A movie about Admissions in HE? Yes please!

But when will it be released in the UK? There really just aren't enough HE related movies about. And even fewer which cover professional services rather than academic or student matters (which are, let's face it, much more likely to be entertaining). So in the university movie desert which we have been through since 'Starter …

The Imperfect University: Free Information?

Freedom of Information costs. But does anyone really benefit? "You idiot. You naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop. There is really no description of stupidity, no matter how vivid, that is adequate. I quake at the imbecility of it." These are the words Tony Blair addresses to himself in his memoirs while reflecting on his government's introduction …

True Crime on Campus §28: gas!

More true crime on campus: Strange things continue to happen on campus. Our Security staff always respond professionally, even when faced with rude taxi drivers and distressed waterfowl. Not to mention possible gas leaks. 07:50 Security Patrol stopped a taxi who was driving the wrong way up Cut Through Lane and on speaking stopping the …

Investing in careers support

More careers support for Nottingham students. The University of Nottingham has invested in a major expansion of its Careers and Employability Service intended significantly to enhance provision for students. The new investment will support the vision for tailored career development, learning and employability support to Faculties. So far, the following steps have been taken: 22 …

Unwanted branch campuses

An unwelcome higher education arrival. University World News reports on French unhappiness at a Portuguese interloper: Portugal’s private University Fernando Pessoa, or UFP, is planning to set up a second branch in France – despite a complaint filed last year by French Higher Education Minister Geneviève Fioraso that installation of its first university centre in …

Hobbit talk

A great oration. Continuing the ceremonial theme this week. I recently received an email from a Tolkien scholar asking for a copy of the oration delivered when the great man was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of Nottingham back in 1970. Well, I must admit I thought it might be a little tricky …

Chancellor successfully installed

One of those big University events. Yesterday the University of Nottingham installed (a technical term) its seventh Chancellor, Sir Andrew Witty. Full details of the appointment and the background to Sir Andrew can be found on this page about the installation and the video of the event can be found here. Note that the video starts with …

An interesting approach to teaching physics

But is it effective? Inside Higher Ed reports on a Columbia University professor who adopted a rather unconventional approach for a physics class: A Columbia University professor who incorporated (himself) stripping, ninjas and images of 9/11 in a lecture on quantum mechanics has attracted widespread attention. While he's not talking and Columbia officials aren't saying …

Everything’s gone green

Some positive work on sustainable futures at the University of Nottingham. In 2012 the University of Nottingham won the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development. In the citation for the award the judges noted Nottingham was a “trailblazer” for environmental best practice. Now I must admit that I used to be …

The College Scorecard: KIS-ing in the USA

President Obama announces a higher education initiative which looks a bit familiar. The College Scorecard as it is known has attracted some mixed reviews since it was announced by the President. The Chronicle of Higher Education notes that it is intended to help prospective students but that it doesn't perhaps do all that is claimed: …

Big Brother for University Sport

Responding to worries about student athletes on social media. There has been not insignificant anxiety in US higher education about the inappropriate use of social media by student athletes and universities are looking to monitor activity much more closely. On this side of the Atlantic the issues have largely been confined to professional sports people …

A winning international strategy

The University of Nottingham wins another award.   The Guardian awarded its first HE prizes at a ceremony in London on Thursday. And the University of Nottingham came out top for its international strategy against stiff competition from UCL and Salford.     It's a terrific citation: As the first university to open a fully …