The loss of international students due to COVID-19 restrictions, and predicted second semester declines, will see universities lose between A$3 and 4.5 billion, according to Universities Australia. The higher education sector was dealt another blow this week when the government said universities wouldn’t get the increased access to the A$130bn JobKeeper fund for registered charities. Universities estimate more than 21,000 […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Without international students, Australia’s universities will downsize – and some might collapse altogether
Should you quit (go part time or pause your PhD during Covid-19?
Deciding how to carry on with your PhD in a pandemic is a classic ‘wicked problem’ with no right or wrong answer. No doubt there will be pros and cons both ways. While it is tempting, especially if you are on a paid scholarship, to stay in your program, delays you might face now might […] … learn more→
Tips on how to plan a virtual academic conference
As the Covid-19 pandemic expands across the globe, the cancellation of academic conferences may not seem a top concern. But for those involved in organising or contributing to a conference it can be devastating to see their work wasted. In 2019 the Educational Developers’ Caucus in Canada changed the traditional face-to-face format of our annual […] … learn more→
National university curriculum not the answer to ‘low quality’ courses
When the UK government talks – as it often does – about its desire to crack down on what it terms “low quality courses”, it is really talking about courses with low graduate earnings. But a recent article in Times Higher Education suggested that a better alternative might be to introduce some form of national […] … learn more→
Degree apprenticeships can improve access for disadvantaged students
According to government figures, students from deprived backgrounds are 41 per cent less likely to attend the UK’s top universities, while apprentices are twice as likely to come from the most deprived backgrounds as university students. There are different ways of looking at these statistics. On the one hand, since the proliferation of apprenticeship schemes […] … learn more→
This is how distance education lives a group of university students
Probably the phrase “Stay at home” is one of the ones that we will have heard, repeated and read the most in recent days, referring to the quarantine period imposed by the Spanish authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This measure has beneficial preventive effects on health. However, due to precedents in other countries , adverse psychological outcomes […] … learn more→
5 ways that the coronavirus will change college admissions this fal
1. More time Due to the uncertainties surrounding the health and financial implications of the pandemic, many colleges will not have filled their classes by the traditional May 1 deadline. Colleges that are concerned about not meeting their numerical enrollment goals will likely be flexible in allowing students to apply, even at this late date. To […] … learn more→
Are universities encouraging students to believe hard study is bad for their mental health?
In September 2019, The Guardian headlined an article “‘The way universities are run is making us ill’: inside the student mental health crisis”. We hear similar talk on all sides. Couched in the alarming vocabulary of “crisis” and “epidemic”, data presented at conferences, at staff training sessions and in the media create a sense of panic. Politicians have also […] … learn more→
University study is designed for the privileged – students from disadvantaged backgrounds suffer
When you picture a university student, you probably think of someone who recently finished school, who studies full-time, who stays in student accommodation and who is able to prioritise their studies over any other demands on their time – and you’re not alone in doing so. These are the “imagined students” that UK universities still […] … learn more→
4 weird things that happen when you videoconference
As the COVID-19 pandemic forces many U.S. colleges and universities to move their courses online, connecting online via video is now having its moment. Family, friends, neighbors and even TV talk-show hosts are now meeting and broadcasting from home. Meanwhile, Microsoft, Google and Zoom are struggling to meet the demand for their videoconferencing services. People have long noticed, however, that […] … learn more→
