Preparing for university: “we call this a washing machine”

Some new students need 'life skills' it seems According to the Times "pampered pupils" are receiving lessons in life skills to enable them to cope at university: Increasing numbers of privileged students are arriving at university unable to use a washing machine, cook a simple meal or look after themselves, according to head teachers and …

‘Wal-Mart U’ v ‘Harrods U’

Two new entrants into HE From the Chronicle of Higher Education an interesting story explaining that there might have been a Wal-Mart University: As the world's largest retailer weighed its options for making a big splash in education, executives told one potential academic partner that Wal-Mart Stores was considering buying a university or starting its …

What’s the point of graduation season?

On Graduation BBC website carries an interesting feature on differences between UK university graduations and US commencement. In British universities, especially those with a very large student body, degree ceremonies can sometimes last longer than a week, as each school or faculty or department gets its own session, and as each graduate has the opportunity …

Comparing ranking systems: League Tables 101

Comparing League tables A handy article on the QS website on comparing ranking systems. Whilst it doesn't go into much detail, it does offer a nice overview: Since 1983, university ranking has become a world industry. But before we ask how universities can be ranked, it is important to consider why. The main reason for …

Fun ways to tackle plagiarism

Tackling Plagiarism A really entertaining approach to this challenging issue from the University of Bergen

New University League Table iPhone App

New League Table iPhone App QS, compilers of world university league tables, have produced an iPhone app so rankings are never out of reach. My life is now complete.

New Guardian 2011 University League Table

New Guardian League Table for 2011 Top 20 or so of the full list (available here) is as follows (last year's position in brackets): 1 (1) Oxford 2 (2) Cambridge 3 (4) Warwick 4 (3) St Andrews 5 (6) UCL 6 (16) Lancaster 7 (8) Imperial College 8 (5) London School of Economics 9 (10) …

“Bogus students facing global crackdown”

Tackling "bogus" students According to the BBC, bogus students are facing a global crackdown. "Unscrupulous" recruitment agents who bring bogus overseas students into the UK are being targeted in an international initiative. The British Council has for the first time brought together countries including the UK, the US and Australia to try to keep out …

University to Provide Online Reputation Management to Graduates

Online Reputation Management Just when you thought it was safe to go online... an interesting approach to providing careers advice to graduates: Syracuse University has purchased six-month subscriptions to Brand-Yourself.com’s online reputation management platform for all 4,100 of its graduating seniors. The platform will help students monitor and shape their online presence during the job …