Data analysis can be pretty scary. That moment when you realise that making sense of the stuff you’ve so painstakingly generated comes down to you – just you. Well, relax. It’s not just you that has to leap into the unknown. We all put ourselves on the line when we make decisions about definitions, scales, […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Play with your data
Is self-promotion hurting scholarship?
This summer two distinctive educational initiatives have been thrust into the limelight. First came the that China’s Yiwu Industrial and Commercial College has developed a degree programme for aspiring influencers; the curriculum includes modules on “aesthetic cultivation”, “make-up modelling” and “public relations etiquette”. Then, US technology magazine The Vergeprofiled the LA-based SocialStar Creator Camp, a 10-day programme that promises […] … learn more→
UK: Going through university clearing? Then make sure you do these four things
Every year, in August, thousands of students in the UK receive their A-level results and discover whether or not they have got the marks needed to take up a place at their chosen university. If they fail to make the grade – or exceed them – students telephone university clearing centres, to try and find […] … learn more→
The end of South African universities?
Jonathan Jansen, vice-chancellor of the University of the Free State in South Africa until a year ago, has written a book on the country’s higher education sector. As by Fire – The End of the South African University is one of a number of recent books that set out to make sense of the current […] … learn more→
“Sexually harassing” test question = 504 day investigation
I can’t emphasize enough how scary it is to work in higher education. Granted, if you’re an administrator, you’re guaranteed pay raises and advancement no matter how poorly you do your job, but if you’re an academic, you’re on eggshells all the time. The reason for this is our systems are loaded down with bureaucrats […] … learn more→
Don’t let those ‘sticky words’ confuse your thesis examiner
I’m a good friend to have if you are in the business of examining theses as you can probably imagine. A large number of my academic friends have called me up for expert advice on acceptable style, structure and tone. Some eight years ago now, my good friend Dr Scott Mayson rang me up about […] … learn more→
Please no more leaders for Higher Ed!
Our colleges campuses are drowning in leaders. I’ve literally taught courses where I had to report to 4 different bosses (in addition to the department head and Dean) during the semester regarding every issue that came up in the class. It takes some effort to teach a class, but not that much (it’s why faculty […] … learn more→
Despair and depression at law school are real, and need attention
Pursuing a professional degree can be extremely stressful for students, who often experience it as a time riddled with anxiety, uncertainty, fear and financial challenge. The emotional health of law students was recently brought to my attention in an email from a student at the University of Cape Town’s law faculty where I am the […] … learn more→
How will high-level writing skills help students in assignments
When students join college they are expected to have good writing skills. In fact, they face some problems with assignments such as getting the right sources for information, the right format, and delivery on time just to mention a few. Basically, writing is a complex skill that is needed for any student to be successful […] … learn more→
A thesis writing-feedback calendar
How does a thesis get written? What do I as a supervisor do to help? How does feedback work best? A set of inter-related questions that keep many of us mildly, or a lot, worried. Well, I have an ‘ideal model’ for feedback on a thesis. I don’t always follow it. Quite often my model […] … learn more→
