One day, the Russian physicist Piotr Kapitsa asked Paul Dirac for his opinion on the book Crime and Punishment . The latter’s laconic response: “Very well, but the author was mistaken, because he described two sunrises on the same day.” Dirac spoke little, very little and never to say nothing. It is said that his physicist colleagues and students […] … learn more→

In August many Australian universities have open days as Year 12 students make up their minds about what they want to study next year. There will be lots of things for prospective students to think about – including what course they want to study and what career they want to pursue. Beyond questions about study content, there are five […] … learn more→

The decline in the number of doctoral candidates at New Zealand universities is a worrying sign for the country’s effort to build a knowledge-based economy. Aotearoa New Zealand’s economic trajectory has long been characterised by its reliance on primary commodities, such as unprocessed forestry exports, where high volume and relatively low value are common. Successive […] … learn more→

Title of Course: “Feedback Loops: How to Give and Receive High-Quality Feedback” What prompted the idea for this course? Given that my students pursue careers in an incredibly wide range of fields – business, philanthropy, sports, medicine, finance, human rights, education – I wanted to teach them skills that could serve a general purpose. Being […] … learn more→

Prospective students will no longer be asked to write personal statements as part of their application to university in the UK, the admissions organisation Ucas has announced. Instead of writing a single 4,000 character personal statement, from 2026 applicants will instead have to answer three questions. These ask why they want to study a particular course, […] … learn more→

Laura and Carlos are two people in their twenties who are eager to learn, meet new people and do things independently. They want to study at university so they can find a job. But their options for accessing higher education are extremely limited. Like them, most young people with intellectual disabilities do not finish high […] … learn more→

Can you remember your last in-person exam? You’re waiting outside the venue with your identification, pens and back-up pens. Everyone is nervously looking at their notes or avoiding eye contact. The doors open and you enter a cavernous space of numbered tables in rows. You find your seat and, waiting to start, glance around the […] … learn more→

On Monday, the federal government more than doubled the application fee for international student visas. The move is effective immediately and sees the non-refundable fee jump from A$710 to $1,600. The surprise news comes as part of a broader effort to rein in record-breaking migration levels, especially among international students. As Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said on Monday, […] … learn more→

Over the past year, nine states have banned diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs in higher education. More than 20 others have similar legislation in the works. News accounts often focus on job cuts that follow the enactment of these measures in places such as Texas and Florida. But that doesn’t scratch the surface of the many ways these […] … learn more→

The world is transforming at a dizzying pace, presenting challenges such as an evolving labor market, climate change or the depletion of natural resources. Added to these challenges are more recent ones, such as the energy and economic crisis derived from the covid-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine. For millennials (born between 1983 and […] … learn more→