Ask most academics what a non-degree credential is and you will get a fairly consistent answer: something shorter, something narrower, something a student does when the degree is out of reach. The word that surfaces is usually “alternative,” and it is rarely meant as a compliment. That framing survives mostly because the sector has never […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
What higher education keeps getting wrong about non-degree pathways
AI is becoming more common in uni courses. What can students gain and what might they lose?
Universities are increasingly introducing artificial intelligence (AI) teaching tools into classrooms. The latest case to make headlines is Macquarie University’s “Virtual Peer” – an AI-chatbot introduced in two psychology units. In the online delivery of these units, some material previously taught through Zoom tutorials is now delivered by the AI chatbot and other online activities. […] … learn more→
Online courses and virtual courses: a flexible path to lifelong learning
Learning has become a continuous process. People no longer study only at the beginning of their professional lives and then stop. New tools, changing industries, remote work, digital communication, and evolving workplace expectations make it important to keep updating skills over time. That is why Cursos Online have become a practical option for people who […] … learn more→
The death of life on campus
Every Wednesday, we run Shut Up and Write on campus at my university. If you aren’t familiar with Shut Up and Write, it is one of those simple but brilliant ideas. We come together in a café on campus–coffee is a necessary pre-condition for writing for some people. After saying hello and settling in, we […] … learn more→
AI means there’s no better time to study maths – but degrees are becoming less accessible
again, maths is the most popular A-level subject. There were 115,380 entries in the subject in 2026, an increase of 3.9% from 2025. Further maths AS-level entries enjoyed an 8.5% increase from 2025 as well. Moreover, recently published data from university admissions service Ucas for the 2026 application cycle showed a marked 11% increase in applications to study mathematical sciences at university. […] … learn more→
A seemingly technical change to international student visas could disrupt teaching and research at US universities
The Trump administration is revising a visa rule for international students that in part determines how long, and under what conditions, they can stay in the country. The change sounds technical. Its effects are not. Beginning Sept. 15, 2026, most students entering the U.S. on F-1 and J-1 visas – meaning visas for international students and exchange visitors, including […] … learn more→
Oral exams are making a comeback to stop AI cheating. But they have their own problems
Universities are increasingly turning to oral exams to stop students using artificial intelligence (AI) to cheat. Some unis say it allows teachers to more accurately test students’ knowledge. Meanwhile, some NSW schools are also using oral exams to prevent cheating. Oral exams – or “viva voces” – are one of the oldest assessment methods. But they are not a foolproof solution […] … learn more→
No degree is AI‑proof. But delaying specialisation may offer students an edge
Choosing a university degree has never been straightforward. Students and parents have always asked which courses and majors offer the best returns and lead to secure careers. But now the age of generative artificial intelligence, bringing powerful new tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, has made those decisions much more complex. In New Zealand and elsewhere, students are […] … learn more→
Why geopolitics is deciding the future of universities today
For decades, educational institutions benefited from a rarely questioned notion: the world was moving toward greater integration and cooperation. International student mobility was growing, research collaboration was flourishing across borders, and academia was operating within a global marketplace of talent and ideas. Even as governments vied for economic and political influence, higher education was considered […] … learn more→
In the United States, universities are struggling to reverse the decline in reading.
Anyone who has recently spent any time on an American college campus has probably heard professors lamenting their students’ reading habits—or rather, the fact that they hardly read at all anymore. And these complaints aren’t simply nostalgia for a bygone golden age. Reading—not just any kind of reading, but reading long, complex, and demanding books— is rapidly disappearing from […] … learn more→
