Chris Havergal
@chrishavergal.bsky.social
Editor, @timeshighered.bsky.social
UK universities are increasingly reserving PhD opportunities for ethnic minority students in a move seen as a way of widening the talent pipeline www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-univ... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
UK universities ring-fence PhD posts for ethnic minority students
Practice seen as a way to boost participation at higher levels of academia but critics say it could have the opposite effect
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
UK universities are increasingly reserving PhD opportunities for ethnic minority students in a move seen as a way of widening the talent pipeline www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-univ... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Who will be the next chief executive of the Office for Students? @helenpacker.bsky.social looks at the potential candidates, and what the sector wants from them www.timeshighereducation.com/news/who-wil...
Who will be the next leader of the Office for Students?
Government thought to want someone who can move English regulator away from ‘highly politicised’ past as applications open for new leader
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Who will be the next chief executive of the Office for Students? @helenpacker.bsky.social looks at the potential candidates, and what the sector wants from them www.timeshighereducation.com/news/who-wil...
.@profalices.bsky.social threatens to sue University of Bristol over its handling of a guest lecture that was disrupted by transgender rights activists www.timeshighereducation.com/news/gender-... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Gender-critical academic sues Bristol over disrupted talk
Failure to stop intimidation from trans right activists during visiting lecture breached free speech rights, says sociologist Alice Sullivan
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:54 AM
.@profalices.bsky.social threatens to sue University of Bristol over its handling of a guest lecture that was disrupted by transgender rights activists www.timeshighereducation.com/news/gender-... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
“Big five” academic publishers reach agreements with UK universities, with a trial that will remove fees on a per article basis from certain journals being hailed as a “global first” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-publ... via @twilliamsthe.bsky.social
UK publishing deals with ‘big five’ hailed as ‘key milestone’
‘Global first’ agreements break link between pricing and the number of articles published for the first time
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:53 AM
“Big five” academic publishers reach agreements with UK universities, with a trial that will remove fees on a per article basis from certain journals being hailed as a “global first” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-publ... via @twilliamsthe.bsky.social
A cross-party review of the financial sustainability of Scotland’s universities will go ahead after months of initial talks between university leaders and politicians, reports @helenpacker.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scottis...
Scottish HE funding review to start in January despite election
Scottish National Party minister says financial challenges go ‘beyond party political boundaries’ as official talks set to begin
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A cross-party review of the financial sustainability of Scotland’s universities will go ahead after months of initial talks between university leaders and politicians, reports @helenpacker.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scottis...
Return of Erasmus+ may prove particularly beneficial for mid-tier universities which lost significant numbers of students from the EU post-Brexit, reports @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/returni...
Returning to Erasmus ‘will benefit mid-tier UK universities’
Short-term placements a chance to rebuild EU links and campus diversity but could also ‘reshape demand in ways that challenge current financial models’
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Return of Erasmus+ may prove particularly beneficial for mid-tier universities which lost significant numbers of students from the EU post-Brexit, reports @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/returni...
I like this from @jgro-the.bsky.social: "Textbook inspires professor’s AI-enabled ‘academic trance’ album" feat @digitalurban.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/textboo...
Textbook inspires professor’s AI-enabled ‘academic trance’ album
Europop tracks based on chapters from Metaverse book have attracted thousands of fans, with one calling them ‘almost poetic’
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I like this from @jgro-the.bsky.social: "Textbook inspires professor’s AI-enabled ‘academic trance’ album" feat @digitalurban.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/textboo...
Eliminating funding for 3* research in next Research Excellence Framework would benefit Russell Group institutions by about £50 million a year, suggests modelling www.timeshighereducation.com/news/beware-... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
‘Beware trade-offs’ of removing REF funding for 3* outputs
Review of formula used to allocate £2 billion QR funding could downgrade or withdraw money for ‘internationally excellent’ research, some fear
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Eliminating funding for 3* research in next Research Excellence Framework would benefit Russell Group institutions by about £50 million a year, suggests modelling www.timeshighereducation.com/news/beware-... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Failure to adequately manage work-related stress at University of Birmingham breached health and safety regulations, watchdog rules www.timeshighereducation.com/news/birming... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Birmingham reprimanded over management of work-related stress
Investigation by Health and Safety Executive found institution ‘does not have appropriate arrangements in place’ to manage burnout among staff
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Failure to adequately manage work-related stress at University of Birmingham breached health and safety regulations, watchdog rules www.timeshighereducation.com/news/birming... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Australian universities will be assessed on efforts to stamp out antisemitism on campus, and risk losing funding if they are found wanting, under government moves following Bondi Beach terrorist attack www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...
