Lockdown was ‘less effective in BAME communities’, University of Leicester study finds

Lockdown measures imposed in late March to slow down the spread of coronavirus may not have been as effective in black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities because of the ‘one-size-fits-all approach’, scientists have said. Academics at the University of Leicester found that Covid-19 cases continued to rise in BAME groups in certain parts of … Read more

University Challenge returns but viewers point out the ’embarrassing’ lack of diversity in the teams

New series of University Challenge sparks fury as white men dominate the teams AGAIN – with viewers saying the BBC show ‘must do better’ on diversity  Academic quiz was back on screens on BBC 2 last night, with Jeremy Paxman  Glasgow and Exeter University both had a lack of diversity on their teams One viewer, … Read more

University student who ran away to join ISIS ‘is killed trying to escape from jail in Syria’

University of Westminster student who ran away to join ISIS ‘is killed trying to escape from jail in Syria’ Ishak Mostefaoui, 27,  reportedly died while trying to escape custody in Syria The student originally from east London left the UK to join ISIS in 2014 His father Abderrahmane says the football-loving boy was radicalised in 2013  By … Read more

Cambridge University college that produced ‘reputation-laundering paper for Huawei’ banked £155,000

Cambridge University college that produced ‘reputation-laundering paper for Huawei’ banked £200,000 from the Chinese state and £155,000 from the telecoms giant In February, Jesus College published ‘white paper’ which described Huawei favourably and also spoke of need to accept differing standards in countries  Huawei was accused of ‘reputation laundering’ for bankrolling the research It was … Read more

London’s City University changes name of Cass Business School

London’s City University changes name of its Cass Business School because of Sir John Cass’ slavery links City University business school was named after 17th Century merchant in 2002  The Cass Business School was given a donation by the Sir John Cass foundation However, both the business school and the foundation will change their names … Read more

Blair-era target to send 50 percent of young people to university is axed

Blair-era target to send 50 percent of young people to university is axed as cash for apprenticeships is boosted in Rishi Sunak’s ‘mini-budget’ Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce increased funding for apprenticeships Gavin Williamson will formally abandon the 50 per cent target next week  The 50 per cent target set by Tony Blair has been … Read more

Covid will change University life, predicts Pearson boss

John Fallon should by now be stepping down as chief executive of Pearson. His plans to leave the education publishing business after seven tough years at the top have been delayed because the coronavirus crisis has made it harder to recruit a successor. That leaves him holding the fort to deal with the pandemic, and … Read more

Plans for shakeup of university admissions with students applying AFTER A-level results

Students could apply to university AFTER their A-level results with the academic year starting in January under radical shakeup of admissions Move is being directed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson Hoped change will boost social mobility by helping disadvantaged children In current system, students apply to university by January with predicted grades  Predicted grades are often inaccurate … Read more

Children whose parents have degrees feel more stressed at university

Children whose parents have degrees feel more stressed when they start university because they are worried about failing or ‘letting down their family’, study finds Researchers examined the hair of first year female students to look for cortisol They measured the level of the stress hormone in about 70 different students  The team also asked … Read more

Cambridge University backs academic who tweeted ‘White Lives Don’t Matter’

The University of Cambridge has spoken out in support of one of its lecturers who was hit by a wave of abusive messages and death threats for tweeting ‘White Lives Don’t Matter’. Dr Priyamvada Gopal, 51, who teaches in the Faculty of English at Churchill College, took to the social media platform on Tuesday evening to write: … Read more