Academic & University News | Times Higher Education (THE)

27 April

University trans policies ‘unlawful’ after Supreme Court ruling

26 April

Dundee may need further government support, ministers admit

By Chris Havergal

25 April

We can’t comprehend the threats to US HE if we dismiss every critique

This is American universities’ 9/11 moment. But now, as then, understanding why we are hated is important, says Jonathan Zimmerman

By Jonathan Zimmerman

25 April

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order during an education event in the White House, Washington, DC, 20 March 2025. Trump signed an order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education, a decades-long goal on the US right.

Does the US really need a Department of Education?

24 April

The crew of the HMS Narvik watch the smoke rise after a British atomic test, which took place on the Montebello Islands off the west coast of Australia, 16 May 1956.

AI summary ‘trashed author’s work’ and took weeks to be corrected

24 April

Asia University Rankings 2025: are excellence initiatives working?

China’s Double First-Class project appears to be paying off as the country’s institutions continue to lead the rankings. Why have similar schemes elsewhere struggled to reap rewards, and can China keep advancing despite economic slowdown and an ageing population? Helen Packer reports

Access all our rankings

Events

Europe Universities Summit 2025

6 May - 8 May 2025

Budapest, Hungary

Campus

Stop treating disability support as an afterthought

By Christina Dzineku and James Murray

North America

Accreditors rally against Trump’s ‘misleading’ executive order

By Josh Moody

25 April

We can’t comprehend the threats to US HE if we dismiss every critique

By Jonathan Zimmerman

25 April

Anti-DEI guidance letter put on hold, for now

By Jessica Blake

24 April

Does the US really need a Department of Education?

24 April

Europe

People gather to stage a protest due to government's pressure on education employees, who halted work in solidarity with the demands of students in blockade, in front of the Ministry of Education headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia on 5 February 2025.

Serbia appoints ‘harmful’ new education minister amid protests

27 April

University trans policies ‘unlawful’ after Supreme Court ruling

26 April

Dundee may need further government support, ministers admit

By Chris Havergal

25 April

Further job cuts not ruled out as 350 staff leave Edinburgh

By Juliette Rowsell

25 April

Asia

Students biking in front of the main entrance of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Asia Summit: US tensions ‘opportunity’ for Asian universities

24 April

Asia University Rankings 2025: China’s formula for success

By Ellie Bothwell

23 April

Asia University Rankings 2025: are excellence initiatives working?

23 April

Asia Summit: AI ‘can tackle misconduct’ as more papers published

23 April

Australia & New Zealand

Student loan forgiveness ‘won’t fix main problem’ as debt swells

25 April

‘Inflated’ crisis spurs another 800 job cuts Down Under

24 April

AI summary ‘trashed author’s work’ and took weeks to be corrected

24 April

Earth science is critical to national resilience – so why is it being gutted?

By Rhodri Davies

24 April

News

Serbia appoints ‘harmful’ new education minister amid protests

Academic who has been a vocal critic of long-running student blockades joins government, sparking further demonstrations

27 April

University trans policies ‘unlawful’ after Supreme Court ruling

Guidance on facilities, accommodation and equality monitoring may need to be redrawn after landmark judgment, gender-critical scholars insist

26 April

Dundee may need further government support, ministers admit

Deputy first minister chairing ministerial group to consider fresh help for university, amid continuing doubts over its viability

By Chris Havergal

25 April

Further job cuts not ruled out as 350 staff leave Edinburgh

By Juliette Rowsell

25 April

Does it matter who the next Cambridge chancellor is?

25 April

LSE seeks ideas for what to do with one of London’s oldest shops

25 April

Student loan forgiveness ‘won’t fix main problem’ as debt swells

25 April

Employers should ‘match graduate loan repayments’ to invest in HE

24 April

Alarm over EU plan to use Horizon funding for defence

24 April

AI summary ‘trashed author’s work’ and took weeks to be corrected

24 April

Universities push for European lifelong learning initiative

24 April

Asia Summit: US tensions ‘opportunity’ for Asian universities

24 April

In-depth

Does the US really need a Department of Education?

Donald Trump’s attempt to end federal involvement in education may be the repayment of a political debt, but the department’s creation was also political and, arguably, sits uneasily with the constitution. Patrick Jack considers what insights are offered by fellow federated nations Canada and Australia

24 April

A worker hangs red lanterns on a tree for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Beijing, as an illustration of Chinese universities rising in position in the Asia Rankings.

Asia University Rankings 2025: are excellence initiatives working?

A street vendor walks past the USAID office in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Are the US’ international funding cuts another nail in the SDGs’ coffin?

Sweeping cuts to USAID and the NIH have stranded the numerous overseas research groups in the Global South that relied on their funding. With scepticism already mounting that the SDGs will be met by 2030, the devastation of relevant research is another body blow. Jack Grove reports

Opinion

By Jonathan Zimmerman

We can’t comprehend the threats to US HE if we dismiss every critique

This is American universities’ 9/11 moment. But now, as then, understanding why we are hated is important, says Jonathan Zimmerman

25 April

Hunting trophies of elk and deer with weapons after the hunt, symbolising the pursuit of large grants

In my field, a little goes a long way. So why must we chase large grants?

More research council funding in the humanities and social sciences should be distributed in the form of micro-grants, says Peter Sutoris

A human rest next to a computer with AI on its screen

AI risks undermining the heart of higher education

If students don’t make the effort to comprehend, synthesise and relate ideas for themselves, they will miss out on meaningful academic growth, says Zahid Naz

We must support research preserving culture, history and human dignity

By Svitlana Arbuzova

18 April

Without self-criticism, there can be no progressive thought in the academy

By Eric Heinze

15 April

Building connections with AI industry is vital to keeping degrees relevant

By Caroline Clewley

14 April

Many UK universities’ trans inclusion policies contravene equality law

By Akua Reindorf

11 April

World policy

Two women in blue burqas walk at the front of a mosque with a door open, symbolising an open university

Afghans shut out of higher education need their own open university

An internationally supported online institution could give hope to the country’s young women, now confined to their homes, says an Afghan scholar

Editor’s pick

Money in a scientific vessel, illustrating the cost of scientific publication

Scientific journals should not charge to publish response articles

If a paper is published open access, responses that point out its flaws should not be hidden from readers behind a paywall, says Andrew Barnas

As cuts mount, those used to one-click searching are in for a shock

If ‘big deal’ subscriptions become unaffordable, librarians will need to help students and academics conduct effective searches, says Caroline Ball

Featured jobs

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Talking leadership

More PhD students could ‘compensate’ for population decline

Stagnating government funding means tuition fee rises may be inevitable, says Japanese university leader

15 April

Montage of Meric Gertler, outgoing president of the University of Toronto, with black swans taking off in the background. Illustrating his belief that university leaders must brace for more “black swan events”.

Plan for more ‘black swan events’ after cap ‘body blow’ – Gertler

Outgoing president of the University of Toronto discusses Canada’s international student restrictions, impact of second Trump term and prospect of more ‘bad surprises’ awaiting his successor

2 April

Emma Johnston attends the Marie Claire Women Of The Year Awards 2024 at Walsh Bay on 13 November 2024 in Sydney, Australia.

Emma Johnston: Australian HE must resist and adapt to external shocks

The marine biologist and new University of Melbourne vice-chancellor is intent on using insights from beneath the waves to keep her institution afloat through the brewing storms