Monthly Archives: March 2021

‘Got no friends? Sit on the buddy bench.’ Untested anti-bullying programs may be missing the mark

‘Got no friends? Sit on the buddy bench.’ Untested anti-bullying programs may be missing the mark

Around 15% of Australian school students experience bullying in a school year. Being bullied increases the risk for ongoing depression and anxiety. All Australian states have policies to address school bullying. And many schools also run educational programs aimed at preventing bullying. Efforts to reduce bullying are commendable. However, schools need to be aware of the possibility some bullying programs may inadvertently harm […] … learn more→

How to get the most out of research when universities and industry team up

How to get the most out of research when universities and industry team up

Australia has long been seen as failing to fully capitalise on its ground-breaking research. A consultation paper on university research commercialisation is the latest federal government effort to increase the impact of research. Its focus is on creating incentives for industry-university collaboration to translate and commercialise research. Any government scheme resulting from these consultations might boost the number […] … learn more→

Australian universities may be at a turning point in the rankings chase. So what next?

Australian universities may be at a turning point in the rankings chase. So what next?

Australian universities, for better or worse, have embraced international rankings, especially those published each year such as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020 (the Shanghai Ranking) and the QS World University Rankings released this month. But there are now signs the influence of rankings on Australian higher education is on the wane. […] … learn more→

Learning to flirt, something that is not yet taught in school

Learning to flirt, something that is not yet taught in school

Starting the process of approaching and seducing the person we are interested in is not easy. During adolescence, motivated by hormonal changes, social norms or learned models, boys and girls feel the urge to experiment with this task . Between pushes – not too abrupt -, elbows, slaps, stolen kisses or some teasing, a process begins that […] … learn more→

Global learning: What is it and why is it significant?

Global learning: What is it and why is it significant?

Today’s world is a global village connected in more ways than it has been possible in the past. The modern student stands a better chance of thriving. Taking on a global perspective is one way to guarantee harmony and tolerance. What Is Global Learning? Global learning refers to education allowing students to gain knowledge that […] … learn more→

The Spanish speaker recognizes 30,000 words on average

The Spanish speaker recognizes 30,000 words on average

Estimating a person’s vocabulary with total precision is a chimera, and all the data that have been proposed so far on this are, at best, good approximations. The reason for the poor success of vocabulary estimates lies in the wonderful ability of the human brain to use linguistic resources to create and modify words. We know […] … learn more→

The school girls rule: an effect  trompe eye

The school girls rule: an effect trompe eye

Some indicators used by the OECD – such as the best grades obtained by girls in the classroom or the higher number of women graduates than men at the end of tertiary education – suggest female school dominance in Western countries, from l elementary school to university. This observation is not recent, it has been made for […] … learn more→

COVID is forcing millions of girls out of school in South-east Asia and the Pacific

COVID is forcing millions of girls out of school in South-east Asia and the Pacific

In response to reports of surging COVID cases in Papua New Guinea, the Australian government will provide greater emergency support to deliver vaccines, increased testing capacity and clinical advice to our near neighbours. This is part of a broader program to deliver vaccines and medical support to Australia’s partners throughout Asia and the Pacific with Fiji, Cambodia, Indonesia […] … learn more→