The idea of universities being a “safe space” was until recently an issue that was unique to the US. Now the UK has experienced an upswing in incidents in which so-called “safe space” policies have reportedly threatened the right to free speech in British universities. Closely tied to the concept of “no-platforming” – where speakers […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Why ‘safe spaces’ at universities are a threat to free speech
Universities should take stronger leadership on knowledge and how it matters
If reports in the media can be trusted, then “knowing” isn’t what it used to be. It seems that we are all caught in a rip, being swept helplessly from a knowledge-based world into a post-truth society, where robots will take all the best jobs. The latest edition of the Innovating Pedagogy report, published annually by […] … learn more→
Clothes do not make the woman: what female academics wear is subject to constant scrutiny
The grand orator at today’s graduation couldn’t be bothered to take out her facial piercings! Gross! What a slob!” This tweet, written last November, was clearly designed to be offensive, and it hit home, blindsiding me and briefly knocking my confidence. I had gone for the role as public orator because it troubled me that […] … learn more→
Facebook data: why ethical reviews matter in academic research
When the Facebook data of 50m users was collected by Cambridge academic Aleksandr Kogan, his actions reportedly came to the attention of colleagues who regarded his subsequent use of the data as unethical. The university revealed that Kogan had unsuccessfully applied for ethics approval in 2015 to use data collected on behalf of GSR, a commercial enterprise he set […] … learn more→
Thesis knowhow – “the contribution” can create coherence
My Nordic colleagues often say that the thesis has to have a red thread, a line of argument that holds things together. So what’s this red thread? Think of the red thread as a sturdy rope that guides the reader up the rocky mountain that is the thesis, making sure that they don’t fall down a […] … learn more→
The student loan scam explained
It’s been a while since I discussed the core issue which has done so much harm to higher education: the student loan scam (so long, in fact, that a reader asked me to explain what I meant by it, and so here we are). The Rise of the Jumbo Student Loan Most students with loan […] … learn more→
The Department of deregulation
As reported in Politico’s Morning Education today, the Department of Education will be pursuing yet another regulatory agenda in the coming year, to include rewrite (or remove) the state authorization rules, the credit hour rule, accreditation regulations, and the requirements for regular and substantive interaction with instructors in distance education programs. This action comes while Congress is […] … learn more→
Students’ narcissism trumps their work ethic
When teaching medical students at a famous university in London, one of us would initiate the first tutorial with a question: what is the essence of an education? If you are sitting next to someone at a dinner party, how do you decide how educated they are? Is it about where they studied and how […] … learn more→
Active shooter drills may reshape how a generation of students views school
Recent school shootings and the March for Our Lives rallies held in cities around the world on March 24 have rekindled debates over how to keep students safe. “The notion of ‘it can’t happen here’ is no longer a notion,” said Sheriff Tim Cameron of St. Mary’s County, Maryland after a student opened fire on March 20 […] … learn more→
Dying Evergreen College: More than 1 admin per 6 students
(Alternate Title: Race Riots At Evergreen Cost 20% Of Student Base) One of the clearest signs of a school’s convergence, takeover by Social Justice Warriors (SJW), is the race riots. More accurately, it is the response to riots that gives the situation away. The normal response to student rioters is to eject the rioters from […] … learn more→
