In response to the novel coronavirus, many South Korean universities have moved their teaching online. Students are still provided with the required number of class hours but without face-to-face contact with teachers. The ministry of education in the UAE has announced that university teaching will move online. In Italy, the government has ordered the closure of all universities until March […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Coronavirus: universities are shifting classes online – but it’s not as easy as it sounds
Unmanaged and managed WordPress hosting: What is the basic difference in both?
Choosing webhosting is one of difficult decision for one who is going to launch their site. Below you can read which type of hosting is best for you: What is Managed WordPress hosting? Due to the fame of WordPress, some web hosting suppliers have selected to dedicate themselves to WordPress and propose what is called […] … learn more→
Studying one uni subject in four weeks has benefits – but students risk burnout if it’s not done right
For the past two years, Melbourne’s Victoria University has been delivering its bachelor degrees using a block model, where students study one unit at a time rather than four units at once. Each unit, or block, is four weeks long and the study year is broken into ten blocks – four in each semester and optional […] … learn more→
Mock REFs need a neutral referee
If you work at a UK university, your department will currently be using some form of internal review to identify which of your recent papers should be submitted to the research excellence framework later this year. Unlike some, I don’t have any visceral objection to the REF. Good performance measures generate incentives that motivate staff […] … learn more→
When you choose to re-locate
When your first degree was in Asian Studies and your first overseas trip was as an undergraduate exchange student to Japan, in some ways it shouldn’t be surprising that you end up in a teaching / research position in a university in Tokyo. But when people here learn that the lecturer in Japanese politics and […] … learn more→
What is true in what they sell us as “healthy life”?
The bombardment of messages about what “healthy living” is is constant. Organisms, institutions, private companies and fitness gurus try to convince us at all times that their formulas are the best solution to lead a healthy life and age in a healthy way. The questions we ask ourselves are: Are these “recipes” true? Are they based on scientific evidence? In the Report […] … learn more→
Universities need to look outwards: their local economic and social impact really matters
The idea that universities should look outwards, and locally, is a key component of the modern university. But one that is often downplayed or even ignored. The Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto contained a rather surprising but welcome reference to the link between universities and the prosperity of local towns and communities. It said “we will work […] … learn more→
Research as creative practice
My starting point – Research is a creative process. The connection between research and creativity is embodied in some disciplines. C. Wright Mills for instance famously talked about the necessity of the ‘sociological imagination’ – understanding how larger unseen social relations are embedded in and frame everyday events, conversations, processes and relations. But perhaps the […] … learn more→
Dyslexia tutors should be part of wider support services
Ten years ago, I was employed on two part-time contracts at two universities in the UK. In one I was employed as an academic study skills tutor, in which I would give advice to students on essay writing, reading strategies, exam preparation and time management. In the other I was employed as a specialist dyslexia […] … learn more→
How to stop using food to reward and punish your kids
At one time or another, just about every parent uses food to reward their kids for good behavior and achievements – or to console them when they’re sad or disappointed. When children make honor roll, win a big game or persevere through a struggle, a parent might express their pride and joy with candy or […] … learn more→
