When I was a student decades ago, at a “good” Australian university, most teachers thought and taught but did little or no research. The mantra soon shifted to “publish or perish”, prompting at least some academics to churn out books and articles by the dozen. Now, though, volume is not enough: you have to go […] … learn more→

Many college leaders readily agree that the liberal arts have been under attack politically, socially, and culturally for well over a generation. They earnestly argue that a liberal arts education creates productive citizens to ensure a robust democracy. These officials point to the heightened polarization within American society and a growing political chasm fueled by […] … learn more→

So, you are in the process of researching and have discovered the age-old dilemma of ‘What do I need to remember from this text?’. This dilemma is often followed by deciding what to remember, which is then followed by a ‘But what if….?’. The result is a summary of the text as long as the […] … learn more→

University students are an at-risk population for many health issues. These include mental health, alcohol and substance use, sexual assault and harassment, poor diet and lack of exercise. Perhaps just as important, but more frequently overlooked, is the well-being of university staff. They exhibit similar risk factors for ill health. Searching for wellness or well-being on most university websites will lead to a dedicated page detailing a wealth […] … learn more→

Free writing is probably the most common and talked up strategy for getting your writing going. Free writing is when you write continuously without stopping. It is often used in conjunction with a timer – the pomodoro. Free writing is used to generate ideas, to unstick a problem, to discover new perspectives. But free writing […] … learn more→

There is a widespread perception that mathematics is inaccessible, and ultimately boring. Just mentioning it can cause a negative reaction in people, as many mathematicians witness at any social event when the dreaded question arrives: “what is your job?” For many people, school maths lessons are the time when any interest in the subject turns […] … learn more→

The internet has undoubtedly changed the way we live and communicate. People are now able to share information not only with their friends and relatives, but also with complete strangers through the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Research shows that young people view communications on social media as more crediblecompared with traditional media and information […] … learn more→

“Do you want to be the canon’s mouthpiece?” I asked a friend whose university had invited him on to a committee to identify 150 books that all undergraduates ought to read. But then I recalled that once, in my youth as a schoolteacher, I had established a literary canon of my own. One of my […] … learn more→

Students from less advantaged backgrounds are grossly underrepresented in Britain’s top universities. This underrepresentation of certain groups is particularly pronounced in highly competitive courses such as medicine. In England, for example, 80% of medical students come from just 20% of the country’s secondary schools. This leads to a profession dominated by certain demographic groups. This imbalance […] … learn more→

When it comes to the use of race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, no one seems to be happy with the way it’s playing out. Opponents charge that taking into account an applicant’s race or ethnicity amounts to “reverse discrimination.” Supporters recognize that disadvantaged minorities have been losing ground under affirmative action. Blacks and Hispanics […] … learn more→