You’ve probably heard the term “user experience” in recent years, though probably not on your university campus. For those who haven’t, user experience, or UX for short, is the increasingly important sub-field of technology in which organisations seek to maximise interaction between users and products and services. By doing so, they make their goods and […] … learn more→

COVID-19 has not stopped international education. As of August 24, 524,000 international students were living among us in Australian cities and communities. They represent 78% of all student visa holders, according to data the Department of Home Affairs provided to us. These students are potential ambassadors for Australia and our institutions. They could help shape […] … learn more→

Hundreds, if not thousands, of young graduates have seen their employment prospects vanish overnight as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Entry-level roles have been the first to be axed, and it’s no secret that this economic slump has disproportionately affected the young. If significant steps aren’t taken to support those fighting for a spot […] … learn more→

It is not easy being Chinese these days. And it is even harder to be a Chinese student overseas. Chinese students have borne the brunt of the vitriol arising over the alleged origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 700,000 lives and infected 20 million worldwide. In practice, this has meant Asian […] … learn more→

When Taiwan’s Ministry of Education issued strict guidelines on how schools, colleges and universities should act to contain the coronavirus, many assumed that our institution would be the first to close its doors. This prediction was a reasonable one. After all, National Taiwan University (NTU) has more than 2,000 faculty, 32,000 students and is located in the […] … learn more→

With the new academic year beginning shortly, students, faculty and staff returning to higher education or arriving for the first time face uncertainty. There is anxiety about a fall term like no other. Those of us responsible for ensuring the futures of post-secondary students have endured months of existential fears about student and employee health and safety, the efficacy of online […] … learn more→

Forceful suppression of political and scholarly views in universities has a long and shameful history. University of Cambridge Chancellor John Fisher was hanged, drawn and quartered for failing to support Henry VIII’s “great matter”. A few years later, John Hullier was burned at the stake on Cambridge’s Jesus Green for refusing to renounce Protestantism. We imagine our modern universities […] … learn more→

The uneasy coexistence of academic freedom and more restrictive codes of conduct for scholars using social media has long caused confusion and consternation on US campuses. But this seemingly unresolvable conflict seems particularly relevant at the present moment, especially when it comes to scholars making comments in the powder-keg context of the Black Lives Matter […] … learn more→

Both COVID-19 and increasing discord with the Chinese government could lead to much lower international student revenues in the long run. If that happens, Australian universities might have to merge to remain sustainable. The growing quality of our universities is driven to a large extent by what economists call “economies of scale.” The idea is that operating on a […] … learn more→

A colleague recently asked me a question I’ve been thinking about ever since. I work in a college that requires students to complete an internship. On behalf of a student, I mentioned a firm that had sponsored internships in the past and hired graduates. As the conversation wound down, my colleague, in effect, asked: “When do […] … learn more→