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The article focuses on the suggestion for academic tutors to start their comments on students' work with a positive note and then make no more than three constructive suggestions for improvement. According to Mike Webb, course leader at Worcester University, beginning feedback with negative comments can result in students getting depressed or dropping out of their course. He recommended tutors to let students choose their preferred types of feedback at the start of the course.

The article presents information on conference papers on students' university experience in Great Britain. Dilly Fung found that students view their university experience as a journey with elements of both risk and comfort. Rosalyn George and Anna Traianou said that British students and universities may fail to seize opportunities for cultural interchange being offered by globalized higher education. Ron Best cited the prevalence of self-harming students in certain subject areas.

Reports on the differences in the marking of student law papers in Great Britain. Classification difference in degree level for the same law paper; Benchmark statement produced by the Quality Assurance Agency concerning student law papers.

Reports on the reaction of Universities UK to the British government's skills strategy white paper released in 2003. Background on the skills strategy proposal which aims to eliminate skills gap by offering free learning to adults aiming for a level-2 qualification and integrating different strands of government, training and business; Flaws of the proposal.

Reports on the criticism to the government's white paper for higher education in Great Britain. Changes in research funding; Corporate structure of learning institutions; Need for universities to remain internationally competitive.

Cites the recommendations of the white paper titled `Modernizing Government' regarding educational change and higher education in Great Britain.

Reports on the failure of the De Montfort University in England to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when it decided to withhold a number of documents about academic standards from the periodical "The Times Higher Education Supplement" according to a ruling released by the freedom of information commissioner of the British government. Implications of the ruling for higher education; Accusation raised against the university for abandoning academic standards in March 2005; Reason of the university for not disclosing the documents requested by the periodical.

Points out that college freshmen in Great Britain with ordinary diligence can expect a decent 2.1, and that will be enough to ensure that they secure the graduate premium appropriate to the sort of degree they have done and where they have done it. Tendency of college teachers to conform with the general expectation; Side effects of the usual course delivery.

Reports that students from China and other Asian countries are using fake English-language certificates to try to enroll in overseas universities. Issuance of forged English competency certificates through the British Council's International English Language Testing System (IELTS); Cost of fake certificates.

Reports on the controversies relating to proposals to create a fairer and more transparent university admissions system in Great Britain. Strategies to increase applications; Integration of a single American-style aptitude test; Equal treatment for students; Expansion of the education system; Implications for higher education.

Reports on the debate on the purpose of universities to counter utopianism started by Education Secretary Charles Clarke in Great Britain. Response to state funding for higher education study Concept of university as a community of scholars; Attitude of Clarke towards higher education.

Focuses on the condition of education policy for higher education in Great Britain. Issues on the failure of universities to attract students; Income tax contributions of the graduates; Finance for the education in the region.

Focuses on the higher education system in Great Britain. Percentage of universities received funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England; Challenges faced by universities in the country; Quota of universities for middle class students.

Comments on the performance of the higher education in Great Britain. Competition within the 21st-century higher education; Financial implication for students, universities and staff; Abolition of university tuition fees.

Reports on the expansion program of higher education in Great Britain. Regional collaboration between universities; Disadvantages of adopting American regional models; Development of strategic partnerships between regional organizations; Application of the multiversity model.

Discloses that a Bangor University academic's submission to the Welsh Assembly's higher education review has been condemned as offensive and anti-English. Suggestion from Dafydd Glyn Jones, a reader in Welsh language and literature, that the University of Wales should nurture a patriotic elite; Recommendation on what should be done to the number and quality of students.

Reports on the significance of the plans to re-create a council for national academic awards in the British government's final submission to the Dearing inquiry into higher government in Great Britain.

Reports on the proposed higher level vocational qualification proposed in the report `General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ),' in Great Britain. Purpose of the higher GNVQ; Importance to higher education.

Opinion. Comments on the quality assurance standards on higher education, published by the British Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in 1998. Response given to a consultation paper released by the QAA; Examination of proposals included in these standards; Description of a model proposed in these standards; Outline of the QAA's approach to higher education standards.

