Harriet Swain

Don’t look back - Research Professional News Simon Usherwood warns universities that a reset with the EU is no return to membership

Simon Usherwood urges universities to be realistic about a reset with the EU. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Loan fix - Research Professional News Nicholas Barr argues that student loan repayment thresholds should not just be frozen but lowered

Nicholas Barr makes the case for lowering student loan repayment thresholds. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Good migrations - Research Professional News Catherine Gladwell welcomes new immigration policies that offer opportunities for universities and refugee students

Catherine Gladwell finds opportunities for universities in government migration policies. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

International education strategy is a passport to nowhere - Research Professional News David Pilsbury says updated strategy fails to address issues universities have raised time and again

David Pilsbury is disappointed by the government's revamped international education strategy. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Stop the scapegoating - Research Professional News Adam Tickell says the Russell Group should not be blamed for the university sector’s challenges

Adam Tickell says it’s time to stop blaming the Russell Group for the university sector’s struggles. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Why is research led by women retracted less frequently? - Impact of Social Sciences A recent study found research by women had fewer retractions. Are women betters researchers, or does the finding reflect wider structural issues?

💥New: Why is research led by women retracted less frequently?

✍️ @curtrice.bsky.social

#ResearchIntegrity #Retractions #AcademicSky

Searching for security - Research Professional News Nataliya Rumyantseva describes the experience of being a British-Ukrainian academic amid global instability

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Sector leaders on forging new partnerships in the new year - Research Professional News Seven leaders discuss how to respond to government push for more collaboration between universities

University leaders and thinkers suggest the dos and don'ts of collaborating in 2026. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Share the magic - Research Professional News Katherine Mathieson explains why the Royal Institution’s Christmas Lectures matter for science

Katherine Mathieson explains the importance of the Royal Institution's Christmas lectures. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Human values - Research Professional News Hetan Shah suggests solutions to counter the current pressures on arts and humanities

Hetan Shah offers solutions to the pressures facing arts and humanities. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Economist’s eye - Research Professional News Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Kate Ogden assesses what the budget means for higher education

Kate Ogden, from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, considers what was in the budget for higher education. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

At the budget brink - Research Professional News Jo Grady says it is time university leaders stood up for higher education

Jo Grady anticipates the budget fallout and calls for higher education leaders to stand up for universities. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Fair question - Research Professional News Anna Mountford-Zimdars, Louise Ashley, Eve Worth and Chris Playford inspect higher education’s social mobility industry

Anna Mountford-Zimdars and colleagues explore why the higher education social mobility industry needs a shake-up. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

From commitment to achievement - Research Professional News Rosalind Gill explains what the recently announced R&D allocation means for UK growth

Rosalind Gill assesses the significance of the latest funding settlement for research and development. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

From paper to practice - Research Professional News Sarah Stevens says realising the vision behind the skills white paper will mean engaging universities

Sarah Stevens assesses what should happen now that the post-16 white paper has been published. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

After the break - Research Professional News Andrew Jones suggests how to use a pause to the next Research Excellence Framework

Andrew Jones sets out ideas for using the pause to REF 2029. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Data sets - Research Professional News Mark Corver identifies key numbers for higher education to watch this autumn

Mark Corver highlights the data sets that will direct higher education strategy this autumn www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Research team - Research Professional News Sanjush Dalmia suggests Labour Party conference discussion points around Britain’s R&D future

Sanjush Dalmia suggests talking points for the Labour Party conference around research. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Democracy under threat: Why regenerating local news is crucial to counter rising authoritarianism As populist politicians from Trump to Farage attack press freedom, the collapse of local journalism has left communities vulnerable to misinformation. Jonathan Heawood argues that rebuilding trustwort...

www.journalism.co.uk/news/democra...

Small voices - Research Professional News Louise Thompson says smaller political parties can still have influence on higher education policy

Louise Thompson explains how smaller political parties could influence higher education policies.https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-views-of-the-uk-2025-september-small-voices/

Diana Beech looks ahead to the political party conferences. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Continuing horizons - Research Professional News Douglas Dowell says after thriving in the EU’s flagship R&D programme, the UK needs certainty

Douglas Dowell argues that UK researchers need certainty about future association to Horizon Europe. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Piecing things together - Research Professional News Vivienne Stern argues that universities face profound changes but could be a source of optimism

Vivienne Stern argues that the next few months will be critical for universities. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Collective experience - Research Professional News Raj Jethwa argues that by conceding on pay affordability, university unions could secure progress elsewhere

Raj Jethwa calls on unions to learn from experience when it comes to pay negotiations. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Beyond borders - Research Professional News Chris Skidmore and David Pilsbury suggest how regionalising international education could have national impact

Chris Skidmore and David Pilsbury call for regional international higher education champions. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Doctorate’s prescription - Research Professional News Rebekah Smith McGloin argues that doctoral education must be open to change

Rebekah Smith McGloin says doctoral education must learn to adapt to increased pressures. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

The House Magazine’s Lord Cormack Fellowship The Lord Cormack Fellowship is a month-long paid fellowship with Parliament’s magazine, The House.  The fellowship aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to political journalism, magazine produc...

The Lord Cormack Fellowship is a month-long paid fellowship with @thehousemag.bsky.social

✅ Comprehensive introduction to political journalism
✅ Applications open to anyone over the age of 18
✅ Paid and provided with London accommodation

Apply now 👇

Cross-country learning - Research Professional News David Maguire and Alex Bols consider the significance of higher education cold and hot spots

David Maguire and Alex Bols identify university hot and cold spots in England. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

View of exchanges - Research Professional News Rachel Brooks considers how increased youth mobility and rejoining Erasmus+ could work for UK universities

Rachel Brooks explores what a balanced youth mobility scheme and rejoining Erasmus+ would look like for UK universities. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

A survivors’ guide - Research Professional News Kitty Kent identifies common features of higher education institutions managing to weather current economic storms

Kitty Kent explores how some higher education institutions are successfully navigating difficult economic weather. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...