Fines of a scale universities cannot ignore
Universities in England could be fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech under the regulator’s new regime, with the Education Secretary saying free speech is the foundation of every university’s success — and analysis suggesting the largest institutions could in theory face penalties running to tens of millions. Fines that size change how quickly a university overrules a students’ union that blocks a speaker.
A student arrested over photographs of military aircraft
The FBI has arrested a University of Glasgow student for photographing US military planes, with the student saying the pictures were for a personal collection. Whatever the outcome, it is a reminder that plane spotting, drone flying and photography near military sites are offences in several countries and that a student visa offers no protection.
Asking students what they know before they arrive
A national pilot is testing questionnaires given to students before and after arrival, to find out what they actually expect from a course rather than what universities assume. Early findings suggest the gap is largest on independent study hours and on how much contact time a degree includes — the two things students most often say they were not told.