In a lifetime as a self-appointed “essayist” I have published more than 1,000 articles. There are all kinds of ambiguities about that figure, including revisions and syndications, but it is a good rough indication. Mostly, they were part of continuing series, and the vast majority fell “stillborn from the press”, to use David Hume’s rather […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Research assessment: an exercise in futility
DeVos’ rule changes on handling sexual assault will benefit everyone
When US education secretary Betsy DeVos announced in August that she would rewrite the Title IX rules on campus sexual assault, former education secretary Arne Duncan called foul. “Instead of building on important work to pursue justice,” he rebutted, “they are once again choosing politics over students, and students will pay the price.” Duncan was […] … learn more→
Chetty vs. Pell: What’s the best way to measure a College’s commitment to low-income students?
Higher education researchers and journalists often use the percentage of Pell recipients at a college as a proxy for the share of low-income students the school serves. But in actuality, the make-up of low-income students is more complicated than that. Students’ eligibility for Pell Grants is based on a range of factors: family income, benefits […] … learn more→
Influence of writing companies on US education
With the advent of technology and internet, students in the US have found a solution to writing their academic papers. Initially, there was a lot to work on while professors didn’t provide enough materials to help in the completion of the same. However, online essay services have become a real partner for students in their […] … learn more→
It would be a tragedy if short-term political goals slow the democratisation of HE
Forty years ago to the week, I began life as an undergraduate student at the University of Glasgow. Little did I realise then that four decades on, universities would still be playing a very prominent part in my life. Having attended a comprehensive school in the west of Scotland, and with no family history of higher […] … learn more→
Wow, that’s a bad idea
Pop quiz: when a student transfers from a community college to a four-year school, which school decides which credits to take in transfer? Hint: the word “take” is key. The four-year school decides. The community college is at its mercy. I bring that up because it demonstrates why this piece by Ames Brown, identified in […] … learn more→
How doing an internship saved my PhD
It was a warm summer day in Kazakhstan. I was having a pretty tough time. Mid-thesis crisis. Emotionally demanding fieldwork in Central Asia, a break-up, and just the feeling that I didn’t succeed with my fieldwork, or my PhD. I was supposed to do productive fieldwork in the political sphere of Kazakhstan. Instead I felt […] … learn more→
Student interns aren’t entitled to the minimum wage and it’s costing them big time
For university students, work placements are heralded as a highly valuable opportunity. Taking a year out from studying to work in their chosen industry gives students a chance to learn more about their sector and get real life experience. Placements also allow students time to make contacts and network and prove themselves in a working […] … learn more→
The power and politics of knowledge: what African universities need to do
The idea that knowledge is infused with power and politics may sound abstract, so let me offer an example from my own life to illustrate. I was invited to a dinner proceeding a conference in an African capital city. I had expected to meet all the other speakers. But it turned out to be only […] … learn more→
A Star is born: The College Scorecard’s latest feature is great news for students
Though the Department of Education released the College Scorecard update this morning with little fanfare, users who went to the site were pleasantly surprised by a new feature: a comparison tool that allows prospective students to compare up to 10 different colleges across a whole host of data measures. Here’s how it works, in three […] … learn more→
