University funding and finances
Applications for professional service posts decline as appeal of working in universities ‘fades’, but academics face more competition than ever
Warning more institutions may look to Scottish government for support as ailing university’s problems blamed on mismanagement rather than wider funding pressures
Further meetings fail to reach agreement in UK sector talks, with union calling 1.4 per cent rise a ‘real-terms cut’
User-pays immigration overhaul could undermine international education recovery, universities warn
Surrey one of the first institutions outside TPS to look at offering different terms and conditions for new hires to save costs
One in five UK university leaders exploring mergers as sector fears ‘contagion’ effect of institutional failure
UCU claims institution hasn’t ruled out compulsory redundancies as it cuts further 75 roles
Using money raised from international fees could help support most disadvantaged to attend university, finds inquiry
Australian National University’s 60-year-old school to become a ‘programme’, as performance, composition and theory give way to ‘music and well-being’
Domestic student places and essential courses face axe as plan to tax international tuition fees could prove to be ‘final nail in a coffin’ for some institutions
Market logic has converted universities from publicly oriented educators of citizens to workforce training institutions serving economic interests, says Graeme Turner
Affected professional services staff will be given the chance to apply for one of hundreds of new posts
Data shows surge in enrolments concentrated in metropolitan universities, as new Australian commission comes into being
Ability to run courses and research in Leicester relies on income from international operations, leader warns after criticism of expansion plans
Cash-strapped university tightens executive pay as it hopes to return to ‘break-even’ position in 2025
Iain Gillespie admits not knowing his former institution breached banking arrangements until reading about it in damning report
Past few years have felt like ‘tumbling around in a washing machine at times’, university leader tells MPs
Dundee bailout could set precedent for government intervention but new pots of money could come with strings attached, event hears
Money for ailing institution via Scottish Funding Council comes on top of the ?22 million previously made available
Annual reports paint 2024 as a year of reprieve, but expiry of teaching subsidy enhancement ‘will make things tighter’
Union members call for new democratic management structure as interim vice-chancellor appointed to lead Scottish institution
Institution says it is ‘not immune’ to financial challenges as it looks to axe 400 jobs
Government set to resurrect integrity measures, as predatory institutions profit from their competitors’ ‘blood, sweat and tears’
The tasks that can be automated or augmented are some of those that university staff undertake day in and day out, says Alexander Iosad
Interim vice-chancellor steps down after investigators blame financial crisis on mismanagement, not external pressures
Growing numbers of higher education leaders believe their institutions need to change, but only a minority are confident that they can
Four in five tertiary education students globally to be in developing world by 2040, World Bank research predicts
Foreign student numbers rebound despite fee increases as other anglophone countries impose immigration restrictions
Institution falling back on reserve cash to pursue growth through major transformation, including a new teaching model, overseas expansion and controversial staff redundancies
Universities call for more support as government rhetoric suggests policy focus shifting to wider tertiary sector
Welsh university leader warns of further job losses for professional services staff as politicians probe scale of original cuts
Education committee announces inquiry into higher education funding as financial position of sector worsens
Annual data shows universities in England and Northern Ireland face growing losses on research and teaching domestic students
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
Union threat could prove to be more about ‘propaganda’, with legality of pursuing dispute against education secretary questioned
Potential reprioritisation of parts of research budget could heap pressure on institutions already counting cost of immigration and tax changes
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
