“Talent is spread evenly, opportunity is not.” This is a phrase we often hear nowadays. It was first used in my foreword to the Department for Education’s social mobility strategy in 2017. It was a statement of strategy, not just of fact, and a successful plan on social mobility needs to address both issues, not […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Closing off university access is the essence of levelling down
“Neverland” or amnesic childhood
Is Peter Pan one of the last examples of the childhood cult that dominated the Victorian era? JM Barrie’s fable devalues adult experience, but it does not idealize childhood. Both in his play ( Peter Pan, or the boy who would not grow up ( Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up ) as in his novel, Peter and Wendy (1911), […] … learn more→
5 tips on writing better university assignments
University life comes with its share of challenges. One of these is writing longer assignments that require higher information, communication and critical thinking skills than what you might have been used to in high school. Here are five tips to help you get ahead. 1. Use all available sources of information Beyond instructions and deadlines, lecturers make […] … learn more→
How Universities can cut back on parking needs
Parking space is a major concern for many universities. You want to enroll more students in your school, but you only have a limited amount of space to work with. If you enroll too many students, and they all decide to drive to campus, you’ll quickly run out of parking space and create traffic jams. […] … learn more→
Why diversity training on campus is likely to disappoint
U.S. colleges and universities will be embracing diversity training with renewed vigor this fall. In response to the killing of George Floyd, the massive Black Lives Matter protests and pressure from students, dozens of colleges and universities have made public commitments to new anti-racism initiatives. The University of Florida will require all students, faculty and staff to undergo training on “racism, inclusion […] … learn more→
How to sell your home during a global pandemic
Believe it or not, the global pandemic doesn’t have to throw off your real estate plans. People are still buying and selling homes despite business closures and social distancing guidelines. Home sellers have all kinds of options at their fingertips to help them prep their home for sale and show it off to potential buyers […] … learn more→
Rich academic, poor academic? Making an academic living in Covid times
Many people – me included – start their career in the so called academic hunger games ‘gig economy’. It’s common to try to cobble together some kind of living wage from multiple jobs – most of them paid by the hour or extremely short contracts. Some people call this a ‘portfolio career’: but this always seems to […] … learn more→
These 5 tips can help keep your car safe and running well
Your car is a major investment. After spending so much money on the purchase, you don’t want to have to spend even more on large repairs. And while it may not be possible to protect your car from every single danger, there are a few simple things you can do that will help keep it […] … learn more→
COVID-19: Don’t make university students choose between education and legal rights
When U.S. President Donald Trump held a rally earlier this summer in Tulsa, Okla., expecting thousands of supporters to gather in close quarters, he had them all sign COVID-19 liability waivers. This meant they couldn’t hold him or his campaign responsible if they contracted COVID-19 at the event. At the time, we were amused by the […] … learn more→
Deciding how and whether to reopen schools is complex – here’s how rocket scientists would develop a plan
Dealing with the social and economic upheaval from the coronavirus pandemic will require the skills and talents of many types of professions – medical personnel, public health experts, parents, students, educators, legislators, enforcement authorities and many others. Until now, though, the U.S. has struggled to mount a coordinated national response to effectively stamp out COVID-19, even as other […] … learn more→