Universities judged on antisemitism response after Bondi attack
Financial penalties loom for institutions that fail to crack down on issue as government commits to ‘report card’ system
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Australian universities will be assessed on efforts to stamp out antisemitism on campus, and risk losing funding if they are found wanting, under government moves following Bondi Beach terrorist attack www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...
Good to see @patrickjack.bsky.social's scoop on vice-chancellor bonuses being followed up across the nationals. You can read the original piece here (it was Patrick who did the hard yards of trawling the accounts): www.timeshighereducation.com/news/vice-ch...
Vice-chancellor bonuses growing despite sector funding crisis
Universities defend decision to award some vice-chancellors larger bonuses than last year, with one private institution giving boss over £100K
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Good to see @patrickjack.bsky.social's scoop on vice-chancellor bonuses being followed up across the nationals. You can read the original piece here (it was Patrick who did the hard yards of trawling the accounts): www.timeshighereducation.com/news/vice-ch...
Discounts that allow PhD holders to qualify for a UK visa below the usual salary threshold should be abolished, says Migration Advisory Committee www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scrap-v... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Scrap visa salary discounts for PhD holders, finds MAC
No evidence that people with a doctorate degree experience ‘significant wage penalties’, finds committee’s review of key visa route
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Discounts that allow PhD holders to qualify for a UK visa below the usual salary threshold should be abolished, says Migration Advisory Committee www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scrap-v... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Havergal
Bonuses of £50k. £100k. Even £145k.
All while the sector is in crisis.
UCU general secretary @drjogrady.bsky.social says vice-chancellors should “do the charitable thing and donate their bonuses to the food banks that will be supporting far too many students”.
All while the sector is in crisis.
UCU general secretary @drjogrady.bsky.social says vice-chancellors should “do the charitable thing and donate their bonuses to the food banks that will be supporting far too many students”.
Vice-chancellor bonuses growing despite sector funding crisis
Universities defend decision to award some vice-chancellors larger bonuses than last year, with one private institution giving boss over £100K
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Bonuses of £50k. £100k. Even £145k.
All while the sector is in crisis.
UCU general secretary @drjogrady.bsky.social says vice-chancellors should “do the charitable thing and donate their bonuses to the food banks that will be supporting far too many students”.
All while the sector is in crisis.
UCU general secretary @drjogrady.bsky.social says vice-chancellors should “do the charitable thing and donate their bonuses to the food banks that will be supporting far too many students”.
UKRI unveils major research funding shake-up, splitting funding across curiosity-driven research, national priorities, innovation and PhDs/infrastructure www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ukri-fu... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
UKRI funding shake-up hands big rise to priority research areas
New targeted model will see funder split budget across four “buckets”, with money for curiosity-driven work remaining broadly flat
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:57 PM
UKRI unveils major research funding shake-up, splitting funding across curiosity-driven research, national priorities, innovation and PhDs/infrastructure www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ukri-fu... via @jgro-the.bsky.social
Full details from @helenpacker.bsky.social on UK's return to Erasmus+, including funding, participation, and the future of the Turing scheme www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-aims...
UK aims to widen access to Erasmus after agreeing to join in 2027
Confirmed deal to cost UK £570 million in first year, with ministers targeting 100,000 participants including apprentices and adult learners
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Full details from @helenpacker.bsky.social on UK's return to Erasmus+, including funding, participation, and the future of the Turing scheme www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-aims...
Facing a £12 million deficit and a beloved but underutilised rural campus, a former barrister who led murder cases says she took lessons from legal career when attempting to modernise a university with Victorian origins www.timeshighereducation.com/news/elwen-e... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Elwen Evans: ex-lawyer on turning around Wales’ oldest university
Facing a £12 million deficit and a beloved but underutilised rural campus, former barrister who led murder cases says she took lessons from legal career when attempting to modernise an institution wit...
