Advice, insights and solutions for the challenges facing higher education from academics, faculty and staff at institutions around the world. Hear teaching tips, writing pointers, discussions on the big issues, forecasts and first-hand experiences from university leaders.
Episodes
Friday Apr 05, 2019
Friday Apr 05, 2019
Times Higher Education's data editor Simon Baker joined Sara Custer to discuss THE's recent data-led stories: China's ascent to a global research super power, the drop in humanities PhD graduates over decades and the recent deficits reported by a quarter of English universities.
Links to the stories:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/will-china-be-new-centre-gravity-world-research
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/anti-humanities-rhetoric-blame-slower-phd-growth
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-quarter-uk-he-institutions-post-deficits
Monday Mar 04, 2019
Monday Mar 04, 2019
Data scientists at Times Higher Education are busy analysing thousands of data points evidencing how universities are contributing to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The result will be THE’s Inaugural University Impact Rankings that will launch on 3 April at the Innovation and Impact Summit at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Duncan Ross, THE’s chief data officer, Phil Bay, THE’s chief knowledge officer and Tim Sowula, head of content and engagement for the World Summit Series join Sara Custer to talk about the methodology behind the rankings and the ambition that inspired this project.
Tuesday Feb 26, 2019
Tuesday Feb 26, 2019
Before digital literacy can become the fourth pillar of education – alongside reading, writing and 'rithmetic – educators must first agree on what being digitally literate actually looks like and where the gaps in understanding lie. And what about digital media platforms themselves – should they be involved in this instruction?
Sara Custer speaks with Jo Coldwell-Neilson, associate dean of teaching and learning at Deakin University, who argues that nobody is actually a digital native, and Joel Breakstone, director of the Stanford History Education Group, who says that the approach to teaching digital literacy needs to be updated, but there are reasons to be optimistic.
Friday Feb 15, 2019
Friday Feb 15, 2019
It's often said that Australia "punches above its weight" when it comes to internationalisation and research volume and impact. But could recent funding cuts take the wind out of its sails?
THE's Asia Pacific editor John Ross talks to digital editor Sara Custer about the funding landscape, international researchers and a special nudge for the higher education sector from Australian of the Year and physicist, Michelle Simmons.
Ana Deletic, pro vice-chancellor for research at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, joins later to discuss research for the public good, open access and if the academy stymies blue skies thinking.
THE will host the Research Excellence Summit: Asia-Pacific at UNSW, Sydney 19-21 February.
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
Tuesday Jan 22, 2019
The next three Times Higher Education World Academic Summits will be held in partnership with ETH Zurich, the University of Toronto and New York University. Here we speak with the leaders of these institutions –the former head of ETH Zurich, Lino Guzzella; Meric Gertler, president of the University of Toronto, and Andy Hamilton president of NYU – about talent in the 21st century, how a university's place is more important than ever and how to rethink the trajectory of students and institutions.
Sara Custer is joined by Phil Baty, THE's chief knowledge officer and Tim Sowula, head of content and engagement for the World Summit Series.
For more information about the next three years of World Academic Summits, visit https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-academic-summit-hosts-confirmed-until-2021.
Friday Jan 11, 2019
Friday Jan 11, 2019
Sara Custer speaks with Hassan Al-Derham president of the Times Higher Education Emerging Economies Summit 2019 partner institution Qatar University about the upcoming event, the effect of the Gulf countries' blockade on the university, press freedom and the future of branch campuses.
For more information about the summit visit: http://www.theworldsummitseries.com/events/the-emerging-economies-summit-2019/event-summary-df9ad7a68fb343789ee5f1783cc1d6fa.aspx
Wednesday Dec 05, 2018
Wednesday Dec 05, 2018
This special edition of the Times Higher Education podcast features a live discussion of the UK's most provocative higher education headlines, some future gazing and what our panelists would do if they were minister for a day.
Sara Custer is joined by Mary Curnock Cook, former-CEO of UCAS; Pamela Gillies, principal/vice-chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University; Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute; and Chloe Tear, a third year student at Leeds Trinity University and a disability activist.
Friday Nov 23, 2018
Friday Nov 23, 2018
Sara Custer is joined by Simon Baker, THE's data editor, to discuss the figures showing an increase over the decades of top marks across the globe, except for in Australia. Meanwhile, Russia's 5-100 Project has just two years before its deadline to have five universities in the top 100 of global rankings. Is it on track?
Read more:
Grade inflation
Student marks raised weeks after league table concerns email
Is grade inflation a worldwide trend?
Grade inflation: how certain subjects fuel rise in firsts
5-100 Project
Is Russia's 5-100 Project working?
US PhDs
Third of top US professors got PhD at five universities
Friday Nov 16, 2018
Friday Nov 16, 2018
Democrats won back 34 seats in the House of Representatives and won control of seven more state governorships. But, will Democrats be able to overcome partisan gridlock on key HE issues? And is it time for scientists to take up arms and join the political battle to protect truth?
THE's North America editor Paul Basken joins Sara Custer to talk about what impact the Democratic victories in the midterms will have on universities. Plus, Harvard scientist-turned-candidate, Eric Feigl-Ding, talks about his run in the Pennsylvania congressional race.
See more of THE's coverage of the US midterms:
US midterms: the academics who tried to switch to politics
US midterms: House win gives democrats critical leverage on HE
Friday Nov 09, 2018
Friday Nov 09, 2018
Universities have historically been rooted in a place, but what does that symbiotic relationship with the local community look like for modern institutions?
Sara Custer is joined by John Morgan, THE's deputy news editor and John Goddard, founding director of the Centre for Urban & Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University.