University funding/finances
UC system looks to job-focused courses to ease budget woes, but critics see erosion of HE as public good
State’s budget crisis seen as highlighting growing doubts about lawmakers’ confidence in the value of knowledge
Universities need flexibility to admit more students and it is wrong to call full-fee places ‘elitist’, deputy v-c argues
US’ top producer of research papers hopes stance will force major gains in open access
The coach, Peter Brand, had accepted high home purchase price from applicant’s father
Time running out for clarity on course subsidies, experts warn
Increasingly popular repayment system eases stress on graduates and governments alike, says Bruce Chapman
Review chair’s comments on ‘discretionary’ funding raise disturbing questions, say Mark E. Smith, Sarah Randall-Paley and Andrew McConnell
New analyses highlight the risks of over-dependence on single income source
While fighting huge state funding cut, James Johnsen concedes overcapacity and low interest
Reduction in budget to tune of $135 million (?107 million) could lead to 1,300 job losses, officials estimate
Scholars say cuts to 中国A片 Commission’s budget will drive academic brain drain
Means-tested fees discounts would remove the rationale for fruitless widening participation efforts, argues Norman Gowar
Universities’ income, collaborations and reputation will all suffer if the country doesn’t re-engage with expertise before it is too late, says Gavin Esler
Financial services firm bills plan for 3,000 homes and two science parks as model for how UK universities can help modernise cities
Change of guard suggests tough times ahead for leading Australian universities
Corruption, poverty and inequality can’t be tackled by weakening the state and driving academics abroad, says Mark Aspinwall
Planned securitisation deal aimed at improving student experience and ‘market share’, says v-c
Augar’s failure to grasp the differential effect of government policy on different kinds of universities is his report’s Achilles heel, says Greg Walker
Chair of England’s post-18 review says ?7,500 fee a cap a fair deal after ‘windfall’ years and that universities in financial trouble are guilty of ‘bad management’
University cuts courses but will become first foreign institution to offer law degree in country
Final budget, pending Senate and White House input, may be slightly less generous
Asking for higher contributions is painful but unavoidable in such uncertain times, says USS chair Sir David Eastwood
Uncapped funding best way of dealing with demographic ‘kinks’, Australian forum told
Lifting cap increased participation but was not accompanied by more support for non-traditional students, says Productivity Commission
Government reportedly suspects campuses are not fully transparent about global ties
Narrowing financial buffers raise questions over Australian universities’ goals of being comprehensive
Last year’s scandal over the ministerial vetoing of Australian research grants coincided with the centenary of the fabled principle that politicians should keep out of such decisions. But with governments becoming increasingly ideological and desperate for innovation-fuelled growth, does scientific autonomy have a future? Rachael Pells investigates
After fears that government could seek to cut fees without replacement funding, review chair stresses plans are interconnected
Australian universities kept doing what they were already doing after government froze teaching funds
V-c who chairs financial sustainability group warns that deficit on doctoral training raises major questions
Administrations ease back on foreign fee splurge to avoid financial overexposure and to protect student experience
Augar review’s call to replace lost income ‘not credible’, says Lord Willetts, while Jo Johnson warns that any such funding stream could be ‘slush fund’ for ministerial projects
Peers hear debate about whether English universities might become more reliant on international students if fee cut recommended by Augar review is implemented without replacement funding
Reviving maintenance grants will redirect taxpayers’ money to those who don’t need it. Better to spend it on lifelong learning, says Ryan Shorthouse
Anna McKie explores what the recommendations mean for universities, students, graduates and taxpayers
The UK’s TEF experience should be a warning to Australia’s re-elected government not to settle for empty accountability, says William Locke
The risk is high that a future government will not replace lost fee funding with the investment universities need, says Bill Rammell
Cost growth still set to outstrip funding, as ‘fees free’ absorbs the fat
School’s new student intake fell by nearly 40 per cent in just two years
The panel have skilfully avoided some potential elephant traps and have come up with a sensible and wide-ranging view that deserves political attention – even if it doesn’t get it, says Nick Hillman
Consumerism, technology and the culture wars threaten to render critical thinking an unwanted skill, worries Victor Ferrall
Survival depends on institutional buy-in to a fundamental questioning of operating models and cost structures, says Angus Laing
Education secretary’s comments likely to be seen as preparing ground for post-18 review to recommend shifts or cuts in funding
‘Competition in scientific research has gone too far,’ says government-appointed committee proposing wide-ranging reform package
Cardiff policymakers unlikely to be able to make up lost tuition fee income while continuing generous maintenance support
Chancellor opposes extra spending on universities, sources suggest, as universities minister dodges questions on report publication
V-c who left school at 16 before entering university without A levels says university’s social mission is irreplaceable
Stanford University’s insistence that its press break even is another bleak milestone in corporatisation, says David Palumbo-Liu
System president says new academic hiring programme and innovation network will boost university following financial issues
A review following the latest iteration of the PBRF could lead to radical changes that undermine the gains made, warns Roger Smyth
Falling UK graduate wages reflect not too many students but a flexible labour market’s post-crash adjustment, argues David Willetts
US experience suggests budget shift has little impact on colleges’ results
Money pledged for universities carved up and back-ended, opposition document suggests
Initial moves on 2020 budget suggest another reversal of Trump priorities
Private equity-owned BIMM to receive ?2.4m in teaching grant as OfS funds new providers for first time
But THE analysis also suggests windfall for institutions if fall in student recruitment is modest
Dutch universities are conspicuously and consistently successful. Yet their funding is declining and their embrace of internationalism has put them on a collision course with the populist right. John Morgan assesses the mood in Leiden, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Maastricht
Monash wish list includes new agency, universal learning entitlement and ‘coherent’ funding model
Retirees are being invited to live and take classes alongside younger students. Jon Marcus reports