The lifting of student number controls, our university ranking of the Arab world, and living costs in the world's top university cities are all discussed in this week's podcast.John Elmes is joined by deputy news editor John Morgan, and reporters Ellie Bothwell and David Matthews.

Concerns about the teaching excellence framework, a researcher working in a cloud forest and this week's Books section are all discussed in this week's THE issue review podcast.Chris Parr is joined by acting features editor Paul Jump, deputy news editor John Morgan, and books editor Karen Shook.

Our books editor, Karen Shook, speaks to Svetlana Stephenson, a London Metropolitan University sociologist and author of Gangs of Russia: From the Streets to the Corridors of Power, about her life as a university student in the USSR, her summer as a visiting fellow in the 'paradise' of the University of Kent, the undreamed-for changes in society and the academy ushered in by Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, and interviewing 'the lads' of Kazan gangs about criminality, masculinity, social mobility and the code of the street.

What are most international universities in the world in 2016? The results of the latest Times Higher Education global outlook ranking are discussed in this week's issue review podcast.Universities' role in preventing terrorism and an interview with former UK shadow chancellor Ed Balls are also covered.

Science in Canada, the UK's regional research groups, and outspoken high education critic Joanna Williams are all discussed in this week's issue review.Chris Parr is joined by reporters Ellie Bothwell, Chris Havergal and  Matthew Reisz.

Students' role in curriculum development, the new THE Student section, and research into Kids Company are all discussed on this week's issue review. Chris Parr is joined by student editor Carly Minsky and reporters Jack Grove and Chris Havergal.