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→
Blog Archives
As student visa fees jump to $1,600, Australia is refusing more applications than ever
5 ways anti-diversity laws affect LGBTQ+ people and research in higher ed
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→
What worries university students?
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→
College may not be the ‘great equalizer’ − luck and hiring practices also play a role, a sociologist explains
The idea that a college degree levels the playing field for students of different socioeconomic classes has been bolstered in recent years. Research from 2011 and 2017, for example, found that earning a bachelor’s degree helped students from less advantaged backgrounds do as well as their better-off peers._ Jessi Streib, a sociology professor at Duke University, was skeptical. […] … learn more→
The expression of political opinions by academics: what freedoms, what limits?
Can academics take a public stand for a political party or candidate? Are they, in their capacity as civil servants, subject to the duty of confidentiality? Can they participate in political demonstrations? At each electoral period, questions emerge around the freedom of expression of teacher-researchers, which is one of the components of academic freedom , and its […] … learn more→
Yes, you can (and should) use Wikipedia at university
If we asked a group of university students to raise their hands if they have turned to Wikipedia to resolve a question throughout their academic life, it is likely that virtually all hands would go up. However, when it comes to submitting academic papers, university students usually avoid citing it as a source. There is […] … learn more→
International student caps are creating a huge headache for universities. But they could have an impact beyond elite campuses
Just before the May budget, the federal government made a surprise announcement: it will introduce caps on the number of international students in the country. It is fair to say this plan is really worrying some Australian universities. The sector argues cutting student numbers will see job losses and less money to do research. They also warn cuts will hurt their […] … learn more→
How DEI rollbacks at colleges and universities set back learning
Just four years ago, following the murder of George Floyd, almost every college and university in the U.S. had at least one diversity, equity and inclusion – or DEI – program. Many had existed long before. These programs ranged from DEI-related degrees and professional training to resources for culturally, linguistically and neurologically diverse students. But […] … learn more→
On bad writing advice, again
Regular readers of my posts may have noticed that my postings have become less frequent of late. This is in part because I am now only working part time and, as part time people usually say, the workload doesn’t seem to have diminished one little bit. But it’s also because I’m temporarily dumbfounded. Patter posts […] … learn more→
International study cap: How some private companies are marketing tech and AI solutions
How do universities and colleges decide who to admit? Given the earnings advantage of a post-secondary degree both globally and in Canada, this is an important social mobility question. While the answer varies from one institution to the next, most focus on education criteria like exam scores and grades. However, Canada’s new intake cap on study permit applications puts increased pressure on Canadian […] … learn more→
