Monthly Archives: April 2019

The Chinese Government’s influence on Campus

The Chinese Government’s influence on Campus

These are the days where we’re supposed to be very paranoid over other countries’ influence on our institutions…even as our media refuses to mention how our country influences entire governments of other countries. That said, the Chinese government does have outposts on our campuses. I see little reason for outrage, as these things are hardly […] … learn more→

Paid work experience and ‘sandwich degrees’ help boost social mobility – new research

Paid work experience and ‘sandwich degrees’ help boost social mobility – new research

The upper echelons of British society are filled with graduates from elite universities. These universities are, in turn, disproportionately full of students from wealthier backgrounds, many of whom went to private school. For these graduates, their top education and superior knowledge of the “rules of the game” regarding how institutions work gains them entry-level graduate jobs in […] … learn more→

Lessons learned from an African PhD journey

Lessons learned from an African PhD journey

I commenced my PhD programme in Molecular and Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), the University of Ghana in August last year. WACCBIP is a world class research centre where young African researchers are groomed to be research leaders who would change the landscape […] … learn more→

Kids in bids

Kids in bids

Before I begin, I need to make it clear that I have no children. As such, I apologise if some of what I say about families and research is a little off-kilter. This post stands in stark contrast to Sarah Haye’s beautiful piece, ‘How having kids made me a better academic‘. Think of me as […] … learn more→

Don’t worry, a school library with fewer books and more technology is good for today’s students

Don’t worry, a school library with fewer books and more technology is good for today’s students

A recent article about a new approach to a school library sparked vigorous discussion on social media. Many worried the school had completely abolished traditional library services. The article describes how a Melbourne school changed its library to a technology-focused centre staffed by “change adopters” who host discussions with students and encourage creative thinking. The school’s principal was […] … learn more→

Essays for the top Universities in the world

Essays for the top Universities in the world

I want to get into the best universities in the world. I know that their reputation will give me the edge in life after I graduate from college. However, I know that admissions essay and personal statements are the most difficult part of the process. If you are like me and you are also wondering […] … learn more→