Tom Williams
@twilliamsthe.bsky.social
News editor, Times Higher Education
Student preferences have risen to the top of every university’s teaching and learning agenda. But should they be acted on even if they risk undermining educational outcomes? @julietterowsell.bsky.social reports
Has student-centred teaching gone too far?
Marketisation and the pandemic pushed student preferences to the top of every university’s teaching and learning agenda. But should those preferences be acted on even if they risk undermining educatio...
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Student preferences have risen to the top of every university’s teaching and learning agenda. But should they be acted on even if they risk undermining educational outcomes? @julietterowsell.bsky.social reports
Reposted by Tom Williams
Chief executive of Universities Superannuation Scheme paid a cool £937K for her first full year in office, annual report reveals www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uss-chi... via @twilliamsthe.bsky.social
USS chief executive paid close to £1 million in first full year
Carol Young’s salary boosted by bonus and buy-out clause as fund gears up for 2026 valuation
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Chief executive of Universities Superannuation Scheme paid a cool £937K for her first full year in office, annual report reveals www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uss-chi... via @twilliamsthe.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Williams
Labour’s changes to England’s Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) are “disappointing” and “unambitious”, says Birkbeck v-c www.timeshighereducation.com/news/disappo... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
‘Disappointing’ LLE changes ‘unambitious’, says Birkbeck v-c
Lack of details on institutional eligibility for new student funding scheme brings more uncertainty to providers, according to Sally Wheeler
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 14, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Labour’s changes to England’s Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) are “disappointing” and “unambitious”, says Birkbeck v-c www.timeshighereducation.com/news/disappo... via @helenpacker.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Williams
Use revenue from international student levy to support disadvantaged students to attend UK universities, says concluding report of @upp-foundation.bsky.social widening participation inquiry www.timeshighereducation.com/news/fee-lev...
Fee levy funds should be ‘used to tackle participation gaps’
Using money raised from international fees could help support most disadvantaged to attend university, finds inquiry
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 7, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Use revenue from international student levy to support disadvantaged students to attend UK universities, says concluding report of @upp-foundation.bsky.social widening participation inquiry www.timeshighereducation.com/news/fee-lev...
AI use among students has become so rife that submitted writing is no longer a reliable indicator of what they have learned. Where do things go from here? Three scholars have their say: www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/have-c...
Have chatbots killed the student essay?
This year’s marking season has confirmed for many academics that, less than three years since the launch of ChatGPT, AI use by students has become so rife that their submitted writing is no longer a r...
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
AI use among students has become so rife that submitted writing is no longer a reliable indicator of what they have learned. Where do things go from here? Three scholars have their say: www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/have-c...
Initially dismissed as 'never going to happen', the idea of a levy on international student fees doesn't seem to be going away. Here @helenpacker.bsky.social reports on the potential impact, and what vice-chancellors are trying to do to resist it www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-jo...
More jobs at risk as universities gear up to fight student levy
Domestic student places and essential courses face axe as plan to tax international tuition fees could prove to be ‘final nail in a coffin’ for some institutions
www.timeshighereducation.com
July 4, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Initially dismissed as 'never going to happen', the idea of a levy on international student fees doesn't seem to be going away. Here @helenpacker.bsky.social reports on the potential impact, and what vice-chancellors are trying to do to resist it www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-jo...
Are private colleges dragging down the reputation of UK HE? www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-pr...
Are private colleges dragging down the reputation of UK HE?
The OfS’ recent imposition of its first fines over franchised provision highlighted what some regard as the dark underbelly of UK higher education. But is there really a significant problem in the for...
www.timeshighereducation.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Are private colleges dragging down the reputation of UK HE? www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-pr...
New levy on income from international students proposed as government outlines wide-ranging changes to immigration system www.timeshighereducation.com/news/graduat...
Graduate visa should be reduced to 18 months, says White Paper
New levy on income from international students proposed as government outlines wide-ranging changes to immigration system
www.timeshighereducation.com
May 12, 2025 at 9:20 AM
New levy on income from international students proposed as government outlines wide-ranging changes to immigration system www.timeshighereducation.com/news/graduat...
