In 2016, after three decades of teaching, Brian Martin hung up his tutor boots. But he wasn't nearly done with thinking – or research. Having had time to reflect on his experience, the erstwhile Professor of Social Sciences at the University of ...
More »Student housing: the bad, the worse, and the roach-infested
While the silly season burst forth in late November last year, the National Union of Students (NUS) quietly released some sobering findings. Roughly half of students are struggling to pay rent, and over a third are living in poor conditions. ...
More »Is the PM right about too many law grads, suggesting students do arts?
Malcolm Turnbull shared his strong thoughts on law degrees with Canberra radio station 2CC late last week. What's news to no-one is that he – like many others – thinks too many people are studying law. The scoop? That they'd be "better ...
More »Free university education: Kiwi feat or a red herring?
When Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand's Prime Minister in October last year, many were surprised because of her youth, inexperience and femininity. Staunchly Labour, she moved quickly to enact her 'progressive, anti-capitalist' agenda. Among her reforms was making all forms of higher education ...
More »Over 40 per cent of grads say they’re wasting skills
I graduated from Melbourne, participated and won a few presentation competitions at uni and did an internship at a tech startup (the role was about somewhat research, marketing). I'm literally looking for anything right now but haven't got anything for ...
More »Technology in education: a forecast for 2018
Digital transformation and the rise of millennials are dominating headlines in the Asia Pacific region (APAC). Rapid advancements in technology are drastically improving the way we do things. As millennials come of age, modern students will be adept with technology, ...
More »MYEFO funding freezes ‘actually cuts’: Universities Australia
MYEFO delivered a blow to universities - a lesser one than May's budget - but nonetheless, an affront. Alongside freezing per-student funding for two years, the government intends to cap student loans and demand repayment of them earlier. From 2020, it also ...
More »Opinion: improving graduate employability with technology
Graduate employability is a major area of concern for students and educators alike. Until recently, the solution relied on students proactively seeking out voluntary opportunities and internships that would give them exposure to the ‘real world’. Now, the focus has ...
More »‘Diversify or die’: UniMelb VC on the Australian university
Glyn Davis begins his elongated essay, The Australian Idea of a University, as good storytellers do: with an anecdote. Around 15 years ago, Rutgers University, an American collegiate icon, thought it was safe. There was a relative newcomer on the ...
More »UTS presents university commercialisation alternative
Today, in UTS' 'brown paper bag', a symposium on advancing the public benefit of universities took place. Resisting commercialisation The need for universities to focus on research and education – not marketing – was a major topic. Professor Raewyn Connell of USYD ...
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