The destruction at the ancient city of Palmyra symbolises the suffering of the Syrian people at the hands of the terrorist group known as Islamic State (IS). Palmyra was a largely Roman city located at a desert oasis on a vital crossroad, and “one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world”. Its […] … learn more→

When it comes to universities, students and academics alike tend to think that the older an institution is, the better it must be. But is that really true? An analysis of the 800 institutions that feature in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-2016 suggests that it is – up to a point. Older […] … learn more→

I can’t emphasize strongly enough how important it is to end the student loan scam. I know, I’ve been harping on how bad this is lately, but it bears repetition. Student loans turn our kids into prostitutes. Student loans drive our kids out of the country. And now student loans are destroying the social security […] … learn more→

I have missed the deadline now. It did look to be a great opportunity, but…. Do I feel disappointed? Yes, absolutely, and for so many reasons. Did I make the right decision? I think so, at least it was the decision I felt I had to make. Has it impacted on my career? Well, it’s […] … learn more→

With more people than ever living in cities, how do we reconcile our need for fresh fruit and vegetables with the challenges of life in an urban environment where the time and space for gardening are limited? Thankfully, there are many ways to grow your own fresh produce in the city, which go beyond the […] … learn more→

Children are particularly vulnerable to being forced into labour, trafficked from rural areas to cities and then trafficked again within cities. They can’t communicate assertively and are physically powerless next to most adults. In Tanzania, just more than a quarter of children aged between five and 14 – approximately three million children – are working […] … learn more→

At scale, co-requisite remediation has the power to improve students’, especially underrepresented students’, persistence and completion of college degrees. And only states and systems have the tools at their disposal to support that scale. Pikes Peak Community College sits in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, and down the […] … learn more→

Yesterday, Ferentz Lafargue wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, arguing that student objection to bringing speakers with offensive views to campus is a sign of strength. In the piece, Lafargue makes several points with which I concur: “Students whose families are facing financial distress often feel guilty about engaging in any pursuit that is […] … learn more→

Arguably, this question is a classic time waster and the student who poses it should be told to just get on with writing up their research. But as someone who edits theses for a living, I think a bit of time spent on fonts is part of the process of buffing and polishing what is, […] … learn more→

Australian teenagers are increasingly struggling to achieve the basic level required in information and communications technology (ICT). In 2014, only around half (52%) of students in Year 10 achieved the minimum standard of digital competence. Examples of where students struggled include: searching for relevant resources on the internet; using a web browser history; creating tables […] … learn more→