UK universities are mounting a last-ditch effort to sway policymakers ahead of the imminent publication of a new White Paper that many fear will propose further restrictions on international students, @helenpacker.bsky.social reports www.timeshighereducation.com/news/student...
Student visa crackdown won’t bring political victory, Labour told
Universities mount fightback against further restrictions on international students, emphasising their role in growing the economy and lack of public support for new measures
www.timeshighereducation.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
UK universities are mounting a last-ditch effort to sway policymakers ahead of the imminent publication of a new White Paper that many fear will propose further restrictions on international students, @helenpacker.bsky.social reports www.timeshighereducation.com/news/student...
Long known as one of the post-92 success stories, Coventry has been left exposed by recent government policy changes to the point where there are doubts over its future - will further reinvention help it recover? www.timeshighereducation.com/news/will-co...
Will Coventry University sink itself in quest for reinvention?
Institution known for innovation and risk-taking faces doubts over its future but is still planning new ways to do things differently
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Long known as one of the post-92 success stories, Coventry has been left exposed by recent government policy changes to the point where there are doubts over its future - will further reinvention help it recover? www.timeshighereducation.com/news/will-co...
“This could be the start of, not only for higher education but for civil society, a pushback on what the Trump administration was doing,” says one Harvard scholar on this week’s developments www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scholar...
Scholars hope Harvard defiance spurs wider pushback against Trump
University’s refusal to concede to demands over protests and DEI despite risk of ‘grave consequences’ has led to renewed optimism among staff
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM
“This could be the start of, not only for higher education but for civil society, a pushback on what the Trump administration was doing,” says one Harvard scholar on this week’s developments www.timeshighereducation.com/news/scholar...
Reposted by Tom Williams
A group of experts has been drafted in by the Scottish government to help the University of Dundee recover from its perilous financial situation. @twilliamsthe.bsky.social reports
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
Panel of experts brought in to help rescue University of Dundee
Alan Langlands to chair taskforce set up to look at teaching and research offer of stricken institution
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 8, 2025 at 8:04 AM
A group of experts has been drafted in by the Scottish government to help the University of Dundee recover from its perilous financial situation. @twilliamsthe.bsky.social reports
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
US universities are quietly trying to find ways to protect their students from the threat of deportation, without risking being targeted by the Trump administration @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/efforts...
Efforts to halt student deportations risk Trump ‘retaliation’
Institutions scramble to quell ‘panic’ caused by visa revocations, while seeking to avoid incurring wrath of regime intent on cutting funding
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM
US universities are quietly trying to find ways to protect their students from the threat of deportation, without risking being targeted by the Trump administration @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/efforts...
Uncertainty over whether the government will go ahead with proposed changes to English apprenticeship funding is “another headache” for university leaders, writes @helenpacker.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/apprent...
Apprenticeship funding indecision a ‘headache’ for universities
‘Lingering doubts’ over future of higher-level opportunities adds to anxiety for institutions that have become more financially reliant on levy money
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Uncertainty over whether the government will go ahead with proposed changes to English apprenticeship funding is “another headache” for university leaders, writes @helenpacker.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/apprent...
UK universities’ continued use of remote online examinations without supervision poses a grave threat to the integrity of undergraduate assessment, argues a new study www.timeshighereducation.com/news/most-un...
Most universities still use online exams despite cheating fears
Seven in 10 institutions allow students to take remote tests unsupervised, casting doubt on ‘validity’ of degrees, study finds
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
UK universities’ continued use of remote online examinations without supervision poses a grave threat to the integrity of undergraduate assessment, argues a new study www.timeshighereducation.com/news/most-un...
Discussions about the shape of Horizon Europe's successor are already under way. But the European Commission’s deafening silence is stoking fears that it wants to refocus research funding on short-term industrial competitiveness www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/sun-se...
Is the sun setting on blue-sky EU research funding?
