I am often asked about the ways in which I use blogs for research purposes. I take this question to mean I should talk about something other than the usual blogging that I do. So here goes. I have played around with various research-related blogging strategies. Here are two that seem to have worked fairly […] … learn more→

Students at universities are not the only ones who suffer from mental ill-health. While in recent years they have arguably received more attention, particularly in the UK, academic staff at universities and other higher education institutions require support too. In fact, the recent suicide of a professor in the US has sparked renewed discussions about supporting the mental health […] … learn more→

Doing background reading, undertaking leading-edge research, and analysing the results may seem like the hard part. In fact, they may well be hard, but these elements are often the aspects of research that, as a PhD student, you find easier to carry out. It’s the research process, and you must have been good at it in […] … learn more→

The heads of more than 100 of the world’s top artificial intelligence companies are very alarmed about the development of “killer robots”. In an open letter to the UN, these business leaders – including Tesla’s Elon Musk and the founders of Google’s DeepMind AI firm – warned that autonomous weapon technology could be misused by […] … learn more→

In this era of instant global transfer of information, accessible international travel and rapid technological advances, young people necessarily have the potential to be global citizens. Universities set themselves the aim of providing a truly international experience for their students and staff. I am a profound believer in the merits of globalisation and the moral […] … learn more→

In the US, most college courses are now taught by adjuncts: minimally paid “temporary” professors who will work at the same job for 15 years or more before realizing they’re being played for suckers. Now, yes, I know things are tough all over, and lots of people are struggling to get by on minimum wage […] … learn more→

Being a landlord sure isn’t easy but, if you do it right, it can also be extremely rewarding—financially and otherwise. The biggest pitfall to avoid is tenant turnover as, let’s face it—it’s just a gigantic pain in the behind. If you’re doing it right, the screening process is intense so the idea of doing it […] … learn more→

A fellow professor emailed me recently: “I’m scarred by a recent authorship dispute involving a very senior academic demanding to be added to a paper in which they had played no part,” the message read. “It got as far as two sets of lawyers before there was a back-down,” it continued. The story struck a […] … learn more→

Earlier this month, Charlotte School of Law (CSL), a for-profit law school, finally shuttered its doors, leaving students with few options and tens of thousands of dollars in debt apiece. The closure came after months of the school’s tangling with its accreditor, the Department of Education, and the UNC Board of Governors, which grants its […] … learn more→

Charlotte School of Law’s (CSL) closure could hardly have come as a shock to those watching closely, given that it spent most of the last year fighting for its life. But earlier this month, CSL’s license to operate was finally revoked and the school announced it would, at last, close its doors. From the top, […] … learn more→