Just 12 months ago the idea of universities supporting their local communities – “being civic” – seemed eminently sensible. It is now critical. In February 2019, Sheffield Hallam University – like many other institutions – signed up to putting in place a Civic University Agreement, a pledge that committed us to prioritise the economy and quality of life […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
It’s now or never for universities to be civic
Guest authors are plagiarists
All too often, academic misconduct is dismissed because a particular example is considered a mere “authorship dispute” – when, in fact, plagiarism has occurred. The ambiguity appears to result from incomplete contemplation of the meaning of plagiarism: a concept that is more recognisable as dishonest. In variant forms, the definition offered by the US Office […] … learn more→
To give our youth a post-coronavirus future, we must cancel student debt
My dear friends and colleagues, the pain and fear we now feel is something we never expected and certainly could never have planned for. The sacrifices now made by our brothers and sisters around the globe are above and beyond anything we have seen in peacetime. In this maelstrom we are bound to feel powerless […] … learn more→
Bernie Sanders’ free college plan neglects the value of reputation
With Bernie Sanders’ hopes of becoming the next US president in sharp decline, so is the likelihood that the US will implement free public higher education any time soon. Making study at college and university debt-free should have been an easy pitch for the man vying with Joe Biden to be the Democrats’ presidential nominee. […] … learn more→
Struggling to focus at home? You’re not alone
For many people, the next few weeks will be their first sustained period of working outside their normal working environment and the routine it imposes. So how can we resist the distractions of 24-hour news and get some serious work done on that article or book? There are a number of free strategies and tools […] … learn more→
Lecturing into your laptop is not nearly enough
With universities around the world moving their classes online in response to the coronavirus outbreak, many academics face a steep learning curve around effective online pedagogy. At my university, we digitised part of our pre-sessional language courses for international master’s students a couple of years ago. These are the tips that our experience taught us. […] … learn more→
Students could be undercounted in the census as coronavirus closes colleges – here’s why that matters
At college dormitories and student apartments across the U.S., census forms will be piling up – but many run the risk of not being filled in. The spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. has coincided with the start of data collection for the 2020 census. This may not affect the process for most people who are self-isolating […] … learn more→
Covid-19 puts Korean universities in anti-Chinese crossfire
Since the start of South Korea’s coronavirus outbreak in January, president Moon Jae-in has been under growing pressure to enact a full travel ban on Chinese visitors. So far, only those from Hubei province have been barred, allowing thousands to enter from other provinces. The outbreak, which has resulted in more than 8,000 confirmed cases in the country […] … learn more→
Coronavirus crisis may spell the end of an era for international education
Before the turn of the millennium, international education mainly meant student exchange. It was an opportunity to spend a semester abroad, take in the sights, make new friends and maybe even learn something along the way. A few international colleges in European tourist hotspots, such as London and Rome, made a business of it. But […] … learn more→
Canada’s changing coronavirus border policy exposes international students’ precarious status
Canada’s border closure announcements have thrown international students and other foreign nationals on a roller coaster of anxiety that jeopardizes many people’s sense of wellness and security. Since U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban on citizens of countries with substantial Muslim populations in 2017, Canada has strengthened its position as a welcoming country for international […] … learn more→