Reports on the accusation of plagiarism against Peter Levin, an educational development professional at the London School of Economics in England, regarding his paper on the overzealous policing of plagiarism in higher education in Great Britain. Admission of Levin that there was an error in the electronic formatting of the paper; Identification of Jon Appleton, an expert on plagiarism from Oxford Brookes University in England, as the key accuser of Levin; Inquiry of education consultant Duncan Williamson on the fairness of accusing Levin.

The article reports on a paper which criticized that the higher education watchdog Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) risks being too deep in universities in Great Britain. The paper was released by the Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies in 2006. The arguments presented by the center in its claims against the watchdog are given. In addition, the article provides a statement issued by the QAA regarding the paper.

Comments on key issues pertaining to the authorship of scientific papers and journals in undergraduate universities in Great Britain including doctoral students, postdoctorates and professors. Efforts of students and several professors to conceal methodological flaws in scientific papers; Trends in writing academic and scientific papers; Indications of higher education.

Ministers in Great Britain are reconsidering white-paper plans to create "teaching-only universities," after the proposals were rejected by existing universities on the grounds that they threaten the link between teaching and research. Higher education minister Alan Johnson confirmed this week that he would carefully consider responses froth a consultation on teaching-only institutions before making a final decision on how to proceed. At present, the "university" title is used only by institutions with the power to award both taught degrees and higher research degrees. But in its January 2003 white paper, the Department for Education and Skills in Great Britain, said it was not necessary to be active in cutting-edge research to be an excellent teacher.

Discusses "Top of the Class: Benchmarking Scottish Higher Education," a report released by the Universities Scotland about the quality of research programs of Scottish universities. Costs of Scottish research papers; Number of times academic papers by Scottish researchers are cited by other researchers; Comparison with research programs from other countries.

Reports that the centers of teaching excellence could get less than half of the 2.5 million pounds promised to each in the higher education white paper in Great Britain. Consultation paper of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Analyzes the impact of the white paper educational plan on British higher education. Aims of the white paper; Values gap between the white paper and the Bologna agreement; Basic principles of academic life that should be focused on by government officials in drafting plans for higher education.

Reports that Ivor Crewe, president of Universities UK, has warned labor rebels that if the higher education white paper fails, universities will be forced to cut jobs and close departments. Analysis of a Higher Education Policy Institute report; Crewe's criticism of the degree of research concentration proposed in the white paper.

Discusses the consultation paper issued by the committee of Andrew Cubie, chairman of Scotland's independent committee of inquiry into student finance. Reaction to Cubie's calculations; Comments from higher education officials; Topics covered in the consultation paper; Implications of the committee's findings on student loans.

Reports that a paper entitled, `Widening Participation Routes to A learning Society' shows that expansion in further and higher education has failed to produce a significant increase in the participation among non-traditional learners in England. What the English National Institute of Adult Continuing Education calls for; Suggestions from the paper; What the Institute holds responsible for its cuts.

Reports on the Labor Party's hastening of the publication of its further and higher education policy paper. Warning of Tony Blair's education spokesman, David Blunket's view on gaps in the party's policy; Proposal of the paper for a consultative policy on lifetime learning.

Reports on the Green Paper of the consultative higher education chapter of the British Labour Party. Paper as party's policy options; Controversy on options for funding; Proposals for treatment of students.

Focuses on higher education in England, highlighting a proposal for the introduction of an S level examination paper at universities by the year 2000. What the S level paper will replace; Purpose of the S level paper; Concerns of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Focuses on plans released by the Great Britain Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) regarding the standards of higher education. Information on the internal paper on the agency's plans for higher education which leaked; Contents of the paper; Details on the QAA plans for higher education in Great Britain.

Criticizes Anthony Glees and Chris Pope's paper on the role of universities in promoting extremism in Great Britain. Commentary on their propositions that extremist groups are active and recruiting on campus and that higher education authorities are doing nothing about it; Weakness of their arguments; Claim that the authors' proposals undermine the work of the universities and are counterproductive since they destroy trust and the cultural values that are to be defended.

Reports on the call for the availability of published research papers of colleges free of charge in Great Britain. Inquiry into the state of scientific publishing; Cost of subscriptions to academic journals; Establishment of digital repositories by higher education institutions.

