ViewUS news roundup: 27 August to 2 September

This week: a $3.5 trillion spending package, the Afghanistan evacuation and campus vaccinations

ViewEU leaders divided over need to adopt new strategic vision

Bloc’s political representative underlines importance of science, following suggestions approach is shortsighted

ViewWhite House wants R&D to focus on pandemics and climate

Biden administration lays out spending priorities for 2022-23, with R&D investment expected to rise

ViewSocieties raise ‘grave’ concerns about cheating in online exams

Mathematicians warn universities’ pandemic-era online assessments make cheating easier and heighten inequalities

ViewNot the 8am Playbook

As Playbook prepares to return, we round up the recent stories you may have missed

ViewSouth Africa bolsters university plans to tackle gender violence

GBV and mental health “battles” must be won, says higher education health body

ViewUK funding at a glance: 19 August to 2 September

This week: space tech, electrification skills, fisheries, biomass and engineering fellowships

ViewBiotech business explores mRNA vaccine production in West Africa

Senegal and Rwanda set to benefit from partnership with Germany’s BioNTech

ViewOpportunity profile: Decolonising environmental science

UKRI scheme looks into the dark past of environmental research to build a brighter future

ViewThree-quarters of students ‘have considered dropping out’

Covid-19 and mental health concerns behind sharp jump in students thinking about leaving, survey finds

ViewUK loses out to US again in annual soft power ranking

US dominance grows in alumni table for world leaders as UK remains in second place

ViewERC chief ends term with warning to politicians on research funding

Purse-holders told to back scientific exploration to help deal with unexpected crises

ViewNarrowing of freedoms ‘chilling’, says New Zealand union

Academic freedom conference hears that restructures and online courses are stripping agency from university staff

ViewNew Zealand news roundup: 26 August to 1 September

This week: complex systems, the Scott Base redevelopment and a call for Catalyst Fund reviewers

ViewLockdown drags on in Auckland

Second Covid-19 case recorded at University of Auckland as activities move online

ViewSouth Australian universities relatively stable despite pandemic

Annual reports show research income success, but restructuring is on the cards at Adelaide

ViewOnline learning debate ‘must go beyond virtual lectures’

National Centre for Universities and Business says limiting conversation risks stifling innovation in teaching

ViewWorld news roundup: 20-26 August

This week: new Chinese education minister appointed, China lambasts Covid probe, and Russian tech-transfer boost

ViewFears sun is setting on South African research

"We are falling short of both our visions and our aspirations," says government adviser

ViewStudents split over vaccine passport requirement

Survey finds third of international students could switch destination plans over need for proof

ViewNew Zealand news roundup: 19-25 August

This week: managerialism in universities is criticised and Massey cancer research is boosted by alumni

ViewNational lockdown hits Marsden Fund application process

Royal Society of New Zealand tweaks schedule for major funding scheme

ViewBoys ‘may have faced systemic bias’ in pandemic-hit A-levels

Former Ucas head warns of “unexplained differences” between boys and girls in teacher-assessed grades

ViewUK government told to ‘unleash technology’ in healthcare

Council for Science and Technology warns prime minister that current system is “not sustainable”

ViewBlack academics hit out at UKRI’s lack of public reply to open letter

Authors of letter accusing national R&D funder of perpetuating inequality say they still await answers

ViewWhat the Holyrood deal means for research and higher education

The SNP and Scottish Greens made pledges on science and universities ahead of power-sharing deal

ViewFury mounts over ARC grants

Technical disqualification of Australian Research Council applicants from at least four universities described as “heartbreaking”

ViewUK universities’ energy use falls by 7 per cent in one year

Drop in energy use coincides with start of the Covid-19 pandemic

ViewScottish government creates expert group on future pandemics

Standing committee on pandemics to focus on future pathogen-related threats

ViewAdvisory group calls for boost to UK medical regulatory science

Government told to invest in centres of excellence in regulatory science and innovation in healthcare