Around 50,000,000 people have student loans (more official numbers are like 45,000,000, but I dispute their accounting methods). The bulk of these people have taken these loans in exchange for worthless college credits, while perhaps 20% actually managed to get a degree, with the value of such a degree varying from $0 to, well, something […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Less than 1 In 280 who apply get student loan forgiveness
The cobra effect, Indonesian lecturers are obsessed with the Scopus index and despicable practices towards world-class universities
President Joko Widodo often touched the performance of the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemristekdikti) regarding the competitiveness of universities in Indonesia which he considered to be unsatisfactory. Lastly, last October, Jokowi was surprised why only three universities (PTs) had succeeded in entering the world’s top 2018 universities in 2018 version of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) . The President […] … learn more→
Consultant or researcher? The dilemma of young academics in Africa
How to respond to requirements that arise from the provision of knowledge in contexts where requests for technical expertise in health or medical intervention are increasing? In June 2018, at the West African Research Center (WARC) in Dakar, we presented for the first time our collective book Tu seras docteur.e mon enfant , in the presence of […] … learn more→
There’s no need for the ‘Chicago principles’ in Australian universities to protect freedom of speech
This week the government asked former High Court Chief Justice Robert French to head an inquiry into free speech on universities. Education minister Dan Tehan claimed it was because concerns had been raised about people shutting down the views of those they disagree with, and security costs for controversial speakers on campus. Universities are accusing the minister of “jumping to the […] … learn more→
More American students are studying abroad, new data show
Kelsey Hrubes knew she had a challenge on her hands when she visited Germany as a study abroad student back in 2015. “I was forced to adapt to cultural norms I had never considered before and try to comprehend everything in a new language,” recalls Hrubes, a software engineer at Microsoftand 2017 Iowa State graduate in […] … learn more→
Education does not always equal social mobility
Educators around the world, particularly those in secondary schools, often default to a compelling story when they are trying to motivate their students: Work hard, achieve well and you will secure a successful future with attractive job prospects. This is currently the conventional wisdom across much of the Western world, with strong links drawn between […] … learn more→
How to successfully apply for a PhD place in Australia
Deciding to start a PhD is alternately exciting and terrifying, especially if you need a scholarship to afford to study. In 2012, I decided to do my PhD. I wrote an application, put together my support documents for Honours 1 equivalency (at 83% I was a few points short of a greatly desired First), and […] … learn more→
Theory fright – part one
Lots of doctoral researchers worry about the Th word, Theory. When said aloud, you can often hear the capital T. It must be important. Theory. And perhaps because of the capital T, the question “What’s your theoretical framework?” can reduce doctoral researchers to a state of near panic. Now, theory is a term which often […] … learn more→
A mindshift in sciences and humanities is the only antidote to hoaxes
Recently, Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay published a peer-reviewed paper, subsequently retracted by the publisher, titled “The Conceptual Penis”. The paper was ridiculous in every respect. It appeared in a peer-reviewed journal, albeit one that’s pay-to-publish. These journals require the author to pay “page fees” for publishing. They may be rigorous but typically have low circulation, which […] … learn more→
Professor defends woman…University forces sexual harassment training on him
“Excuse me professor, but can you write me a letter of reference?” Every semester, one student, sometimes more, will ask me for a letter of reference. Even with large classes, I still have standout students, and so if I can remember even a little about the student, I do so, presenting what I know in […] … learn more→
