Now that’s what I call an Honorary Graduate §5
Universities have been generously handing out honorary degrees again. This time to a bunch of politicians.
Posts, page 20
Big and really rather bossy: the new regulatory burden
The White Paper is proposing significant regulatory change. Unfortunately, the mythical level playing field now looks to be even further away than before. And the regulatory burden for universities is growing.
Guardian League Table 2017: Your pre-TEF ranking
Latest Guardian league table is now out. And it couldn’t be more exciting if it was called the White Paper.
Two quality assurance systems to one: remembering the Joint Planning Group – Part 2
The Joint Planning Group played a small but significant part in the history of quality assurance in UK HE. That was 20 years ago and it does seem as if we are now heading back to what the JPG was intended to solve. Part …
Two quality assurance systems to one: remembering the Joint Planning Group – Part 1
The Joint Planning Group played a small but significant part in the history of quality assurance in UK HE. Paul Greatrix looks back at the work of the JPG and its role in establishing the system we know and love today.
Farming today: harvesting the benefits of campus farms
Many universities teach and research agriculture. And they also have impressive working farm operations.
Spring ranking: the Complete University Guide
Here’s the first domestic league table of the season and once again it’s the Complete University Guide which is first out of the stocks this year. Plus bonus features.
Puppy love: it seems puppy rooms really do work
Lots of universities have been offering puppy rooms to relieve students’ exam stress. And there’s now some evidence it works.
High-rise challenge: the new quality assessment model
Paul Greatrix goes through the new quality assessment model in depth and asks whether the new framework poses too high a challenge.
The forgotten bands of higher education
Another list of #HigherEdBands – just what everyone has been waiting for. Or most likely not.
True Crime on Campus §48: Easter frolics
Once more it’s time for more True Crime on Campus. Of course it is.
A Europa League for universities?
Yet another brilliant league table. This one lists 2,000 universities in its rankings. It’s a bit like the Europa League for Universities.
Art attack: the least effective political satire ever?
An example of a university portrait. Shockingly defaced in a really crude attempt at political satire.
Today’s students: Fit, drug-free and good at colouring
Students need support to stay healthy. Luckily there are mindfulness classes, colouring books and exercise bikes to help them keep off the drugs.
Now that’s what I call an Honorary Graduate §4
Universities have been generously handing out honorary degrees again. And there are some pretty unusual recipients.
Who said the art of letter writing was dead? The 2016 Grant Letter
It’s the all new HEFCE grant letter from BIS. Don’t worry about the content, just count the paragraphs.
The Imperfect University: Regulate This
Regulation, regulation, regulation. More of it than you can shake a stick at. Can it get any worse? Almost certainly.
Carry On Campus movie? No thanks
There are lots of movies with a higher ed theme. Almost all of them look terrible and involve lots of death. Here’s a dozen to avoid.
Hey, student! Your smartphone is ruining your education
Smartphone distractions are ruining students’ education according to some surveys. It’s all their own fault apparently.
From drowning bunnies to a governance crisis
One US university has adopted an interesting approach to student retention. It seems to involve drowning rabbits.