Blog Archives

What the Shanghai ranking cannot measure

What the Shanghai ranking cannot measure

For yet another year, Jiao Tong University (in the Chinese city of Shanghai) has presented the results of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), more popularly known as the Shanghai ranking . And, as usually happens every year, its publication arouses interest in the media, although not so much within the academic community. Any […] … learn more→

Advanced Placement courses could clash with laws that target critical race theory

Advanced Placement courses could clash with laws that target critical race theory

Scientific theories to justify racism. Laws and Supreme Court decisions that denied Black people equal rights. The imperialist view that Anglo-Saxons were called upon by God to civilize the “savages” of the world. These topics might all sound like material from a course on systemic racism or critical race theory, which includes the idea that racism is embedded in America’s legal systems […] … learn more→

Professor flexibility, recorded lectures: Some positive university legacies of the pandemic

Professor flexibility, recorded lectures: Some positive university legacies of the pandemic

The COVID-19 closure of university and college campuses and move to online learning in March 2020 was a massive global educational experiment. Many students were severely disadvantaged and strained during the experiment, others coped and some thrived. Educators are divided on its impacts. With international colleagues who are geography experts, I studied lessons learned during the pandemic. Taken together, […] … learn more→

How England plans to cut back ‘low value’ degrees so it can reap more student loan repayments

How England plans to cut back ‘low value’ degrees so it can reap more student loan repayments

Rishi Sunak, one of the candidates to be the UK’s next prime minister, has vowed to “crack down” on university degrees with poor career outcomes. This is not a new idea. The university regulator in England, the Office for Students, has already proposed setting minimum thresholds for the proportion of graduates from each course that should be in […] … learn more→

Ways to get through College with no student loans

Ways to get through College with no student loans

Students all over the world rack up trillions of dollars in debt just trying to get a university education. This may make you wonder whether there are ways to get through college with no student loans. Sure, there is! Here are 11 ways to pay for your college tuition without being overwhelmed with debt. Find […] … learn more→

How universities can support international students beyond orientation week

How universities can support international students beyond orientation week

Orientation to local culture and society offered by post-secondary education institutions is common, especially during the first couple of weeks of the new semester. In weeks and months to come, the international students will continue to adapt to their new environment and communities. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic brings another layer of complexity and uncertainty to international students’ university lives. […] … learn more→

Computer science benefits students with learning disabilities – but not always for the long term

Computer science benefits students with learning disabilities – but not always for the long term

 When computer science courses are delivered through career and technical education in high school, the courses can help students with learning disabilities feel better about their ability to succeed in STEM. The classes also help the students see the usefulness of computer science. This is what we found in a recent study with our […] … learn more→

Universities shouldn’t use software to monitor online exams: here’s why

Universities shouldn’t use software to monitor online exams: here’s why

Proctoring software monitors a student’s computer or phone while they write exams. These programs have been around for some time but became ubiquitous during online learning in the pandemic. Proctoria, Respondus and Proctor U, the most popular programs, have enjoyed a 500% increase in usage since the start of COVID-19 and proctoring software is now a US$19 billion […] … learn more→

Mature students in universities face 3 kinds of barriers — here’s how to address them

Mature students in universities face 3 kinds of barriers — here’s how to address them

Since the onset of the pandemic, many colleges and universities have reported record numbers of applications from mature students — adults who return to school on a part- or full-time basis while maintaining responsibilities like employment, family and other adult life responsibilities. Both students and post-secondary leaders cite the chance to attend school remotely or to rethink one’s career in […] … learn more→

University anti-racism policies: Use shared decision-making to hear BIPOC student insights

University anti-racism policies: Use shared decision-making to hear BIPOC student insights

“I did not consider a career as a university professor or a position in academic leadership because I have never been taught by someone who looked like me!” A graduate student shared this comment with me in 2016. Reflecting on my academic journey towards becoming a clinical assistant professor in occupational therapy at D’Youville University […] … learn more→