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What’s on the next government’s urgent to-do list? Fixing the financial crisis in higher education doesn’t appear to be near the top – or even on the page at all. But a significant number of the UK’s universities are in deeply worrying financial straits, and it’s not impossible that one or more might go bust.
Government funding has been slashed and, with tuition fees frozen, home undergraduates cost more than they bring in. International student fees plug some of the gaps, but this is far from secure income. Chris Milward has taken a look at the main parties’ plans for universities and found they either seem likely to make the situation worse or simply haven’t been laid out at all.
Should Labour take power after July 4, Rachel Reeves would become the UK’s first female chancellor – and one on a mission to end the gender pay gap for good. Political economist Rachel Verdin has just published a book on the subject, and she has some advice for her political namesake on what needs to be done.
Plus, we take a look at some lesser-known and suprising causes of lung disease, from fungi in cheese rinds to dust from pigeon feathers.
All the best.
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Grace Allen
Education and Young People Editor
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EF Stock/Shutterstock
Chris Millward, University of Birmingham
Resolving the shortfall in university funding would require increasing tuition fees, government grants or international students, or reducing student places.
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Progress on gender pay parity has stalled – but shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves says she wants to close the gap once and for all.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Rachel Verdin, University of Sussex
Labour’s shadow chancellor says she would focus on transparency and force organisations to publish action plans to stamp out unequal pay.
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James Boardman/Alamy Stock Photo
Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol
A range of jobs and hobbies are risk factors for lung disease.
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World
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James Rodgers, City, University of London; Dina Fainberg, City, University of London
Gershkovich is the first foreign correspondent to be charged with spying since the end of the cold war.
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Politics + Society
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Oliver Heath, Royal Holloway University of London; Humphrey Southall, University of Portsmouth
Where are the ultra marginal seats in this election?
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Ruth Luzmore, University of Southampton; Chris Brown, University of Southampton
A healthy democracy and proper societal cohesion require that all voices are heard. If societal progress is to be beneficial and enduring, it must also be inclusive.
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Christine Huebner, University of Sheffield
Taking your friends to the polling station on election day can make all the difference.
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Arts + Culture
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Stephanie Hernandez, University of Liverpool
In critical karaoke, participants tell their story in the span of time it takes to listen to the song they have chosen – with the song playing behind them.
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Bernice M. Murphy, Trinity College Dublin
Jackson was overlooked for decades by a predominantly male literary establishment who didn’t know how to categorise her deeply unsettling and uncomfortable writing.
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Enrico Bonadio, City, University of London; Bryan Khan, Università di Torino; Sonjah Stanley Niaah, The University of the West Indies
The legal action means thousands of songs may be deemed in violation of copyright. This would establish a precedent for future copyright claims based on popular rhythms.
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Business + Economy
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Umair Choksy, University of Stirling
More information and transparency would help companies understand where the products they need come from.
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Environment
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Randa Lindsey Kachef, King's College London
Wipes could be framed as plastic free and biodegradable, sending a false message that it’s ok to flush them.
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Charlotte Jönsson Sparrenbom, Lund University; Anna Thomasson, Copenhagen Business School; Beth Parker, University of Guelph
A more precautionary approach is required for the regulation of PFAS chemicals, otherwise industries will continue polluting the environment without breaking any laws.
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Health
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Adam Taylor, Lancaster University
Hot temperatures can be dangerous for anyone – regardless of your age or what health conditions you have.
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Science + Technology
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Thomas Woolley, Cardiff University; Fiona Mathews, University of Sussex
A new algorithm could reduce the amount of time it takes for ecologists to find bat roosts.
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Louise Gentle, Nottingham Trent University
You’ll never look at spiders the same way.
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