World in brief - 11 December 2014
United StatesCosby ends trustee role at alma materThe comedian and actor Bill Cosby has resigned as a trustee of his alma mater, Temple University in Philadelphia, the university has announced. Mr...
Search
-
-
The week in higher education - 11 December 2014
After the saga over the suspension and reinstatement of Thomas Docherty and controversy over the use of allegedly 鈥渟implistic鈥 metrics to choose academics for redundancy, the University of Warwick...
-
-
Otherwise engaged
How splendidly appropriate was the choice of Peter J. Smith, author of Between Two Stools, to review Dara Blumenthal鈥檚 pretentious disquisition on our excretory habits, Little Vast Rooms of Undoing:...
-
Fare thee well
Having worked as an academic for more than 40 years, I鈥檝e decided to retire next month. Several colleagues have asked me why, given the option to work beyond 65. There are a few reasons. One is that...
-
Is this bill to be borne?
The government鈥檚 proposal to put 鈥渦niversities under a statutory duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism鈥 (鈥淐ritics label bill 鈥榗ensorship鈥 鈥, News, 4 December) has nothing to do with...
-
The measure of dropouts
I read with interest the leader on the National Audit Office鈥檚 report into financial support for students at 鈥渁lternative鈥 providers (鈥淔ailing to look, listen or legislate鈥, 4 December).In particular...
-
Questions remain over postgraduate loan figures
Uncertainty over how many students will apply for the loans and how much the scheme will cost
-
Researcher claims to have answer to negative citations
Dividing citation into six groups could improve the accuracy of metrics in research assessment, paper argues
-
UUK criticises 鈥榚xcessive prudence鈥 behind pension reforms
The USS is being attacked from all sides over the methodology of its valuation and assumptions, claims UCU
-
Fewer students opt for vocational courses
The number of people taking undergraduate-level vocational qualifications is largely in decline, according to a report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills
-
University of Northampton refuses FoI request for minutes
University claims exemption from releasing details of board of governors meeting, citing 鈥榗ommercial interests鈥
-
Rethink reliance on self-funded postgraduates
Plans to raise researcher numbers at risk if study is unaffordable, universities warned
-
Language degrees: when the words are not enough
Seminar debates conflicting trends in the discipline as industry figures look beyond fluency
-
Fight fixed-term work, research councils entreated
UCU argues that a rise in project-based grants fuel job insecurity and deter postgraduates from working in academia