In the past two decades, much has been made in academic circles about global rankings of educational institutions. Bodies such as Times Higher Education and Webometrics regularly rank universities based on a set of criteria. These include internationalisation of faculty and students, cited research publications and awards won by scholars. This ranking phenomenon has increased the pressure on academics and researchers […] … learn more→
We think there’s a better way to assess the research of African academics: here’s how
Microcredentials need macro-investment
The depressed jobs market faced by this year’s graduates is likely to continue for some time and cast a long shadow. Research by the Resolution Foundation found that, in the UK, young people graduating immediately after the 2008 financial crisis suffered higher unemployment, lower pay and worse employment prospects for several years compared with graduates […] … learn more→
Reviews: the end of the cheat is not for tomorrow!
How to ensure students a fair and reliable assessment, guaranteeing the value of their diploma on the job market? In the current conditions of distance education, the issue manifests itself with increased acuity in higher education establishments, bringing the problem of cheating back into the spotlight. “The establishment of partials remotely poses great difficulties for establishments […] … learn more→
Incredible benefits of sharing a hobby with your child
As children grow older, they begin to develop new interests and express more curiosity about the world around them. One of the best ways for kids to explore this curiosity and channel their energy into something positive is to take up a hobby. Hobbies help children develop emotional intelligence, practice mindfulness, and nurture their passions. […] … learn more→
Abandoning standardised testing is good, but don’t repeat South Korea’s mistakes
Even though the global pandemic is wreaking havoc across higher education, a silver lining is that the disruption is leading to more test-optional admissions policies in the United States. While the test-optional movement is not new, many more schools have announced a more flexible approach towards SAT and ACT score requirements because of the cancellation […] … learn more→
Coronavirus: When teaching during a disaster, students need to be partners
Many universities and colleges are planning to teach most of their courses online in the fall, even though there are still many unknowns. Post-secondary institutions first transitioned from face-to-face to online learning in March, when the threat of COVID-19 emerged. Institutions brought differing levels of experience and preparedness to this endeavour. Experts in educational technology weighed in on the best […] … learn more→
How universities came to rely on international students
It’s sad times for public universities as they fight for their survival. Most are reeling from a severe financial hit due to the loss of international students. Universities are estimated to lose around A$3-4.6 billion in revenue from international student fees in 2020 alone, and more in 2021. The government has locked universities out of JobKeeper – its COVID-19 […] … learn more→
International cooperation is the key to global recovery
International collaboration is as important now as ever before. We find ourselves in a global fight with a common enemy – one that affects not only all cities and countries but the international mobility of students and scholarly exchange. Yet, at a political level, multilateralism has been in short supply. While communities around the world […] … learn more→
How do we organize back to school?
Does anyone really think that schoolchildren will be able to return on alternate days or weeks, that teachers will be reinforced by 50% or that the big problem is in the grades? Will parents also work alternately? Will we take the money for health education, will it come only from the fiscal surplus or will everything fall […] … learn more→
The world cannot afford any more global academic jamborees
The coronavirus pandemic has raised major questions about our collective economic and social futures – in academia as much as in the wider population. These questions don’t just revolve around international students. The cancellation of many international academic conferences highlights problematic assumptions about research distribution and exchange – and suggests how the process could be […] … learn more→