Filtered by category: The Guardian × Clear
France school protests escalate into ‘urban violence’ as PM calls crisis cabinet meeting
Matched: AI
French high school students protesting over long hours, teacher shortages and poor facilities have escalated into widespread unrest, with around 900 demonstrations and blockades reported nationwide. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called an emergency cabinet meeting and ordered ministers to cancel travel plans. Many schools are switching to online classes to protect staff and students amid what the government has described as "urban violence."
As more Australian universities use AI to mark students’ work, is it creating a ‘slop-cycle’?
Matched: AI, Artificial Intelligence
Australian universities are increasingly using AI to help mark student assignments, raising concerns about a damaging feedback loop. Academics warn that if AI grades work, students may use AI to write it, producing low-quality "slop" that AI then evaluates — a cycle that could undermine genuine learning. Critics say the trend poses an existential threat to higher education, though institutions are divided on how to respond.
DNA database of UK dogs could help police collar criminals
Matched: AI
UK scientists are developing a DNA database of dogs that could help police investigations. Canine material such as hair and saliva is often found at crime scenes but rarely fully analysed. The database could help identify specific breeds or individual dogs linked to crimes, or eliminate animals as suspects, offering investigators potentially valuable new leads.
‘I have a blowtorch at uni’: what do students eat apart from pesto pasta?
Matched: AI
University students are often stereotyped as surviving on pesto pasta and frozen pizza, but many develop surprisingly sophisticated cooking habits. A journalist reflecting on 20 years since starting university notes that student food stereotypes have shifted over time, and that for many, university becomes a formative period for food and cooking — with some students finding time and money for dishes like crème brûlée and duck eggs.
Backlash as Indian oil heir made professor of sustainability by Newcastle University
Matched: AI
Newcastle University appointed Anant Ambani, son of India's richest person Mukesh Ambani, as a professor of sustainability practice, citing his conservation and animal welfare work. The decision drew sharp criticism from conservationists, who expressed incredulity that the heir to an oil and gas fortune who operates a large private zoo received the academic honour.
My son has left home – and I feel full of complicated joy | Zoe Williams
Matched: AI
A mother reflects on dropping her son at university, navigating the bittersweet mix of pride, loss, and unexpected joy. His eagerness for her to leave prompted her to recall her own excitement at gaining independence. She concludes that his confidence and readiness to embrace adult life, though briefly stinging, is exactly what a parent should hope for.
Water your plants and get an eye mask: 48 life rules every student – and adult – needs to know
Matched: AI
Students leaving home for the first time face unfamiliar domestic challenges. This guide offers practical life advice covering cooking, health, socialising and general self-care. Food tips include learning five key recipes — a quick protein dish, a scalable meal, something comforting for guests, and an instant option. Other advice covers plant care, sleep hygiene, and navigating social situations with people from different backgrounds and household customs.
Students scramble for accommodation after owner goes bust in Dundee
Matched: AI
Nearly 70 students in Dundee have been left scrambling for accommodation after the owner of Marketgait Apartments collapsed just as the academic year began. The failure is the latest in a string of UK university housing scheme collapses, highlighting severe financial pressures across the sector. Affected students have had to find alternative housing and move their belongings at short notice.
We are paying a high price for a university education | Letters
Matched: AI
Despite making repayments since graduating, a former law student writes that their debt remains at £70,000 after borrowing for an undergraduate degree, bar course, and legal practice course. The letter responds to Zoe Williams' article on student loans, illustrating how interest and repayment structures mean balances barely fall, leaving graduates trapped in long-term debt despite pursuing professional careers.
Former student of suspended Reform official ‘reopens case’ against University of Cambridge
Matched: AI
A former Cambridge student bullied by suspended Reform UK official Dr James Orr is reopening their case against the university after alleged discrepancies emerged in how the incident was handled. Cambridge previously paid £5,000 compensation after partially upholding bullying allegations. The student claims Orr's assertion that he faced no discipline contradicts assurances they say they received from the university.
‘It sits at the meeting point of science and the humanities’: should you study psychology?
Matched: AI
Psychology is among the most popular university degrees, valued for bridging science and humanities. Graduates gain transferable skills including data analysis, making them competitive across diverse careers beyond clinical roles. The field covers areas from neuroscience to forensic psychology, and its insights into human behaviour appeal to employers in business, sales, and beyond.