I set set up the Facebook group Parents Who Study with Rebekah Farrell at the beginning of this year after we “met” on Instagram and discovered that we were both parents who were completing PhDs. Even though we were on opposite ends of the world, we found that we were experiencing the same isolation and […] … learn more→

Anyone who teaches or advises writers has experienced the infuriating déjà vu of reading a student’s paper or dissertation chapter and thinking, “I know I responded to this in the last draft, but here it is again…unchanged.” In my teaching capacity, this moment has traditionally generated something I call ‘reader rage’ (basically road rage on […] … learn more→

A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I had any advice for someone who struggled to let go of their writing – they wrote but then it was really difficult to send the writing off to their supervisor. And clearly, this was an issue. Sending the stuff off is part and parcel of […] … learn more→

The cyber security practices of Australian universities are in the spotlight after the Australian National University (ANU) reported last week it had been the target of a serious attack. Hackers – reportedly based in China – infiltrated ANU’s networks some time last year and have proven difficult to remove. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s 2017 […] … learn more→

One of the great things about being on sabbatical is that you actually get a little time to hide away and do something that professors generally have very little opportunity to do – read books. As a result, I have spent the last couple of months gorging myself on the scholarly fruits that have been […] … learn more→

Time and again I’ve claimed that much of what goes on in our higher education system is fraudulent. I concede that this is just a blog, and I encourage the gentle reader to read all things online with some level of skepticism, to think through the implications and see if the conclusions read online are […] … learn more→

“Quentin, hello, welcome to FlashTel, phone book, what can I do for you? Like Quentin, 16 teleoperators with headsets respond tirelessly to calls that resonate on the first floor of a tall gray building. From the hubbub of words to the clatter of keyboards, the atmosphere resembles in every way that of a classic call […] … learn more→

Over the last few decades, more low-income and first generation students are going to college, reducing the attendance gap between rich and poor students in the US. During this same time, though, the college graduation gap has grown. As higher education administrators face increased pressure to improve graduation rates — which hover around 59 per cent at four-year […] … learn more→

It’s easy to boost your car’s overall fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent with simple vehicle maintenance and paying attention to how you drive. Below are a few tips that will see you reduce on greenhouse gas emissions. Another great resource worth checking out can be found at https://www.drivingguide.com/. Plus, these tips could […] … learn more→

Those who have studied history understand the importance of being engaged in the global economy. Two thousand years ago, China represented nearly 25 per cent of the global economy. In 1600, it was 30 per cent, and a third in 1820. The country was a global powerhouse, to say the least. There is a famous story […] … learn more→