Free to read: Commission to refresh stance on European Research Area researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe…

Ministers signal ‘fresh vision’ by reopening UKRI CEO search. Patrick Vallance’s rethink of appointment seen as intention to help drive impact of research. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-res…

Should universities leave X? researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

The economic implications of a decline in the number of UK visas granted to international students have been underestimated and could push many universities to the “brink of financial ruin”, it has been claimed. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Drop in foreign students ‘pushing UK universities to financial ruin’: researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Feature: New academic year, new government, new policy agenda. Seeking certainty—what the university and research sectors want from Labour. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

REF 2029 puzzle is unsettling but familiar. Some pieces of the next Research Excellence Framework won’t fit together—but we don’t yet know which ones, says Anna Grey (@annamgrey). researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-vie…

Minister for skills, Jacqui Smith at UUK Conference says she hadn't been in the job an hour before people were "outlining for me the real financial peril" that the sector is facing. "We are carefully considering all options to deliver a more robust higher education sector."

Jacqui Smith: "While universities are vital to delivering the skills that we need, and the research that you do is vital to shaping the economy of tomorrow, that's not, and it cannot be, all that we ask or expect of higher education." Universities have "a broader role to play".

Jacqui Smith: "The UK is outward-looking. It welcomes international students...they make a huge impact on this sector, on our economy & society." "I'd like to state as plainly as I can that international students are, & will continue to be, welcome in the UK."

Seeking certainty—what the university and research sectors want to happen next. Thanks Simon Green, Rose Stephenson, Gemma E Derrick, Simon Kerridge and others for talking to me for this piece. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Jacqui Smith: ‘All options’ considered to boost HE finances. Government well aware of the “financial peril” facing HE and is considering “all options” in a bid to address the situation, skills minister tells vice-chancellors. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-pol…

Recruitment agents mis-selling courses to students, OfS finds. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

What do people want to see? A fix for university funding, REF reform and financial support for students, according to Chris Parr

Bridget Phillipson (Bridget Phillipson), at UUK conference (video): “I've heard about the pressures you face, particularly around financial sustainability." "We'll look carefully at all the options and come forward with proposals." There are "no easy answers or quick fixes".

An increase in tuition fees to between £12,000 and £13,000 per year would represent a “fair” settlement for universities in England, the vice-chancellor of King’s College London has said. But he acknowledges this would be unpalatable. researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…

Universities need tuition fees of £12,500, says VC. However, KCL chief acknowledged that requesting such an increase might make universities seem "out of touch and clueless". researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-uni…