Crossword Genius

Bill targeted a lift in university environment (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

academia

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'environment' is the definition.
(I have seen 'educational environment' mean 'academia' so perhaps 'environment' could also mean 'academia')

'bill targeted a lift in university' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'bill' could be 'ad' (advertisement stuck on wall) and 'ad' is found in the answer.
'a' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for academia that I've seen before include "university life" , "The world of teaching" , "World of university and learning" , "university circles" , "scholastic world" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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