Tawdry politicians and cybergangs

Vice-chancellors are in fighting mood for the new term as they hit back against the attacks they have been subjected to throughout the summer over pay. Rankings bring good news for UK universities. And there are warnings over cybersecurity.

Today’s papers

Louise Richardson, who is paid £350,000-a-year as vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, says vice-chancellors are poorly paid compared to footballers and bankers, the Telegraph reports on its front page. The Guardian also has the story, reporting that Richardson accused a "mendacious media" and "tawdry politicians" of undermining the higher education sector by claiming that tuition fees have led to high salaries for senior academics. Richardson said the fees had simply replaced government grants and reflected "a global marketplace". Writing in the Guardian’s education section, Peter Scott, professor of higher education studies at University College London and former vice-chancellor at Kingston University, argues that the only way to fund higher education is to raise tax. The Number 10 policy unit is reported to be considering how to reform the tuition fee system in England, so will no doubt be avidly reading.