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Redundancies are being pushed through at many universities even as their accounts attest to relatively robust financial health. But as Labor’s de facto caps on international enrolment start to bite, some suggest that vice-chancellors are right to be prudent. John Ross reports

With spending review expected to leave little room to manoeuvre, focus on post-16 agenda worries universities

Risk of ‘progressively more destructive patterns of behaviour’ as UK institutions find themselves increasingly ‘boxed in’

Savings only part of the motivation for university’s ‘realignment’ to ‘remain relevant’, but union says management wants the humanities ‘burned’

Universities eye ‘block teaching’ as way of attracting more students but staff at places that have made the switch warn it is having the opposite effect

Students given wrong question and others left without supporting documents, but institution denies impact of voluntary severance programme was to blame

Difficult to get new models of collaboration off the ground without ‘transformation funding’, finds efficiencies review

Uncertainty over the future of degree apprenticeship funding endangers success of crucial upskilling programme, says Exeter v-c Lisa Roberts

Proposal to increase money paid by top US institutions fifteenfold could prove to have deeper impact than more headline-grabbing Trump policies

Incoming deputy prime minister casts doubt on plans to boost domestic medical training, saying he is ‘standing up for careful use of taxpayer money’

Turnaround in financial fortunes in New South Wales largely driven by growth of wealthy institutions, with others still in deficit

Potential reprioritisation of parts of research budget could heap pressure on institutions already counting cost of immigration and tax changes

Union threat could prove to be more about ‘propaganda’, with legality of pursuing dispute against education secretary questioned

With international students being squeezed, both government and industry must ‘grapple with university funding realities’, according to Carolyn Evans

Union fears more than 300 jobs at risk as institution plans to close chemistry and film courses

Institution facing ‘significant’ deficit as falling recruitment leaves it unable to cover rising costs

Further rowing back on cost-cutting measures end fears that certain languages will no longer be taught in Wales

While flurry of approvals raises concerns about the financial viability of offshore outposts, government policies leave ambitious universities with few other choices

UK’s biggest academic union eyes showdown with Labour minister as it tries to respond to wave of university cuts

VU credits sequential approach to teaching as revenue increases and salary bill drops – but union says it is leading to overwork

University proposes 39 job losses in latest sign new wave of cuts will be tougher on staff

Hike in fees of up to 6 per cent unlikely to compensate for erosion of research funding and cuts to grant schemes and mobility scholarships

Threat of strike ballot still hanging over UK pay talks but expert says low offer will be greeted with ‘sullen resignation’

The shock victory of Geert Wilders’ far-right party in the Netherlands’ 2023 election has led to reduced funding for higher education and research, curbs on international student numbers and concerns for academic freedom and the country’s reputation as a research powerhouse. Emily Dixon reports

Increased staff and other operating costs blamed for ‘significant deterioration’, with spending on restructuring ballooning

Surprise reduction in funding for specialist provision will spark ‘brand new financial crisis brewed entirely in Whitehall’, critics warn

Vocabulary driven by policymakers doesn’t work for sector where outputs are not always measurable, conference hears

Lowest offer since the pandemic reflects ‘severity of the financial pressures’ facing institutions, says employer body

Staff want additional funding allocated by the Welsh government to be used to remove threat of compulsory redundancies

Ministers to seek to ensure money used to support high-cost subjects better aligns with priorities for growth

Minister says there will be no changes to visa processing regime that gives effect to government’s thwarted cap proposal

Latest cost-cutting drives to hit UK sector include planned compulsory redundancies at Bournemouth-based institution

Experience Down Under suggests universities should not be too quick to torpedo idea that overseas income should be redistributed

All of university’s hourly paid lecturers in social sciences set to go under plans that will affect a quarter of academic workforce

Job cuts target drops from initial 400 after university accepts proposals put forward by staff which will see schools ‘teaching higher numbers of students’

Student-staff ratios climb to highest level in a decade as universities make cutbacks to avoid plunging into the red

Top universities still in robust financial health in year of visa hikes and last-minute withdrawal of proposed foreign enrolment caps

Universities set to lose millions in income if government goes ahead with plan to take a cut of overseas earnings, and are unlikely to see much benefit from levy spending, critics say

Bentley-driving vice-chancellor George Holmes put on leave after PwC investigation into university payments

Despite widespread misgivings about productivity gains, digital transformations are considered a safer bet than campus investment, survey suggests

Academic and professional services posts to go, with university blaming ‘unprecedented financial challenges’

Multiannual funding programme will ‘retain spirit’ of much-applauded previous scheme, considered ‘step-change’ in Irish research investment

New era of collaboration will benefit both sectors, according to leader who hopes to put ‘efficiency’ skills to good use at one of England’s smallest universities

Country bucks trend of declining enrolments, suggesting policy headaches Down Under matter little compared with what is going on elsewhere, analysis suggests

Yet more universities announce job cuts amid ‘financially challenging environment’

Religious institutions’ governing documents incompatible with OfS rules, says secular society

Higher education and business leaders write to Stormont over the sector’s ‘real and current jeopardy’

Office for Students warns providers against being overly ambitious in their forecasting after financial performance declines for third year running

Scottish university looks to save further £5.5 million to bring down its deficit, a year after languages cuts

Newly re-elected government urged to treat students with more compassion, with high visa costs ‘putting off a generation’

Dwindling sector finances and geopolitical challenges mean higher education will look very different in five years’ time, summit hears

Institutions expect to consider more subject closures as financial problems spiral, finds UUK survey

After comprehensive election win, Labor faces pressure to push on with wide-ranging agenda for higher education reform that stalled during last parliament

Innovation cluster, new medical school and cautious growth of non-local student numbers high on the agenda of president of leading Hong Kong research university

Regardless of how the courts and voters respond to Trump’s actions, the government’s funding ability is likely to decline, says Nathan Decety

University agrees to reset in relations with campus unions as part of agreement that has also seen marking boycott cancelled

Proposed 60-hour limit another ‘cynical ploy’ to use students to balance the books, representative group says

Australia deemed the least-worst option, following sorrier changes elsewhere, but onshore demand dominates

Merger model common in other parts of education sector increasingly appealing to universities keen to retain some autonomy

University transformation relies on more open relationship with government, says group focused on sector-wide cost reductions