For several years now, by many successive notes, I have considered the question of what I have decided to name now only “higher education”. This little oratorical precaution is really meaningful, since it forms the basis of the whole of my reasoning set out below. I am not saying “education”, I am not saying “education”, […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Why and how to teach very differently
Who is the client for your PhD work?
Who is the client in your relationship with your PhD supervisor? No, really; who sets the scope of work, and who provides a professional service? I know it’s heretical to bring consulting language into the hallowed halls of academia, but trust me on this one. Seeing yourself as a client seeking the specialist advice of […] … learn more→
If your university brand disappeared overnight, would anyone miss it?
Universities have come a long way towards recognising the value of a brand. However, while some do an excellent job explaining what they are good at, there are still so many that fall at the first hurdle when highlighting what they are good for. It seems that everyone is trying to win students over by […] … learn more→
When peer review is scent marking
So we all know what scent marking is. It’s when animals set out the boundaries of their territory by leaving their scent in strategic places. Scentmarked territories are often used for sleeping and/or mating and rearing young. The marked area may also contain a food supply. Scent marking animals will fight others of their kind […] … learn more→
Australia: Free textbooks for first-year university students could help improve retention rates
Despite 20 years of focus on improving university retention rates, we are still losing one in five of our first-year students. And the release of a new report by TEQSA again reminds us of the challenges of retention. The report highlights that, on average, universities have a 20% attrition rate. This builds on an article […] … learn more→
Study at home, not abroad: the universities building local relationships
At hundreds of universities in dozens of countries around the world, some of the best learning is happening not in the classroom but in nearby towns and villages where students and faculty have found eager partners to engage in real-world problem-solving. An international movement of civically engaged universities is redefining how students learn, and where. […] … learn more→
Duke divinity crisis shows SJW Tactics
As we see our campuses descend into riots over the most idiotic, non-academic issues of concern only to the most rabid of Social Justice Warriors, many huge questions arise. Why did Berkeley police stand down in the face of Leftist rioters? Why are the administrators and staff assaulting students who support free speech? Why is […] … learn more→
Education through a gap year
The gap year was born in the ‘60’s, a revolutionary period for freedom of speech and independence. The idea for a gap year was discussed among governments as a tool to foster cultural and global understanding in an attempt to prevent world wars from occurring. More than half a decade later, the popularity of the […] … learn more→
Poo Bah Napolitano caught looting $175 million
Usually when I talk about the looting of our higher educational system by the Poo Bahs “leading” it, I focus on their amazing pay and ridiculous perks. But there’s more, so much more to it, from huge construction kickbacks (honest, the mad building spree in higher ed exists for a reason) to pedophilic coverups (Hi […] … learn more→
Finding your people online – PhD and ECR parents
The solitary aspects of a PhD can certainly be amongst the most challenging to manage. Whether you work on campus among an active community of fellow researchers or as a distance student, the process of researching and writing a PhD inevitably involves lots of time alone in your head. It’s no surprise that many of […] … learn more→
