Is there really a black hole in the USS? It depends on your assumptions Amid another round of strikes, the pension scheme chair’s assertion that changes are unavoidable cannot stand unchallenged, says Neil Davies By Neil Davies 2 December
Research detective wins standing up for science prize Elisabeth Bik wins John Maddox Prize for exposing image and data manipulation in published scientific papers By Ben Upton 1 December
Students back striking staff as regulator highlights disruption Undergraduates and postgraduates express sympathy for lecturers who have also struggled with shift online during pandemic By Simon Baker 1 December
Kathleen Stock: free speech bill could have saved my Sussex career Gender-critical philosopher says ‘draconian’ measures are required as universities have failed to protect freedom of expression By Jack Grove 1 December
New German government promises funding boost for universities ‘Traffic light’ coalition brings festive joy with ‘very specific and detailed’ promises to sector that felt neglected by last administration By Ben Upton 1 December
‘More assertive’ OfS reassures universities on quality plans ‘There will not be armies of OfS inspectors assessing teaching quality,’ says chief executive in annual report By Chris Havergal 1 December
Our experiment with contextual admissions has been a?big success Both dropout rates and attainment have held steady since Abertay radically reduced entry grades for disadvantaged applicants, says Nigel Seaton By Nigel Seaton 1 December
UK provides Horizon funding guarantee amid political impasse Government promises stopgap funding for first wave of successful UK-based applicants, as European Commission keeps schtum on full association By Ben Upton 30 November
Breaking strike with recorded lectures ‘may be against the law’ Intellectual property rights are likely to rest with lecturers despite university ownership claims, say legal experts By Jack Grove 30 November
Polish universities are walking a political tightrope The country’s conservative government is wary of academia’s social influence and values, but a ministerial letter offers hope, says Agnieszka Piotrowska By Agnieszka Piotrowska 30 November
Alistair Jarvis leaving Universities?UK to become London PVC Communications expert has led sector body since 2017 By Chris Havergal 29 November
Omicron: DfE ‘strongly advising’ mask wearing on English campuses New guidance will be reviewed in three weeks’ time and is largely unchanged By Chris Havergal 29 November