David Willetts followed up his inaugural appearance before the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee with a turn before its Commons equivalent last week.
The UK Border Agency has reintroduced language restrictions on overseas students applying for visas, a move that could have knock-on effects for universities.
Higher education鈥檚 first national industrial action since 2006 is 鈥渧ery likely鈥 and plans are being drawn up for a September ballot, the University and College Union has said.
An academic has been cleared of harassing his former vice-chancellor via a 鈥渟atirical whistleblower website鈥 鈥 but has been convicted of a public order offence relating to a meeting between the two.