The government is considering raising the school-leaving age to 18 immediately, as a way of combating the huge rise in unemployment, particularly among the young, that it expects to see this year. The Guardian

Concerns have been raised that reviewers for the research assessment exercise have been "too generous" in awarding the top grade. Times Higher Education

The government and the medical profession should "seriously consider" making cognition-enhancing drugs available to students without prescription, or allowing them to be prescribed for non-therapeutic purposes. This is the view of John Harris, professor of bioethics and director of the Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation at the University of Manchester. Times Higher Education

Australian plan would see cash follow learners in a bid to boost participation. Times Higher Education

Prof Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of the University of Exeter and chair of the 1994 group of small research-intensive universities, will be the next president of vice-chancellors' lobby group, Universities UK. The Guardian

Report into higher education calls for flexibility and fair treatment of part-time students. The Guardian