China’s policy of downgrading struggling PhD candidates to a master’s degree has recently been the subject of renewed public debate after the Ministry of Education called on universities to implement it. Back in 2013, the ministry vowed to tighten postgraduate evaluation and transfer students to a master’s programme (or simply hand them a master’s degree) […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Opening China’s PhD trapdoor should remain a last resort
The fascinating history of the University: this is how culture began to be transmitted
The relationship between a mentor and his student goes much further than the simple training period of a few years. It is an intellectual union that connects with a tradition that goes back, at least in the West, to the first universities. It is truly a torch that has been passed from person to person for […] … learn more→
To preserve academic comfort zones, we must sometimes step out of them
I once served as an assistant to a professor whose approach to teaching consisted of bestowing a static set of knowledge on the ignorant. Each week, I would meet with my undergraduate discussion groups and, because they were too overwhelmed with seemingly random information to make any sense of it, we would review the lecture […] … learn more→
5 factors that contribute to students finishing high school
This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted learning for more than 1.6 billion students in over 190 countries. With movement between bricks-and-mortar schools and online learning becoming the “new normal,” young people, families, educators and the public are seeking assurance that students are receiving the best education possible. They are also concerned about students disengaging from […] … learn more→
Popping toys, the latest fidget craze, might reduce stress for adults and children alike
The newest fidget craze is popping toys. Adults and kids all over the world have been buying up this endlessly reusable version of a longtime favorite fidget activity: popping bubble wrap. Made of silicone and coming in a range of colors, shapes and sizes, they are half-sphere “bubbles” that can be pushed in, making a satisfying soft popping sound. […] … learn more→
Faith universities are an anachronism
It is a little noticed fact that 15 universities in the UK are managed and governed by churches. To all intents and purposes these are faith universities. They began in the 19th century as training colleges founded by the major churches to supply teachers for their schools. Over the subsequent decades, they developed other kinds […] … learn more→
Is your kid studying a second language at school? How much they learn will depend on where you live
People learn a second language for many reasons, including work, to better understand the world, an interest in the culture of the language itself, and love. Learning a language has many benefits. For children, it can improve literacy, maths and science skills. It can enhance social skills and empathy, and give them an appreciation of cultural […] … learn more→
Adventure grounds to redesign the place of children in the city
Invented almost a century ago in Denmark, adventure fields are spaces for free activities for children, which allow them to reclaim public space. In recent years, creation projects around this concept have multiplied in France. How to analyze this renewed interest? Do these fields constitute fields of experimentation and education of a new kind? Their story begins in […] … learn more→
Kids with a desk and a quiet place to study do better in school, data shows
Ask what students need to learn at home, and the answer often involves access to Wi-Fi or a digital device. For example, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 sets aside US$7.1 billion to support access to high-speed internet for schools and libraries. What often gets overlooked is whether kids have a desk at home or a quiet place […] … learn more→
Is a great educational pact possible?
At a time characterized by polarization, the educational dialogue is held hostage by those who obtain revenue from the confrontation and prioritize disputed issues, ignoring the existing consensus. In this way, there is a fracture between society and education experts who do not occupy the place they should in the debate where the talk shows […] … learn more→
