Opinion

Leaders must mandate objectives for research, teaching and external engagement, with major reviews every decade, says Warren Bebbington

Preserving human capital for the post-Putin era is in everyone’s interests, say Dmitry Dubrovsky and Gleb Yarovoy 

Meeting the continent’s need for more doctoral graduates is hampered by a lack of resources and qualified supervisors, says Teklu Abate Bekele

Few academics abused the autonomy they used to have – and fewer still complained about their salary, says Adrian Furnham

By helping colleges deliver degrees, the OU will be fulfilling its founding mission, say Nadhim Zahawi, Tim Blackman and David Hughes

Disabled, disadvantaged, introverted and international students may all appreciate ongoing online options, says Robert Phillips

The professionalism and collegiality with which editors used to respond to complaints has all but disappeared, says Harvey Graff 

Retention, progression and completion data arguably better reflect the work universities do to help students fulfil their potential, says James Miller

Lifelong learning and industry collaboration are also priorities for higher education in the region, says Choltis Dhirathiti

The passions roused by the culture wars show that people care deeply about history and culture right now, says Edward Harcourt

The National Education Policy is like a breath of fresh air; now universities need to make the changes happen to reap the rewards, says Pankaj Mittal

Language is a powerful tool for breaking down resistance and normalising unhealthy cultural change, says Bruce Macfarlane

Why can’t scholars acknowledge that a professor was both mistreated by Princeton and mistreated his former student lover, asks Jonathan Zimmerman

For UK universities, there seems to be an endless flow of crises to be overcome. But what if this is not just a tough spell, but the new normal?

The next exercise should clarify its purpose and language, relax its disciplinary focus and refine research culture, says James Wilsdon

A US university’s requirement of 10 in-person office hours per week is an anachronistic sales pitch, says Jonathan Beecher Field

While the benefits of impact accrue to institutions, any backlash is focused on individuals, says Erin Pritchard

More systematic work is required to learn the lessons of efforts to generate policy impact, says Matthew Flinders

Without practical teaching at their heart, many departments of music technology, drama and dance could face closure, says Ian Pace

Ditching digital provision will waste pandemic progress and make life harder for students who are disabled or carers, says Meredith Wilkinson

If Western universities don’t respond to India’s opening up in the way envisaged, a clampdown could quickly follow, warns Peter Brady

Northumbria’s REF 2021 results emphasise that growing research capability can benefit teaching, business and employment, says Andrew Wathey

Long timelines, siloed training and the prioritisation of drug development make life-saving advances in detection less likely, says David Crosby

Interactions with his student neighbours have convinced Harvey Graff that they crave a supportive, broadly based, interactive education

Long-standing debates about what ‘research quality’ means make it obvious that the REF can be little more than make-believe, says Martyn Hammersley

The extent of research‘s cross-subsidisation by overseas student fees is too rarely understood by policymakers and academics alike, says Ruth Arnold

Even students who have spent many years in UK secondary schools struggle to make the transition, says Pat Moores

There is no evidence in art and design that the REF drives a wedge between research and students' interests, says Victoria Kelley

The REF may no longer be the only game in town, but it remains a dominant force in UK research. So as the REF 2021 results are released, is it still fit for purpose?

The latest iteration of the UK’s national research audit has fulfilled its aim to identify research quality across the whole system, says David Sweeney

Linking impact to funding is breeding mistrust, apathy and unrest. Researchers must be free to do the work they find most meaningful, says Mark Reed

Research-led teaching is undermined when academics’ research is pushed into areas only obliquely related to students’ interests, says Ian Pace

Politicians’ false claims to be implementing evidence-based policy risk undermining academia’s reputation, says Gary Thomas

Resignations from the Australia India Institute suggest that politicisation of university management is not confined to the mainland, says Mukhtar Ahmad

Thinking in terms of disembodied abilities undermines again well-rounded learning and secure employment, says Gavin Moodie

Progress on widening participation may go into reverse if mounting scepticism about university’s value isn’t addressed, says Zahir Irani

Pursuing research relevance is important, but the risk is that it becomes a form of deference, co-option and control, says Matthew Flinders

The complexity of tackling major social challenges makes universities a natural launchpad for firms aimed at doing so, says Tanya Filer

Higher education is key to reassessing who we are as a nation and why we’re tolerating such extreme division and deception, says Vincent Rougeau

Covid vaccine successes notwithstanding, researchers should remain wary of corporate capture, says Tahir Shah 

As a major publisher and information provider, Elsevier embraces its role in promoting diversity, say Ylann Schemm and Holly Falk-Krzesinski

Focus on organisational hygiene and you get a nice place to work. Quality and high performance may or may not follow, says Grahame Dowling

While those new to commercialising research often obsess about owning IP, seasoned unicorn breeders find a more relaxed approach is most effective

A mixture of privacy concerns and managerialism prevents universities from making good use of their research expertise, says Sunil Mitra Kumar

Building a sustainable society has been a mission of the Japanese institution for almost 150 years, but the task is not yet done. Atsushi Yokota explores its progress to date

Multiple small grants from trusts and charities can lend research projects credibility, opening bigger doors down the line, says Sophia Labadi

Journalists and fact-checkers must be reminded that scientific concepts can be hard to render in language that is both simple and true, says David Sanders

A core principle of the SDGs is to ‘leave no one behind’. Joseph Wong explains how a global alliance based at Toronto is empowering students to lead the charge

Such an approach will help institutions rebuild their covenant with communities, say Robert Griew and Ian Anderson

Merlí: Sapere Aude offers glimpses into academic life that are truly compelling and, at times, disturbing, says David Lunn

If good collegial practice is recognised, shared and rewarded, universities will be more enjoyable places to work, says Rachel Norman

Too many reviewers ignore their duty to independently review materials and instead rely on the candidate’s narrative, says Richard Utz

All institutions should set science-based goals. A new project to establish an agreed methodology for higher education globally will help, says Iain Patton

A congressman’s call for all Russian students to be kicked out of the US was unfair and wrong-headed, says Anna Wise

Growth in competitiveness, employment, incomes and regional attractiveness occurs only when policy is aligned with local need, says Simon Collinson

Discontent about the shortage of university posts and funding will also continue regardless of how people are judged, says Jan Palmowski

The practice is banned in most countries but it remains rife across the region, with universities no exception, says Sabrin Ramadhan

In Sri Lanka, an increase in the number of clerical staff has been accompanied by a downturn in quality, says Chani Imbulgoda

Singaporean students are focused on grades, but their skills and attitudes are just as important for their success, says Thanusha Raj

Systems have the data to track students, the leverage to facilitate collaboration and the authority to create transfer policies, says Nancy L Zimpher