29 October 2023  Issue No: 760

The development of academic rankings has reached an inflection point as some of the world’s leading universities – concerned about fundamental flaws and institutional autonomy – begin to speak out and consider action. Do university leaders wish to continue propping up such an arbitrary system?

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Mychailo Wynnyckyj, has called on Western universities to stem the drain of talent over its borders by refocusing support on study and research programmes in Ukraine.

More women academics than men tend to feel pushed from their jobs and 43% of female professors leave because of a ‘chilly’ workplace climate, according to a new study of American professors, highlighting the need to understand how reasons for quitting differ by gender, race and career age.

A recent report from a higher education working group recommending that a consortium of 85 higher education and research institutions only sign agreements to publish academic papers in fully open access journals has been widely welcomed by stakeholders in Sweden and the region.

A major continental project has shown that a strategic approach to university leadership development in Europe is imperative to confront complex challenges – but awareness of its importance varies. The project also helps to build a solid foundation for capacity-building for university leaders at the European level.

Half-way to the target date for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, University World News – in partnership with global quality assurance provider ABET – is publishing a series of special reports on how higher education can best equip students with the skills, knowledge and values needed to shape a sustainable future.

For the first time in modern history, a coalition of university leaders and academics spanning two continents aims at lifting research collaboration into a new era. How did this groundbreaking agreement, already involving 250 researchers from about 100 universities across 60 countries in 20 newly created Clusters of Research Excellence, come about?

As the United Arab Emirates prepares to host COP28, the global summit on climate action and sustainable development, University World News is running a weekly Special Briefing exploring the contribution of Gulf states’ universities to climate action and to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

As work continues on improving access and quality in higher education systems worldwide, equity and inclusion have become a more important policy focus. This requires fresh perspectives and proactive measures to shape the future transformation of higher education aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Association of University Heads, Israel wrote a public letter on 11 October urging universities around the world to make unequivocal public statements both on the Hamas attacks and student support for them. But university leaders are divided on what is the appropriate response.