No sector in the UK has more enthusiastically embraced globalisation than higher education. Top universities have erected campuses in new continents, expanded their share of students from abroad, and touted their instruction of “global citizens”. The University of Oxford, for example, boasts that its “international profile rivals that of any university in the world”. My own institution labels itself […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Brexit, xenophobia and international students: how to combat ‘public paranoia’ over immigration
Britain’s social mobility problem has been misunderstood – education is not the great leveller
For two decades, social mobility has been a central concern in British politics. Increasing equality of opportunity, in the context of rising inequalities between people’s lives, has been a shared goal across the party political spectrum. Politicians have also agreed that educational policy is crucial to achieving this goal. This has made the thrust of […] … learn more→
Why elite colleges should use a lottery to admit students
If the Harvard admissions trial teaches us anything, it should be that there are more brilliant and accomplished young people in the United States eager for a top-notch education than there are seats to accommodate them. Places like Harvard and other elite colleges select students from a pool flush with well-qualified applicants who could handle the coursework, […] … learn more→
Black Women’s College to lose accreditation
Accreditation is mostly a slam dunk, and once you have it, the student loan scam provides such an abundance of funds that you generally keep it. That said, a school can lose accreditation. It’s rare, mind you, but I can’t help but notice a school can’t lose accreditation due to lack of academic integrity (hi […] … learn more→
New Year – seeing anew
You’ve heard of Lego your research method and Dance Your PhD. But now Bake Your Thesis is getting to be a thing. There’s a hashtag #bakeyourphd and active competitions in New Zealand, Canada and the UK. One of the Canadian thesis baking competition represents their research on immigrant communities through a cinnamon bun – a complicated and lengthy […] … learn more→
Five survival strategies for spouses and partners of international students
It’s a new year and everyone with a project is busy again. But what about when you have your own hopes and goals, yet find yourself in an unfamiliar country supporting a spouse or partner who is an international student? Over the past two decades, Canada has experienced massive growth in the numbers of international […] … learn more→
Adolescence can be awkward. Here’s how parents can help their child make and maintain good friendships
Secondary school can be a lonely place for adolescents who don’t have a best friend or a group of trusted friends. Young people will be more skilled in the art of making genuine friends (and keeping them) if they know how to be assertive, are optimistic about life, have some basic social skills and have […] … learn more→
Columbia: Let students grade themselves. It’s inclusive!
“Drink Brawndo. It Has Electrolytes!” –from the movie Idiocracy, which presents an alarmingly credible look into our future. The word “inclusive” is used much like electrolytes in the movie, without considering if there’s any evidence having such things is always a good idea. Hey, remember last post where the Progressives had decided students can’t be […] … learn more→
Schools fall short when it comes to helping students in grief – here’s how they can improve
An adolescent experiences the death of his mother after a lengthy illness. When I ask what services he would like to receive from the school, he initially says he didn’t expect special treatment, would be embarrassed by counseling from the school mental health staff and wouldn’t feel comfortable if many of his teachers asked to […] … learn more→
In search of an authentic and fun education
In a talk given by Guy Brousseau at the Public University of Navarra several years ago, he said that one of the most important challenges of compulsory education was having to teach people who may not want to learn and who are also obliged to do so. The background of the question of this reflection greatly conditions […] … learn more→
