleges. But, done right, online education can be their saviour, says Sumit Karn
As wellsprings of intellectual thought, universities play a crucial role in shaping democratic nations’ national confidence and identity, says Peter Gluckman