Roper is to blame for fiasco, but London Met’s board bears responsibility

20 November 2009

Report into overpayments to university finds top officials were aware of problems but took no action. Rebecca Attwood reports

Gillies to lead London Met

19 November 2009

Former head of City named vice-chancellor. Rebecca Attwood reports

Cost is the big deterrent for would-be students

19 November 2009

Survey finds those from poorer backgrounds are likely to have a poorer experience, writes Rebecca Attwood

Cash-for-quality link could be 'damaging'

19 November 2009

Government may get fingers burnt over proposal, senior figures warn. Rebecca Attwood reports

Another fallen leader: Imperial's rector exits

19 November 2009

The rector of Imperial College London has resigned amid speculation about a clash with his chair of governors - a factor in several similar departures in the sector this year.

Happiness research makes academics rather unhappy

19 November 2009

£4.4m ESRC study of subjective wellbeing labelled 'disgraceful' and 'spooky'. Melanie Newman writes

Prostitution did not finance Belle de Jour's PhD

19 November 2009

The Bristol-based scientist revealed as the writer "Belle de Jour", who chronicled her life as a "high-class hooker", has dismissed claims that she became a prostitute to finance her doctorate.

Big thinking wins big gifts

19 November 2009

Universities profit from philanthropists' faith in their ability to change lives. Hannah Fearn writes

Putting the science back into fiction

19 November 2009

A new book aims to engage with genuine, rather than far-fetched, advances. Matthew Reisz reports

'Reform will be very difficult, but it is the only way to go'

19 November 2009

Universities must hold nerve despite protests, says head of grande école. John Morgan reports

From where I sit: Smarting Italians look for change

19 November 2009

Italy's more progressive academics are still smarting from the 2009 Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings. Despite some hair-splitting over the weighting of the criteria, few have pretended that the results were anything but...

The week in higher education

19 November 2009

An American academic has stirred up controversy after posting adverts around Duke University asking female students to take part in a "sexually explicit" study. Dan Ariely, a behavioural economist, is seeking participants for a study involving...

You're hired? Apprenticeship degree mooted

19 November 2009

Plans have been unveiled for a "composite" honours and masters degree incorporating an apprenticeship as part of a new national skills strategy.

Odds and quads

19 November 2009

When Julie Flowers and Rosalind Howell put on a piece of "live art" called Grill ... A Piece of Toast at a National Review of Live Art event at Nottingham Trent University in 1994, they used this piece of toast to publicise the show.

'Constipated' pitches about being 14th best fail to hit the mark

19 November 2009

Institutions marketed like a novelty band will not stand out, conference hears. John Morgan reports

Overseas briefing

19 November 2009

United States

Shared space - good for collaboration or too noisy?

19 November 2009

Trend for less expensive open-plan offices is not always the best option, writes John Morgan

Specialisation is th e way forward, says Bath v-c

19 November 2009

But critics worry that limiting activities will curtail income streams. Melanie Newman reports

Fee speech

19 November 2009

Funding cuts to force job losses at Bristol and Manchester Met

19 November 2009

A total of 377 jobs could be cut at the University of Bristol and Manchester Metropolitan University after they became the latest institutions to address the "severe pressures" forecast on government funding.