This article discusses the role of university academics as researchers. In present-day society which touts instant gratification, the primary role of a university is being undermined. In Malaysia, academics no longer teach and research as they please but are 'guided' by government agencies and influenced by the priorities of funding agencies. One…

While much research on quality assurance in higher education has centred on issues related to the impact on teaching and learning and academic staff, there is a significant gap in the area of quality assurance and academic governance. Within Australia the roles of university academic boards (also known as academic senates or faculty senates) have…

While the policies of the Coalition Government will divide learners and limit opportunities, education for the upper secondary years will continue to experience a more systematic "credibility crunch" with schools and colleges facing a crisis of legitimacy and posing major challenges for reformers. (Contains 1 note.)

In an academic setting, sources of information that can help the author answer a question or make sense of a problem are judged on competence and trustworthiness. As she locates a written text, an image, or a person, and "interrogate" it, the author is working through a series of judgment calls that end in a summative assessment of credibility.…

Concerns about children's online safety have evolved from protecting them to focusing on encouraging positive social norms, transmitting effective skills, and encouraging students to be helpful allies. In fact, federal law now requires schools that receive funding to educate students about cyber safety. Nancy Willard integrates her expertise in…

Princeton University Press recently published the American moral philosopher Harry Frankfurt's book "On Bullshit", which quickly made the New York Times best seller list. Originally published in the journal "Raritan" in 1986, Frankfurt's book has been heralded as an important theoretical development in the study of what he (and society)…

In this article, the author argues that American higher education is allowing itself to be held hostage by the rankings industry, which can lead institutions to consider actions harmful to the public interest and encourage the public's infatuation with celebrity at the expense of substance. Instead of sitting quietly by during the upcoming ratings…

IMHE-Info is the newsletter published by the Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) programme. This issue includes: (1) How Do Rankings Impact on Higher Education?; and (2) OECD International Assessment of Higher Education Outcomes. IMHE News, publications of interest and upcoming events are included.

The best way to protect individuals and institutions from libel suits is to verify the truth of what is printed. An institutional editor's guide to do's, don'ts, and definitions is presented. An editor is as responsible for a libelous letter as the author is. (MLW)

Widely viewed today by many taxpayers, business leaders, and elected officials as inefficient, ineffective, bureaucratic, public education is losing its once-noble brand position as the cornerstone of American democracy. According to Laura Ries, a marketing guru, the first problem is the name, it is called public education. It is because the…

In a university's time of crisis, reporters will often attempt to catch the president and board members in conflicting responses in order to develop a "gotcha" news story. It is important for leaders not to take the bait. In times of crisis, board members and institutional leaders must not only control the message and flow of…

Asserts that variance between a university's reputation as an institution and its commitment to research have a greater impact on political science department rankings than any internal factors within the department. Includes several tables showing statistical variables of department and university rankings. (MJP)

At a meeting sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the National Association of College and University Business Officers, strategies for explaining college costs to external constituencies (the public, media, policymakers) and internal constituencies (campus professionals and alumni) were discussed. Officials from…