Time to shut down Confucius Institutes, says City president Sir Anthony Finkelstein told MPs that the language centres were an ‘explicit tool of Chinese influence’ By Jack Grove 1 March
UEL pledges review after settling with sacked union members University settles or reinstates five scholars but insists union membership was not a factor in redundancy process By John Morgan 1 March
‘Keep academics without people skills away’ from PhD supervision European universities outline blueprint to improve doctoral training but acknowledge some professors can’t or won’t change their ways By Ben Upton 1 March
UCU calls another strike day after employers ‘impose pay offer’ Union announces plans to go ahead with walkouts across six days in March to ‘ramp up pressure’ as Acas talks near conclusion By Tom Williams 28 February
Over-reliance on China and India leaves UK universities ‘exposed’ Governments could bankrupt three-quarters of institutions by blocking students from travelling abroad, says vice-chancellor By Tom Williams 28 February
Finns float plans for tuition fees for second degrees Charging students who already have a similar degree could gain traction among politicians tiptoeing around free higher education ahead of April’s elections By Ben Upton 28 February
Relationships register or full ban is ‘catch-22’ for universities OfS’ proposed scheme might unintentionally endorse personal relationships between staff and students, campaigners warn By Tom Williams 28 February
Financial pressures ‘erode public support for research spending’ Sector must show tangible benefits of funding or public will prioritise other things, poll finds By Tom Williams 28 February
UK degree classifications are no longer fit for purpose The honours system has too narrow a scope and too few grades. Why not embrace the Hear and the GCSE scale, asks Zahir Irani By Zahir Irani 28 February
Brussels pledges ‘immediate’ Horizon talks once UK-EU deal done European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says discussions will begin once new Northern Ireland framework is confirmed By Jack Grove 27 February
UEA vice-chancellor David Richardson quits amid financial crisis Biochemist ends nine-year tenure at Norwich institution after staff pass vote of no confidence By Tom Williams 27 February
End to UK’s Horizon roadblock in sight but deal on money needed Potential UK-EU deal on Northern Ireland is chance to finalise Horizon association, but UK’s financial contribution ‘will have to be changed’ By John Morgan 27 February