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Facing a £12 million deficit and a beloved but underutilised rural campus, a former barrister who led murder cases says she took lessons from legal career when attempting to modernise a university with Victorian origins www.timeshighereducation.com/news/elwen-e... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
UK return to Erasmus+ opens up "fantastic opportunities" for students and will "renew the huge contributions" that EU learners make to UK campuses, says @russellgroup.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-set-... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
UK set to rejoin EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme
Westminster government reportedly agrees reassociation to Europe’s flagship student exchange programme five years after departing under Brexit
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
UK return to Erasmus+ opens up "fantastic opportunities" for students and will "renew the huge contributions" that EU learners make to UK campuses, says @russellgroup.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-set-... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
UK is expected to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ exchange scheme from January 2027, reports @helenpacker.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-set-...
UK set to rejoin EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme
UK reportedly agrees reassociation to Europe’s flagship student exchange programme five years after departing under Brexit
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM
UK is expected to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ exchange scheme from January 2027, reports @helenpacker.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-set-...
Coventry University insists it is on road to recovery despite posting second successive £59 million deficit - Newcastle and Bradford also among latest institutions to report losses www.timeshighereducation.com/news/coventr... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Coventry ‘on path to recovery’ despite £59 million deficit
Newcastle and Bradford also in the red as UK universities continue to publish their annual accounts
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Coventry University insists it is on road to recovery despite posting second successive £59 million deficit - Newcastle and Bradford also among latest institutions to report losses www.timeshighereducation.com/news/coventr... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Exam board find £750K by Ofqual for allowing malpractice to occur in English language proficiency test used by UK universities in international student admissions www.timeshighereducation.com/news/exam-bo... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Exam board fined over issues with online English language tests
More than 9,000 results revoked after Pearson found students had been getting others to pass tests for them
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Exam board find £750K by Ofqual for allowing malpractice to occur in English language proficiency test used by UK universities in international student admissions www.timeshighereducation.com/news/exam-bo... via @patrickjack.bsky.social
Vice-chancellor bonuses growing despite sector funding crisis, reports @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/vice-ch...
Vice-chancellor bonuses growing despite sector funding crisis
Universities defend decision to award some vice-chancellors larger bonuses than last year, with one private institution giving boss over £100K
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Vice-chancellor bonuses growing despite sector funding crisis, reports @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/vice-ch...
Southampton Solent staff vote to strike in pensions dispute as Essex union calls industrial action ballot over job cuts www.timeshighereducation.com/news/southam... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Southampton Solent staff vote to strike over pensions dispute
Union members back industrial action in early 2026 as row over pensions continues, while Essex employees also launch ballot
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Southampton Solent staff vote to strike in pensions dispute as Essex union calls industrial action ballot over job cuts www.timeshighereducation.com/news/southam... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Trans scholars say they are being ‘pushed out of academia’ in wake of the Supreme Court ruling and OfS Sussex fine www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trans-s...
Trans scholars being ‘pushed out of academia’, researchers warn
Universities ‘afraid to be trans inclusive’ after Supreme Court ruling and OfS Sussex fine, leaving staff fearing ‘hostile environment’
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Trans scholars say they are being ‘pushed out of academia’ in wake of the Supreme Court ruling and OfS Sussex fine www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trans-s...
Higher education providers applying for degree-awarding powers in England are reporting processing times in excess of two years www.timeshighereducation.com/news/college... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Colleges in limbo amid ‘two-year wait’ for degree-awarding powers
Institutions warn delays after reopening of English sector registrations are jeopardising their financial sustainability
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Higher education providers applying for degree-awarding powers in England are reporting processing times in excess of two years www.timeshighereducation.com/news/college... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Who was a change-maker in higher education this year - who made the @timeshighered.bsky.social Faces of 2025? See the full list: www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/faces-...
December 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Who was a change-maker in higher education this year - who made the @timeshighered.bsky.social Faces of 2025? See the full list: www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/faces-...