Blog Archives

Academic freedom and democracy in African countries: the first study to track the connection

Academic freedom and democracy in African countries: the first study to track the connection

There is growing interest in the state of academic freedom worldwide. A 1997 Unesco document defines it as the right of scholars to teach, discuss, research, publish, express opinions about systems and participate in academic bodies. Academic freedom is a cornerstone of education and knowledge. Yet there is surprisingly little empirical research on the actual […] … learn more→

Why is tech giant Apple trying to teach our teachers?

Why is tech giant Apple trying to teach our teachers?

Apple products are already a central part of our lives in so many ways. We use them to work, socialise, monitor our heart rates, pay for things and watch TV. But did you know they are also involved in teaching school teachers? The shift to online learning following COVID-19 is not only for students. Teachers now also […] … learn more→

We are on the brink of losing Indigenous languages in Australia – could schools save them?

We are on the brink of losing Indigenous languages in Australia – could schools save them?

Of the world’s 7,000 languages, it is estimated 50% to 90% will no longer be spoken in the next 50 to 100 years. The majority under threat are languages spoken by Indigenous peoples around the world: one is lost every two weeks. One of the world’s fastest rates of language loss is in Australia. Indigenous languages in Australia […] … learn more→

Only about 1 in 5 engineering degrees go to women

Only about 1 in 5 engineering degrees go to women

Despite various efforts to encourage more women to study STEM fields in college, the percentage of engineering bachelor’s degrees earned by women in the United States hasn’t increased much in the 21st century. Specifically, it has risen from 18% in 1998 to 22% in 2018. Of all the fields in STEM – or science, technology, engineering and […] … learn more→

Despite $400 boost, Pell Grants fall far short of original goal to make college more affordable for low- and middle-income students

Despite $400 boost, Pell Grants fall far short of original goal to make college more affordable for low- and middle-income students

Back around when the Pell Grant was created by Congress in 1973 to help students from low-income families pay for higher education, it covered 80% of the costs of attending a public four-year college or university. And it covered over 40% of the costs of going to a private one. Today, thanks to increases in tuition costs and Pell Grants not […] … learn more→

The top 3 skills needed to do a PhD are skills employers want too

The top 3 skills needed to do a PhD are skills employers want too

More and more people are applying to do a PhD. What many don’t know is it takes serious skills to do one – and, more importantly, complete it. We analysed the selection criteria for PhD candidates on a platform that advertises PhD programs. Our analysis of thousands of these ads revealed exactly what types of skills different […] … learn more→

College: how to promote adapted education without stigmatizing it

College: how to promote adapted education without stigmatizing it

On January 2, 2022, television host and producer Cyril Hanouna sparked a controversy on the social network Twitter by announcing his participation in the production of a feature film entitled Les SEGPA . Remember that the acronym SEGPA stands for Adapted General and Professional Education Section and designates classes welcoming pupils with serious learning difficulties. The host presented in passing […] … learn more→

What are your post PhD job prospects, 2 years into the pandemic?

What are your post PhD job prospects, 2 years into the pandemic?

As regular readers will know, I am a working researcher with an interest in post PhD employability. For nearly 10 years now my research focus has been on job advertisements for researchers. this post is a detailed update on the academic and non-academic job market, 2 years into the pandemic. If you don’t want to […] … learn more→

Language, a collective creation

Language, a collective creation

Although we don’t usually think about it, we have around us one of the fundamental wonders of which our species is capable, and whose invention should guide our idea of ​​what it is to create. Its existence confirms that a collective creation is possible, and a common and shared intelligence. That wonder is human language. Our global […] … learn more→

The better you are at math, the more money seems to influence your satisfaction

The better you are at math, the more money seems to influence your satisfaction

Your grade school math teacher probably told you that being good at math would be very important to your grownup self. But maybe the younger you didn’t believe that at the time. A lot of research, though, has shown that your teacher was right. We are two researchers who study decision-making and how it relates to […] … learn more→