International
Manuel Castells – Inspiring fundamental change | Building on the scholarly contribution of great thinkers like Humboldt and Clark Kerr, Castells analyses the evolution of the four key functions performed by universities. The first one is ideological, reflecting the traditional role of transmitting the values that help legitimise the existing social order. The second role is that of selection of the elites and formation of networks to ensure social cohesion. Training the labour force is the third role performed by universities in support of the state bureaucracy and the professional needs of the economy. Knowledge generation and dissemination (research) is the last function.
‘Castells in Africa’ – Some insights for universities | [Castells] told us that, in contrast to Bourdieu’s functionalist theory, his was a conflict theory, following that of Alain Touraine. The important consequence was that we should always expect conflict when attending to universities’ functions: conflict was the normal, not the pathological condition.
Democratizing Research Funding Data | Today, another major for-profit player in the research management space, Digital Science, is relaunching its research-tracking tool Dimensions in a way that will make reams of data about research funding, publications and citations available to individual researchers at no cost. An enhanced version of the tool will also be offered to institutions at a much more affordable rate than what many are currently paying to review publication data they use to assess their research impact.
More students but attrition rates remain stable | Australians who want to gain a higher education have far greater opportunity than in the past. There are now more institutions offering more courses at more locations in a wider range of delivery formats than ever before.
Why Zuma’s free higher education plan will cripple SA’s finances | It’s now for Zuma’s successor Ramaphosa to do the tricky tampering. He will need to be politically and financially adept to manage this situation. He can’t simply reverse a populist decision and he clearly won’t be able to meet it fully without serious adjustments to the country’s finances.
Australian graduates increasingly settle for part-time jobs | Increasing numbers of Australian graduates are settling for part-time employment, according to a report for the government’s Department of Education and Training. A total of 37.9 per cent of employed university leavers were working part-time in 2017, in what the study describes as a “pronounced trend towards part-time employment among graduates”.
U.S. National
The High Cost of Opportunity: Paying for Academic Conferences | Graduate students and untenured faculty have long mourned the prohibitive costs associated with academic conferences. On top of registration fees, attendees must factor in transportation, lodging and food. While some secure institutional support, others are left to fend for themselves.
Study: Looming Student Loan Default Crisis Will Be Worse Than Projected | The looming student loan default crisis will be worse than previously thought, according to a recently published Brookings Institution report.
The Biggest Problem for State Higher-Ed Policy? Federal Higher-Ed Policy | [T]he top issue for states is the uncertainty created by the federal government, according to an annual report from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
U.S. States
Progress stalled, state needs revenue to invest in education | When it comes to post-secondary education, Kentucky has work to do to reach the state’s goal of 60 percent attainment, up from the current 45 percent.
Student leaders at Iowa’s public universities unite as college becomes ‘less affordable’ | Students at Iowa’s three public universities, bracing for stiff increases to the cost of attending school, have begun letter writing and social media campaigns criticizing a proposed minuscule increase in state appropriations.
Nebraska higher ed leaders cringe over new proposed cuts | “A cut of this magnitude would make it difficult for us to remain affordable for our 53,000 students and meet the workforce and economic needs of the state,” University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds said in a written statement.
Colleges require sustained investment | The Vermont State Colleges System is a major workforce pipeline delivering entrepreneurs and workers to power our state’s economy.
Illinois’ higher education leaders at odds over proposed budget | Colleges, universities and education agencies sent wish lists to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, whose members crunched the numbers and presented them to state legislators. Lawmakers, in turn, provided the funds — usually a sizable chunk of income for the state’s public institutions. That was before the two-year budget impasse threw that ritual off-kilter.
Officials look to make higher education more affordable in South Carolina | Parents, college faculty and administrators voiced their concerns to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Thursday.
College Success Arizona Welcomes Higher Education Professional to the Team | College Success Arizona, an organization leading the way to increase Arizona’s college graduation rates by providing financial and other support to Arizona’s low-income students, welcomes Richard C. Daniel, Ph.D., as Chief Operating Officer.
Institutional
NEO universities find value in HLC scrutiny | The Higher Learning Commission is the regional accreditation agency for close to 1,000 institutions in a 19-state region. Basically, being “on notice” means the university is still accredited, but the commission has some concerns about the way it’s being run.