Debates about generative artificial intelligence on college campuses have largely centered on student cheating. But focusing on cheating overlooks a larger set of ethical concerns that higher education institutions face, from the use of copyrighted material in large language models to student privacy. As a sociologist who teaches about AI and studies the impact of this technology on work, […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Student cheating dominates talk of generative AI in higher ed, but universities and tech companies face ethical issues too
‘I do get quite anxious’: why so many students are applying for early offers to uni
An increasing number of Australian school students are applying for an early offer to university, before they have their exam results back. Last Thursday, nearly 16,000 students in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory got an early offer through the University Admissions Centre, after a 3% growth in applications from last year. This […] … learn more→
Trump’s proposed cuts to work study threaten to upend a widely supported program that helps students offset college costs
Work study works, doesn’t it? Federal work study is a government program that gives colleges and universities approximately US$1 billion in subsidies each year to help pay students who work part-time jobs on and off campus. This program supports nearly 700,000 college students per year and is often an essential way students pay their expenses and […] … learn more→
How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years?
Australians think students are being asked to pay far too much for their degrees. Just under half (47%) of Australians surveyed by YouGov in June 2025 believe a worker on an average income should be able to pay off the debt for a standard three-year degree within five years. When it comes to the cost of a […] … learn more→
What’s the No. 1 MBA? Why business deans invest in rankings, knowing they miss a lot
When Harvard Business School tumbled to sixth place in the U.S. News MBA rankings in 2020, the reaction was swift. Critics questioned the methodology, picking up on earlier critiques of rankings. Some ranking skeptics continue to point to low response rates — for example, in 2025, U.S. News disclosed that approximately only half of the ranked schools participated in peer assessment surveys, which […] … learn more→
Despite naysayers and rising costs, data shows that college still pays off for students – and society overall
No industry has perhaps felt the negative effect of a radical shift in federal policy under the second Trump administration more than higher education. Many American colleges and universities, especially public institutions, have experienced swift and extensive federal cuts to grants, research and other programs in 2025. Meanwhile, new restrictive immigration policies have prevented many international students from enrolling in public and private […] … learn more→
‘Dark Academia’ romanticises a gothic higher education aesthetic. The modern institution is ethically closer to grey
The world of graduate research studies in higher education is not typically deemed cinematic material: the “actions” of scholarship are rather prosaic. However, two films currently in cinemas have put graduate research on the screen. Sorry, Baby, an indie film by writer/director Victor Eva and Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt, from a screenplay by Nora […] … learn more→
Building confidence during your PhD
Doing a PhD can feel like wandering through a forest with no map. You’re constantly questioning whether you’re smart enough, working hard enough or heading in the right direction. If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. More importantly, you’re not broken. The PhD is designed to push you to the edges of what you […] … learn more→
College faculty are under pressure to say and do the right thing – the stress also trickles down to students
Heavy teaching loads, shrinking university budgets and expanding workload expectations have fueled stress and burnout among professors and other university employees in recent years. Now, an increasingly polarized political climate, as well as emerging concerns around university funding cuts, self-censorship and academic freedom, has created new pressures for university and college employees. The result is an academic profession caught in the crosscurrents […] … learn more→
The secrets of Harvard University’s dominance in the Shanghai rankings
The election of Donald Trump is undermining Harvard University’s business model. The university dominates the Shanghai rankings thanks to its scientific excellence, a foundation managing $53.2 billion, and a network of 420,000 alumni. Drawing on Bourdieu’s “capital theory,” a study seeks to understand how the most prestigious university dominates its scientific field. The Shanghai Rankings measure the […] … learn more→
