Education Resources

I read with dismay the comments made by the Arts and Humanities Research Council spokesman about my complaints regarding its peer-review standards ("Pianist wants comeback as review hits bum notes", 10 May). He apparently said that its guidelines...

In its consultation on the development of a "risk-based" approach to quality assurance, the Higher Education Funding Council for England asserts that the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 "requires" it "to make provision for the assessment...

The presence in the same issue of an item about the creation of "provost" and "president and rector" posts at Imperial College London (The week in higher education, 3 May) and David Bignell's "Madness of metrics" is fortuitous and appropriate.

The Open University council recently endorsed in principle a proposal to stop the direct employment of staff in Continental Europe. This affects 102 associate lecturers responsible for directly supporting students and nine academic-related staff.

David Bignell, emeritus professor of zoology at Queen Mary, University of London, has offered a polite critique to the ongoing restructuring at the institution ("Madness of metrics", 3 May). His views have been well received in the School...

Regarding your articles on vice-chancellors ("Academy rots from the head and it stinks ..."; "... No, sector's big fish a value-for-money dish", Opinion, 10 May): this is just what THE should continue to do - stir debate. But please,...

In his timely indictment of the chancellors of vice, Fred Inglis refers to "the present poisoning of the English mind by crude cupidity" ("Academy rots from the head and it stinks ...", 10 May). I regret to inform him that unpardonable idiocy...

The picture from Kind Hearts and Coronets was perhaps even more appropriate than R.E. Rawles realised ("Tragedy and farce", Letters, 3 May).

"All professions are conspiracies against the laity" ("Amateur ethos", Letters, 10 May) is an idea coined by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations and later used by G.B. Shaw.

Everyone connected with Italian studies has been dismayed to learn that the University of Salford seems intent on phasing out the discipline there over the next three years.

The Funding with affordable income-based repayments (Fair) system may be anything but ("Graduates - ripe for investment?", 3 May). If it constituted debt bondage, it might be illegal and would certainly be unenforceable.

Greg...

There are several aspects to the question of independent scholarship ("Free-range thinkers", 3 May): G.B. Shaw's "All professions are conspiracies against the laity" is one argument; another is the more obvious territorial imperative, whereby...

Top graduates need to be able to compete in the global economy, so we are pleased that the government has recognised the importance of international study for all students, including those not directly studying languages ("Willetts pledges...

The Commons Education Committee states that "a diminution of universities' role in teacher training could bring considerable demerits". It also questions the use of degree class as the determinant of bursary eligibility for primary school...

Congratulations to John Gill for highlighting one of the major implications of current higher education policy ("All for one, or none for all?", Leader, 3 May). The sector is looking and being treated less and less like a single entity:...

Regarding your article on the balance between quality-related (QR) and research council funding ("Hands off the funding sacred cow?", 3 May): one major difference between the sources is the way that money reaches individual researchers....

Tony Blair is a highly pragmatic politician who reacts to the world as he finds it ("Tony Blair: up the 'revolution'", 3 May). Lying behind the changes that he portrays as inevitable are some unpalatable truths about his own and others'...

"Screwed" is how one of my colleagues referred to her experience with the BBC. Asked to set something up for The One Show, she willingly agreed, assuming she would be appropriately compensated for her efforts. In the event, after...

Is the academy aware that by logging on to eBay, one can purchase an embossed degree certificate with seal, in any subject or classification, from a range of academic institutions? The "seller" also offers reference letters, university transcripts...

Unless it can be demonstrated that there is a serious problem to be tackled that would be solved by the issuing of a "concordat", there is no justification for or point to it ("Punishment doesn't fit social sciences crime", 26 April). Even...