What’s Wrong with Our Universities with Steven Pinker; "Are our higher education institutions still nurturing true intellectual diversity? Our guest today is Steven Pinker, a cognitive scientist at Harvard, and today, we'll be exploring the growing concerns within higher ed that institutions are turning into echo chambers, stifling dissent and censoring certain perspectives.
In this thought-provoking episode, we'll be discovering the challenges to academic freedom in the era of cancel culture. We'll explore how questioning a consensus can now come at a cost, impacting the pursuit of truth within academic institutions. We'll also uncover the story of the Council for Academic Freedom at Harvard, which was formed to combat these challenges.
Join us as we delve into policies protecting free speech, and the vital role of civil discourse in the academic community. Together, we'll navigate the complex landscape of universities, grappling with the delicate balance between common knowledge and the suppression of dissenting opinions."; Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi: https://lnkd.in/eVDsJj4p
Is there a sociologist or organisation theorist studying the performativity of the explosion of industry panels & other "stakeholder" focused knowledge dissemination in universities?
With exceptions, most of these seem to have little epistemic or public purpose contribution (just see who is attending the events) while legitimizing a neoliberal logic in academia and serving as a PR arm of the new corporate university model.
In "The New Global Universities," authors Bryan Penprase and Noah Pickus spotlight the role of academic institutions like Soka University and Duke University in driving educational innovation.
These universities are not just adapting to changes; they are at the forefront of creating a global educational landscape that is inclusive, interconnected, and innovative.
The book examines how such institutions navigate challenges and seize opportunities to make a significant impact. A fascinating read for those interested in the dynamic role of universities in our global society.
#HigherEducation#UniversityInnovation#GlobalImpact#EducationalChange
Dr. Amresh Kumar Gauda, from the Department of Political Science at the School of Liberal and Creative Arts, Lovely Professional University, is thrilled to share his insights on our transformative course! Explore innovative curriculam and pedagogical approaches that ignite scholarly growth. Enroll today and elevate your academic journey.
#lpu#lovelyprofessionaluniversity#lpuuniversity#socialsciencesatlpu#SocialSciences#ThinkBig
Dear Faculty,
What part of the faculty model is outdated and should be left behind in 2023? We’ve found those pursuing their doctorate are dissuaded and may even loathe the very idea of working in academia.
Check out our article:
https://lnkd.in/gwrnjAxM
New paper with colleagues from the University of Plymouth
Reflecting on the meaning of 'knowledge exchange' this paper explores the evolving role of universities in society. It analyses how different ideas about knowledge are influenced by the performativity and neoliberal responsibilisation of modern universities.
My favourite point in the paper highlights the importance of sharing knowledge without it being confined to individual communities, where it is recycled rather than critically challenged and extended.
Knowledge exchange must emphasise social networks, whereby information, experience, knowledge, as well as cultural, economic and social capital, can flow and be interrogated.
Dear Academic Faculty… What part of the faculty model is outdated and should be left behind in 2023?
We’ve found those pursuing their doctorate are dissuaded and may even loathe the very idea of working in academia.
Click here to learn more about our findings https://lnkd.in/gwrnjAxM
While many consider COVID-19 a thing of the past, the impact on educational research remains significant. Collaborating with Dr. Natalia Gajdamaschko, our study on academia during the pandemic has been published in the Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice (Vol. 24, Issue 6, 2024). Titled "Dissecting Disruption in Academia: An Activity Theory Lens on Teaching Transition Amidst COVID-19," our research focuses on British Columbia University's academic life. Through Q methodology guided by Engstrom's Activity Theory, our study unveils four distinct groups: Digitally Overwhelmed, Digital Optimists, Non-Digital Traditionalists, and Digital Empaths. These insights are crucial for educational leaders striving to support students and educators in today's rapidly evolving academic landscape. I urge others to explore how our findings can enrich teaching and learning practices beyond the COVID era.
#activitytheory, #Qmethodology, #pandemicteaching, #digitalpedagogy, #onlinehttps://lnkd.in/gqkDAvFj
NEW FROM LSE
Looking to help your students minimize distraction while studying? Authors report a planning exercise where students formed IF[obstacle], THEN[solution] statements. Students who planned for distraction obstacles reported less distraction than students who planned for other obstacles.
By: Elise M. Walck-Shannon, Center for Integrative Research on Cognition, Learning, and Education (CIRCLE)
https://lnkd.in/gifPY6Hu
Tara Brabazon AM speaking to the times, a true call to our transdisciplinary, interactive citizenship and the competition necessary to sustain democracy and democratic institutions!
For some of my readers this may seem like science fiction; we have reduced the sector-related symptoms to corollary(ies), which, in the ultimate deceit, has reduced our individual existence and broad communities or democracy. Whether or not the interconnectivity exists, it will and is being used as leverage to centralize power. We have a preponderance of symptomatic evidence to support this: systems not reductionist assessment. However even the discourse around the broader system analysis is challenged by disciplinarity, title, and power dynamics; a true application of Gall's Law and paradox.
I read Tara Brabazon AM paper in symbolic logic with the desire for cross-cultural application to our shared humanity; the resonance is profound. In reading this work, what is underscored is that without appropriate rigour and open competition, we arc toward a "Fascinating Fascism", as described by Susan Sontag in 1975. In a desire for politeness or efficiency, have we negated the threat of knowledge and wisdom loss, as well as the real threats related to monoculture and evolution? Are we trending toward homogeneity and susceptibility to destruction, metaphorically like a farmer's crop, which may not have the genetic diversity to evolve to external threat? Or the centralization of the crop, which presents a risk with regard to adverse conditions and adaptability? Have we dispersed knowledge and power effectively to change course on regression? Is defending our diverse talent and expertise critical to changing the regression in life expectancy we are seeing statistically?
For humanity and for our evolution, I contend that power distribution/dispersement and democracy are the solution, while respecting distinction. Eric Kraan, I am curious about your perspective related to the Spinozan "fickle multitudes" and drift toward monoculture. Michael Karlin, I am curious about your perspective on risk management and dispersement, as you shared related to civil service and digital space. Florence Chee, how within the space of digital culture and ethics do we maintain enough diversity and competition to evolve and grow, while avoiding the opportunities of a digital ghetto or monoculture? Emily M. Serger, what are the applications within the public health spaces?
Dr. Tara Brabazon AM, I see this as a real call to arms for those advocating for true democracy in the face of a form of fascism. I'm thankful for continuing discussions in community with all of you. Special thanks regarding concepts of applied asymmetric conflict, education, and competition recently with Matt Young, Todd R. Otten, M.D., Calvin Chrustie LLMEvan TornerJuliet Kavanaugh
Professor of Cultural Studies - Flinders University /
Trustee - Graduate Women Manawatū
Our universities are troubled. But what are the consequences of this loss of purpose on our higher degrees? Let's consider the Uberfication of the Doctorate. The PhD is our last stand for standards and quality assurance in our universities. Together - let's make this last stand meaningful. Thanks to all my mates and students for their support of my research. Platinum Open Access. Thanks to the CJESS https://lnkd.in/gd98i867