UWL fined £150,000 by Ofqual over ‘serious rule breaches’ Regulator finds university failed to ‘exercise proper control’ of one of its external assessment centres By Juliette Rowsell 4 February
Kent and Greenwich hail ‘key milestone’ as merger terms inked Greenwich to change name to London and South East University Group before Kent joins as new ‘superuniversity’ takes shape By Tom Williams 4 February
Can new universities save left-behind towns and cities? Fresh models of university outposts emerging in regions without access to higher education as financial crisis sees shuttering of traditional campuses By Helen Packer 4 February
Universities commissioner needed ‘to oversee mergers and cuts’ Call for government to create new position mirrored on role that already exists in further education, to help steer sector while avoiding excessive regulation By Helen Packer 4 February
After Davos, European research must adapt to the new world order A globally open Horizon Europe could play a key role in realising Mark Carney’s vision of an alliance of middle powers, says Jan Palmowski By Jan Palmowski 4 February
Fix negative views of universities to ease inequities, says v-c Head of UK’s flagship distance learning institution warns online provision alone doesn’t guarantee equal access to higher education By Helen Packer 3 February
UKRI chief blames leaks as cuts ‘not well communicated’ Ian Chapman tells MPs that some funding streams will be back online ‘in weeks’ amid uncertainty over impact of research changes By Jack Grove 3 February
Sussex calls OfS fine ‘irrational’ as High Court case begins University argues regulator’s record fine was ‘unfair’, in case being closely watched across the sector By Jack Grove 3 February
Trans research ‘at risk’ if data collection guidance adopted Response to Sullivan Review argues recommendations could hit quality of findings and impinge on academic freedom By Patrick Jack 3 February
‘Investment speed, not equity’ holding back UK spin-outs Blaming institutional equity demands for the lack of university spin-out success is misguided, says UKRI review By Jack Grove 3 February
Nottingham posts £85 million deficit as value of campus plummets For-sale city-centre site not worth as much as thought, says university, after accounts reveal scale of financial challenge By Patrick Jack 2 February
Nearly half of British public want some student debt cancelled Poll shows support for eliminating some or all of the money graduates owe the government, as calls grow for reform of the loan system By Patrick Jack 2 February