Discussions about the shape of the next framework programme, due to begin in 2028, are already under way. But the European Commission’s deafening silence is stoking fears that it wants to refocus rese...
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Discussions about the shape of Horizon Europe's successor are already under way. But the European Commission’s deafening silence is stoking fears that it wants to refocus research funding on short-term industrial competitiveness www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/sun-se...
“It’s not so much about trying to attract the best US researchers to Brussels but trying to prevent fruitful lines of research from being abruptly cut off” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/recruit...
Recruiting US scholars can protect ‘threatened research’ – rector
Universities should offer opportunities to US talent because it can ‘prevent fruitful lines of enquiry from being abruptly cut off’, says head of leading European institution
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:57 AM
“It’s not so much about trying to attract the best US researchers to Brussels but trying to prevent fruitful lines of research from being abruptly cut off” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/recruit...
OfS defends ‘thorough’ investigation that legal expert says leaves institutions ‘without clear guidance’ www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...
Universities face free speech ‘uncertainties’ after Sussex ruling
OfS defends ‘thorough’ investigation that legal expert says leaves institutions ‘without clear guidance’
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
OfS defends ‘thorough’ investigation that legal expert says leaves institutions ‘without clear guidance’ www.timeshighereducation.com/news/univers...
An academic who grew tired of “tedious and boring” conferences because the same authors were presenting multiple papers decided to look into what’s going on: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/tedious...
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 26, 2025 at 10:50 AM
An academic who grew tired of “tedious and boring” conferences because the same authors were presenting multiple papers decided to look into what’s going on: www.timeshighereducation.com/news/tedious...
A £585k fine issued by the OfS to the University of Sussex has prompted a huge row: “The way the OfS has conducted this investigation has been completely unacceptable, its findings are egregious and concocted,” said v-c Sasha Roseneil www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sussex-...
Sussex hit with record OfS fine after ‘free speech breaches’
Vice-chancellor calls regulator’s investigation ‘Kafkaesque’ as probe into departure of Kathleen Stock finally concludes
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 26, 2025 at 10:46 AM
A £585k fine issued by the OfS to the University of Sussex has prompted a huge row: “The way the OfS has conducted this investigation has been completely unacceptable, its findings are egregious and concocted,” said v-c Sasha Roseneil www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sussex-...
A rise in enrolments is usually a good thing - but not when the funding doesn't keep up. New Zealand universities predict they will have 4,200 extra students this year, with little extra subsidy to compensate www.timeshighereducation.com/news/influx-...
Influx of ‘unfunded students’ feared at New Zealand universities
Tally of unsubsidised students could reach thousands, representative body warns, after enrolments surpass projections
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 25, 2025 at 7:42 AM
A rise in enrolments is usually a good thing - but not when the funding doesn't keep up. New Zealand universities predict they will have 4,200 extra students this year, with little extra subsidy to compensate www.timeshighereducation.com/news/influx-...
Australian universities accused of purposefully taking 'as long as they like' over investigations into potential research fraud, in order to avoid external scrutiny www.timeshighereducation.com/news/go-slow...
Go-slow internal research fraud probes ‘avoid external scrutiny’
Institutions taking ‘as long as they like’ over investigations to protect reputations, according to Australian research integrity campaigner
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 25, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Australian universities accused of purposefully taking 'as long as they like' over investigations into potential research fraud, in order to avoid external scrutiny www.timeshighereducation.com/news/go-slow...
“I was surprised by the language used by respondents, but it suggests it is an emotive topic,” the report’s author told us www.timeshighereducation.com/news/vetting...
Vetting call over ‘asshole’ PhD examiners, ‘trial-by-fire’ vivas
Survey of UK doctoral examiners reveals disquiet over problematic PhD examiners keen to initiate emotionally charged intellectual exchanges
www.timeshighereducation.com
March 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
“I was surprised by the language used by respondents, but it suggests it is an emotive topic,” the report’s author told us www.timeshighereducation.com/news/vetting...