Reports on the plan of Anthony Heacock to sell his essay-plagiarism website, a website that allows students to download essays and papers for a fee. Suitability of the downloadable works for background reading and direct copying; Story on how he got the idea for the website.

Reports the on the 'matriculation diploma' proposal outlined in the government's 14-19 green paper. Three levels of matriculation award; Parity of esteem between vocational and academic qualifications; Introduction of matriculation diploma that recognizes achievement at 19 across a range of discipline.

The author argues in favor of fostering the role of British higher education in the creative industries. He claims that the most innovative part of the economy has been left out of the core research and innovation agenda. He explains the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The author also comments on the Green Paper "Staying Ahead: The Economic Performance of the UK's Creative Industries."

This section offers news briefs related to higher education. The AllMediaScotland Web site is advertising Glasgow Metropolitan University's lectureship in photography and digital imagery. Dundee University in Tayside, Scotland offers a Web site featuring communication and entertainment media of the 20th century. Coventry University blamed operational problems for posting an online module test similar to a practice paper that had been posted on its Web site.

Guidelines are presented in response to the possibility of bias in the assessment of coursework in Great Britain. It is stated that all indications of approval in coursework seminars and all signs of disapproval should be randomly distributed around the group. Academics are advised not to give special attention to students who hand their work on time. All coursework papers must be identified solely by number to avoid bias.

The article covers issues on British higher education as of May 2007. It cites the implications of pseudonyms chosen by contributors to the website www.bulliedacademics.blogspot.com. The Economics Department and the University of York issued a statement in response to error complaints in a microeconomics test paper. Cambridge University in England launched a master of philosophy (MPhil) course in screen and media cultures with a visit from actor and alumna Tilda Swinton.

The article reports on the poor control over the marking practices of academic examiners by British universities and colleges according to the Quality Assurance Agency. A briefing paper has concluded that universities and colleges have poor control over the marking practices of examiners. It also revealed that there are inconsistencies in the assessment and classification of degree classes among universities. The reasons behind the inconsistencies in degree classification are mentioned.

The article focuses on a consultation paper that aims to ensure that governing bodies take charge in operating institutions released by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). A single conversation scheme is being piloted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. SFC chief executive Roger McClure noted that the consultation focuses on the quality of data rather than on quantity. McClure believes that such practice could lead to the continual improvement of decision making.

The article emphasizes the author's call for the need to stop pointless extracurricular activities that academics engage in for the sake of their curriculum vitae. Unsolicited call for papers disturb academics. The author says that meaningless activities and pointless initiatives have perpetuated in higher education. These, according to the author, are waste of energy.

The article reports that higher education is the priority in the political agenda of Australia's Labor Party for the 2007 federal election. The Labor Party criticizes the government over its funding policies for universities. The Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee has supported the claims of the Labor Party. The Labor Party has presented thier options to improve higher education which was published in a White Paper.

The article reflects on the need for the academics to use staple in their communication. Staple can be used to fix auditing papers to annoy auditors or create lively discussion on the Internet. The versatility of staple allows universities to connect ideas. Staples can also be used in scholarly publishing.

Reveals that the ground rules for the 2008 research assessment exercise (RAE) in Great Britain will unfairly penalise new academics in the humanities. Required number of research papers that should be produce by academics who entered the profession before August 31, 2003; Reason the cut-off point which applies across all subject areas is unfair, according to the panel who are serving as referees on RAE; Statement issued by Pauline Stafford, chair of the history sub-panel of RAE.

The article provides information on the research assessment exercise rules in Great Britain. Rules for the submission of higher education research papers by new academics are discussed. The judgment approach the will be used for super-books is highlighted. The factor that would be consider in research assessment is cited.

The article reports on issues and events related to higher education in Great Britain as of February 2006. A call for nomination for new blood clinical senior lectureship awards has been issued by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Papers for the 2nd International Plagiarism Conference of the Plagiarism Advisory Service is called for. Higher education student numbers have increased.

The article reflects on reforming the university admission process in Great Britain. It believes on the fairness of a recommendation from a consultation paper of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) on providing a short post-qualification period to students who outperform their existing conditional offer. It emphasises the need for student interviews. The proposals by the DfES deserve support from universities and applicants.