ViewUniversities to ‘interrogate’ rise in top degrees last year

Analysis explores factors behind Covid-19 grade inflation and looks ahead to future assessments

ViewHungarian government in spotlight over academic freedom

Scholars at Risk network calls for international pressure, but government defends policies and motives

ViewGetting writing done, Cure Parkinson’s, Swiss funder sees the light, British Academy small grants

A roundup of this week’s Funding Insight articles

ViewBarnes storming

The retiring vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University discusses pandemic leadership and a digital future

ViewDeficits will be ‘exacerbated’ by London weighting cut

Removal of London weighting will hit some institutions particularly hard, group argues

ViewUK funding at a glance: 26 March to 15 April

This week: Covid calls, future tech partnerships and awards for women in science

ViewSmart move

Embo’s newest fellowships help researchers change course

View‘Need for exchange of best practice’ on pandemic

Earma 2021: Academic leaders call for collaboration on widespread Covid-19 challenges

ViewDonelan: England’s later student return date down to travel fears

Cross-country travel and formation of new households caused concern over student returns, minister says

ViewWorld news roundup: 9-15 April

This week: vaccine rows continue, scientists in exile and more

View‘Colonial structures’ won’t vaccinate Africa

South African HIV stalwart urges investment in the continent’s health capacity

View‘Too soon’ to say if South African suicides rose during lockdown

Data scarcity makes it difficult to tease out trends, says Stellenbosch academic

ViewVaccine nationalism: ‘Natural but stupid’

As national leaders get covetous over Covid-19 vaccines, public health experts plead for more cooperation

ViewUniversities turn to testing as vaccine scramble threatens reopening plans

European institutions ramp up Covid-19 tracking to get students and staff back to campuses

ViewConstant messaging

Europe must improve science communication to beat vaccine hesitancy

ViewRead the manual!

Earma 2021: Covid-19 has changed grant audits—but some advice is timeless, says Ellen Thompson

ViewFunding trends: Big spenders

An unprecedented volume of funding has flowed around the world in response to Covid-19

ViewAfrica aims to supply at least 20% of its vaccines by 2040

Crucial to get ball rolling to catch Covid-19 window of opportunity, experts say

ViewA numbers game

There’s mixed student recruitment news after Brexit, despite what the OfS thinks about London’s advantages

ViewResearchers at risk need dedicated support

Earma 2021: Fleeing scholars need funding and help, say Orla Duke and Beata Kowalska

ViewUniversities may have reached ‘peak’ international students

But global teaching delivered online is expected to take off post-pandemic, conference hears

ViewNew Zealand news roundup: 1-14 April

This week: science prizes, Māori knowledge projects and plant protein research

ViewMay flowers

A government announcement arrives late in the day, in every sense

ViewWilletts predicts ‘radical shift’ in course delivery post-pandemic

Former universities minister outlines potential path for online learning and international education after Covid-19

ViewCampuses to remain partially closed until mid-May at earliest

Department for Education confirms there will be evidence review ahead of students' return in England

ViewStudy: government subsidies for private R&D may miss their mark

Paper suggests public financing does not increase private R&D investment when it is needed most

ViewAcademies: EU health agency could reset pharma relations

Model of public-private partnerships could be an area for change, meeting participants suggest

ViewDither and delay

An announcement about the full reopening of universities could be made later today

ViewPressure grows for clarity on students’ return to campuses

Call for return date as report suggests students will not be allowed back until mid-May

ViewStaff submissions to the REF grow by almost 50%

The expected spike in submissions follows rule changes after the 2016 Stern review