We often think about what young people can expect to gain from university, or what universities contribute to society. But it’s not often that we talk about how higher education can change society beyond the shaping of individuals. As tuition fees rise, and universities are cast in increasingly intense competition for students and staff, their […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
University education makes you a better citizen
The pick your own grade scandal…what media missed
A few weeks back, another odd story from higher ed made the rounds. A professor decided on a new grading policy: Professor lets ‘stressed’ students decide their own grade Hey, grades are stressful, even assigning them isn’t fun.As a student I hated getting grades…I particularly hated bad grades, which is why I generally studied hard […] … learn more→
Thoughts on ‘Deep Work’
In a recent blog post entitled “How to Stop Flipping”,Inger Newburn outlined the dangers of flipping between tasks without progressing on any of them. Her suggestion was to write a detailed and time bound to-do list, using the example of the literature review. The second dot point advised students to “look in your diary for […] … learn more→
“Explaining” Why women aren’t physicists
Why are women and girls still so underrepresented in the study and teaching of STEM disciplines? The question has received a good deal of attention recently, as it should, and one common conclusion is that sexist attitudes and practices, including blatant sexual harassment and discrimination, remain far too common and are often ignored. See, for […] … learn more→
Are graduates prepared for the job market? Rethinking Africa’s university model
Across Africa, students arrive on campuses full of hope that a university degree will improve their lives. The reality is far less certain. In 2014, a British Council study estimated Nigeria’s graduate unemployment at 23.1%. In Kenya, it takes an average of five years for a graduate to find a job. Yet business leaders frequently […] … learn more→
Using faculty as muscle
In times past, faculty interacted with (undergraduate) students in two ways. The most common way was in the classroom, and we still have that. The other way has rather disappeared, although it used to be the very first significant interaction between students and faculty: advisors. Before a student could register for classes, he had to […] … learn more→
V-c pay: Are vice-chancellors worth their salaries?
The current fees regime has operated more like a cartel, without any real correlation between cost and quality It’s a telling, if depressing, insight into just how febrile the clamour around the pay of UK university leaders has become that the old jibes are back. Specimen: What’s the difference between a university vice-chancellor and a […] … learn more→
This is how to stop students dropping out of university
The new university academic year will soon be upon us. Over half a million new hopeful students will begin what should be one of the most important experiences of their lives. Sadly, many of these students will drop out before the end of their first year. Research indicates that if you are the first in […] … learn more→
Australians pay more for education than the OECD average – but is it worth it?
Australians value education, so when looking at the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2017 report, it’s not surprising to see we spend more on education than average among comparable nations. However, it’s worth noting where the money comes from. A closer look at the data shows public funding for education in Australia is much less […] … learn more→
The moral panic over student cheating must end
Academics have never entirely trusted students not to cheat. Few exams, for instance, have ever been conducted without an invigilator prowling the aisles in search of surreptitious copying or smuggled-in notes. But the current level of institutionalised distrust of students has reached such a pitch that it seems reasonable to call it a moral panic. […] … learn more→
