As universities get better at detecting plagiarism, students are having to find new ways to avoid getting caught. I have recently had quite a few students asking to see their reports from Turnitin – a plagiarism detection software used in most universities to root out internet plagiarism. University departments are increasingly making Turnitin’s “originality reports” […] … learn more→

“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.” In a conversation I had with Ken Bain, my longtime mentor and favorite education writer, he cited that quote — the first sentence of Gabriel García Márquez’s novel One […] … learn more→

Sustainability has become a significant factor in company operations over the last decade. Virtually all major corporations have implemented a corporate social responsibility program aimed at reducing the eco footprint of products, services and operations. Many companies heavily promote their eco initiatives, but it isn’t always clear whether they have an actual impact. The Dow […] … learn more→

It’s no secret that getting a PhD is a stressful process. One of the factors that can help or hinder this period of study is the relationship between supervisor and student. Research shows that effective supervision can significantly influence the quality of the PhD and its success or failure. PhD supervisors tend to fulfil several […] … learn more→

There were high hopes for Kenya’s public universities after the country gained independence from Britain in 1963. Universities were meant to become instruments of national integration. Sadly, 53 years on, that dream appears well and truly dashed. Ethnic tension is a daily reality on the country’s campuses. In November 2015 the Masaai Mara University was […] … learn more→

For the last year, schools around the country have been obliged to promote fundamental British values. So far, little officially has been said about how the new policy is being received in schools, but the conversations I’ve had with teachers suggest to me that it is lukewarm. As a result, I have come to the […] … learn more→

Australia as a nation is failing to retain the best people in the teaching profession. Attrition rates are worryingly high with researchers estimating around 30% to 50% of teachers leaving in the first five years. It is difficult to get a clear idea of the precise number of teachers leaving over this period in Australia […] … learn more→

One of the benefits of a bit of down time is that the occasional thought comes to you, apparently from nowhere. Perhaps the thought might be the beginning of a new idea, perhaps an insight into an ongoing project, a new angle on something concerning. This post is one such occasional thought. It concerns a little ongoing […] … learn more→

I’ve written before of the low pay and miserable working conditions of the most common sort of professor in higher education: the adjunct. They don’t even get the tile of “professor” although they do the same work, and have earned the title. The next most common professor also does much the same work, but has […] … learn more→

From the barter system to the money mints, so many things have changed. Even the way people shop has changed drastically. If you still tend to waste time in traffic, waiting lines, carry heavy bags, mess up your whole day schedule for shopping then, probably you haven’t heard about AMAZON and EBAY. Websites like these […] … learn more→