Given the experiences of educators and learners through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is certainly timely to explore disruption in higher education. As Flavin rightly states, despite radical changes in technology over the last 20 years, technology has not disrupted higher education in any meaningful way. However, within the last 12 months, COVID-19…

In this opinion piece I present a brief introduction to embodiment and offer practical examples of embodied pedagogy. My overarching argument is that embodiment theory and practice merit a paradigmatic status in higher education pedagogies and a sub-theme is that using embodiment as a foundation for pedagogic praxis is usefully done in…

In this response article, the author argues that the notion of 'disruptive innovation' should not be a guiding light for higher education. First and foremost, proponents of this idea would do well to recognise that much broader discourses of revolutionary change have characterised the field of education technology for decades. In short, it is an…

Besides a lack of focus on the context in which the innovation thrives or dies, the author takes issue with some of Dr. Flavin's choice of examples. Flavin argues that Wikipedia has disrupted higher education. The author is a supporter of Wikipedia (both through donation and article edits) and uses it regularly, but does not believe it has had…

In this article, the authors analyze the current situation in Portugal, in terms of the relationship between basic education and higher education, focusing on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in these processes. Moreover, this piece also addresses the quality of student preparation in basic education for a positive and successful experience…

Mary Callahan is the Registrar and Senior Associate Dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She was named Registrar in 1999 and Senior Associate Dean in 2015 and sets the strategic direction for a continuum of student and faculty support activities. Among her many responsibilities are oversight of registration, grades, degree…

Former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift became president of the education innovation organization LearnLaunch in July 2019. In 1998, Swift was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. Three years later, when Governor Paul Cellucci resigned to become U.S. ambassador to Canada, Swift became the youngest female governor in U.S. history. Besides…

The universities said it! Arthur provides a (thinkable) scenario, via the University of Central Tasmania.

In recent years, entrepreneurship and innovation have become important topics in academia. In 2016, they were made a compulsory joint course subject for general education or college students in the UAE higher education system. However, this viewpoint article suggests that entrepreneurship and innovation should be an integral component of each…

As conservatives consider ways to crash through the growing choke hold that college degrees have held in employers' hiring processes, one idea that has gained currency is allowing federal student aid to follow students to unaccredited providers of education. Conservatives have also shown interest in funding competency-based programs--in which…

European University Association (EUA) has been an active contributor to the Bologna Process since its start 20 years ago. The present position paper welcomes the recent progress in the development of the European Higher Education Area, on the occasion of the Bologna Process Ministerial Conference on 19 November. EUA leaders will join the European…

Kevin Carey, vice president for education policy and knowledge management at New America, notes that lawmakers charged with writing a new Higher Education Act (HEA) face a dilemma. Innovation in the higher-ed marketplace is badly needed to improve student learning and break the relentless cycle of increasing cost that puts college out of reach for…

It is believed that the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)--i.e., inquiry into learning--has the potential to further deepen the ability to question, learn, and act together--especially when it is understood and enacted through the values and practices of democratic civic engagement (DCE). The authors provide a brief example of what they…

The idea for the Innovative Conservatoire (ICON) was first proposed at the Reflective Conservatoire Conference in 2006. An international collaboration which stimulates knowledge exchange, innovation and reflective practice in conservatoires, ICON has opened up an area of work that is often carried out behind closed doors. Working via creative…

In this testimony by Alexander Mayer, Deputy Director, Postsecondary Education, Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), Before the New Jersey State Assembly Higher Education Committee, the following three points are emphasized: (1) Developmental education is a major challenge facing low-income college students in New Jersey and across…