Another World Ranking: High Impact Universities

High Impact Universities: "it's all about research impact" Following the rash of recent world league table publications here is one that is based primarily on research. The rankings measure universities' Research Performance Index or RPI. The table has been developed at the University of Western Australia and can be found here. The Top 20 is: …

Zombie class begins at University of Baltimore

Yet more zombie nonsense Entertainment news courtesy of LA Times - zombie class begins at the University of Baltimore: Zombies are everywhere these days. Last year they hit the best-seller list in a bizarre mash-up with Jane Austen called "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." They have inspired math professors to devise statistical models for surviving …

Everyone’s a winner? Betting on grades

Good grades? You bet There has been some recent interest in a new service provided by a company called Ultrinsic which allows students to bet on the grades they will achieve. If you get the grade, you win. If you don't, you lose. Ultrinsic is a web-based college platform that provides incentives to students for …

Vocational qualifications: ‘a great idea for other people’s children’

A new review of vocational qualifications The BBC reports on Education Secretary Michael Gove's announcement of an independent review of vocational qualifications for students aged 14 to 19 in England. A spokesman for the Department for Education said the government wanted qualifications in practical subjects to be more "hands on". The number of vocational qualifications …

New THE World University Rankings 2010: UK positions

New THE World University Rankings 2010: UK positions 14 UK universities appear in the top 100, a few of them are new arrivals in this territory: 6= Cambridge 6= Oxford 9 Imperial College 22 University College London 40 University of Edinburgh 68= University of Bristol 77 King’s College London 79= University of Sussex 81= University …

New 2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings

2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings The new THE world rankings are out and available here. New method, new rankings and some pretty big changes in the top 200. However, to look at the top 20 you wouldn't think there was an awful lot going on here (unless perhaps you were Cambridge). And Harvard …

True Crime on Campus §3

More true crime on campus Some more diverting extracts from campus security reports: 0355 Report of a female Conference Delegate feeling unwell in Willoughby Hall Security attended the female stated she had drunk a large amount of a Caffeine based drink. An organiser from the Conference was contacted and asked to sit with the Delegate. …

Sunday Times 2011 University League Table

Sunday Times League Table 2011 No radical changes here with the top four places remaining the same. LSE improves somewhat and York drops out of the top 10 but otherwise there isn't a great deal of movement in the top 20 (although some welcome upward steps for the University of Nottingham): (last year's position in …

QS World University Rankings 2010: UK results

QS World University Rankings 2010: UK results - good, bad or indifferent? Following up the earlier post on the QS world top 20 it is interesting to note that, depending on your perspective, a goodly/pitiful number of UK universities appear in the QS top 100 as follows (last year in brackets): 1 Cambridge (2) 4 …

QS World University Rankings Results 2010

QS World University Rankings Results 2010 The QS rankings have been published and join a crowded marketplace of world university league tables. Much excitement no doubt about Cambridge and Harvard swapping places but not clear what the real reasons for this might be. Remainder of top 20 is roughly the same: Rank 2010 (2009 in …

Consumer crackdown on ‘Mickey Mouse’ courses

"Consumer crackdown on 'Mickey Mouse' courses by showing future prospects" Excited Daily Mail story on 'Mickey Mouse' courses: Degree courses will be rated for teaching quality, salary prospects, tuition time and value for money under plans to unleash 'consumer power' on universities. Poor quality 'Mickey Mouse' courses will be exposed on a website - similar …