Every few years, some prankster passes around a petition and tries to get fools to sign it. My favorite is when there’s a petition to remove “dihydrogen monoxide” from our lakes and rivers, as “these sources are just full of this chemical, which can kill you if you inhale enough of it.” There’s […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Petition to reduce female tuition?
10 Tips for creative writing
When you are going to write a creative essay, it’s important to make your work catchy for readers. Follow our tips on creative writing and create great articles. In this guide we have gathered the best ideas that will help to improve your writing skill, so be ready to get a lot of positive feedback […] … learn more→
What the attack on CEU says about the rise of ‘illiberalism’ in Europe
In recent weeks, tensions over European immigration and liberal values have culminated in a direct attack on the Central European University in Budapest. The university is now facing closure after a series of questionable higher education “reforms” by the Hungarian government. CEU’s founder and patron – the Hungarian-born billionaire and philanthropist George Soros – has […] … learn more→
Building jobs in the Rust Belt: The role of education
When my father-in-law struggled in school in a mill town along the Ohio River, his parents suggested that he head across the bridge and work in the steel mill. It was a path that once created stable lives for many Pittsburghers. But in the 1970s, steel and coal were on the decline in the midwestern […] … learn more→
Recruiters determine College is worthless
For years now, higher ed administration has watered, and watered, and watered down what it means to have a college degree. Instead of making higher education about education, they made it about growth. Not once in my lifetime in higher education have the “leaders” shown even the slightest interest in education, but I can’t even […] … learn more→
Co–writing with your supervisor – the authorship question
A doctoral researcher recently told me, and several others who were in the room at the same time, that he wanted to write a journal article. Good eh. No. Not really. The trouble was that his supervisor insisted on being named as co–author even though they weren’t contributing anything. The response from those listening was […] … learn more→
Enjoying your viva
The Viva – a live presentation of your thesis to examiners – is not common in Australia. Our thesis examination is a blind peer review process, which has its own fears, but nothing like the anxiety that a viva can provoke. Horror stories tend to circulate, which is why I was happy to be sent […] … learn more→
Growing intolerance is threatening free inquiry and open debate in India’s universities
Higher education in India is going through a critical phase. The country has witnessed tremendous growth in the sector since independence, and now has 750 universities, 35,000 colleges and 30 million of students. But none of its best institutions have managed to secure a place in the list of the world’s top 200 universities. This […] … learn more→
Hungary’s assault on academic freedom is a threat to European principles
Tens of thousands of people recently demonstrated in the Hungarian capital of Budapest against attempts by their government to close the Central European University (CEU). This was the second large-scale demonstration in Budapest in as many weeks – with protesters turning out en masse to challenge recent amendments to the national law on higher education […] … learn more→
Universities should be environments of robust debate, not ‘safe spaces’
Trigger warnings, “safe spaces” and “no platforming” have all made headlines recently as signs of the deterioration of free speech on campuses in the US. What rarely makes news, though, is another troubling aspect of censorship: so-called bias response teams. Like a throwback to China’s Red Guards, the student militia who turned on their teachers […] … learn more→