This is a story, a my story, which leads to eight pointers about writing for publication. I’m currently writing a paper. Well, yes, always writing something. But right now it’s a paper. A paper designed to do some thinking work that will then inform a book. I’m not writing this paper by myself, but I […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Writing for publication – finding an angle and an argument
Covid-19 : What is not said in the debate about university exams
The last weeks of January and the first of February are dates that in the university environment are associated with evaluation and exams. This year, in the context of the pandemic, we have observed a debate that has reached confrontation, regarding the adequacy or not of taking face-to-face exams in universities, at the height of the […] … learn more→
Poorer students are less likely to take part in sport at university
Sport has benefits for education as well as for health and wellbeing. Being active can help with concentration, and improve grades. Sport also gives students skills that are valuable in the world of work, such as confidence, team working, leadership and communication skills. These can have a positive impact on future job opportunities. Despite this, involvement in […] … learn more→
Universities have thrived despite past disruptions and could grow even stronger after COVID-19
In the past century, universities have risen to occupy a central place in the knowledge economy, from fostering innovation to attracting promising international students and researchers, and being an anchor for regional and national economic development. Universities are integral to public policy. Never before have institutions of higher education been so influential and powerful in the lives of families, communities […] … learn more→
Taking on community roles is critical for universities’ local profiles
I’d gone into a secondary school in Bradford to talk about the challenges facing our planet and the implications for future careers. Talk turned quickly to dream jobs and that meant lots of aspiring footballers and social media celebrities. There was a notable exception, though: a quiet lad sitting at the back of the classroom […] … learn more→
‘Early warning’ systems in schools can be dangerous in the hands of law enforcement
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students are getting lower grades and inconsistently attending classes. For students in one Florida county, low grades and absenteeism may put them at risk of being labeled by law enforcement as potential criminals. The Tampa Bay Times reported in late 2020 that the Pasco Sheriff’s Office uses student data to identify young people […] … learn more→
Academics are promoting the wrong kind of rigour
“I feel like college puts us to sleep,” says the high-achieving student sitting across from me. It’s pre-Covid times, so I’m still meeting with students in my office. He claims to have stopped by for no particular reason, but I know better than that. Clearly, he has something to get off his chest, so I […] … learn more→
Don’t write off Russia’s efforts to ascend the global rankings
Many critics of Russia’s 5-100 Project have declared it a failure since it has not fulfilled its defining aim of catapulting five Russian universities into the top 100 of the global university rankings. But as the Russian government discusses a new initiative to succeed the seven-year $2.3 billion (£1.7 billion) programme, it is worth pointing […] … learn more→
What to do after graduation
Although you might have looked forward to your graduation from high school or university throughout your tenure at the school or college of your choice, it can be incredibly daunting when the time comes, especially if you have no clue as to what to do after yourreceive your diploma, especially if you haven’t got a […] … learn more→
Historically black universities are drastically undersold by the statistics
Presidential inaugurations are usually moments of huge international attention, but Joe Biden’s words later this week will be watched more intently than ever given recent events in US democracy. But it is Kamala Harris – the country’s first African American vice-president-elect – who may increasingly take centre stage over the next four years, with the […] … learn more→
