By Julia K. Stronks. In June, the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges said that all states must recognize the fundamental right of marriage for both straight and gay and lesbian couples. Though the decision was cause for rejoicing among many, myself included, it has raised concerns for faith-based colleges and universities that define themselves according to worldviews that reject homosexuality. Read more...
By Colleen Flaherty. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson are in, Ronald Reagan is no longer “bellicose,” and the Gilded Age is a little shinier — at least as the far as the new Advanced Placement U.S. History Framework is concerned. In response to criticism that a previous framework portrayed American history in too negative a light, with too little emphasis on American exceptionalism, the College Board on Thursday released an amended framework for the AP U.S. History curriculum, or “APUSH.” Read more...
Par Philippe Flamand. Le plan PME annoncé mardi 9 juin 2015 par le Premier ministre Manuel Valls comporte un volet formation qui s’inscrit dans le droit fil des deux plans « formations prioritaires » mis en œuvre en 2013 (30 000 formations annoncées) et en 2014 avec un succès relatif, « environ deux tiers des bénéficiaires du plan 2014 (ayant) trouvé un emploi six mois après la fin de leur formation et parmi eux les trois quarts (ayant) accédé à un emploi durable » affirme le gouvernement. Voir l'article...
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) have produced their latest BRICS rankings of the developing economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The methodology represents a significant departure from QS’s world rankings. More...
By Jen T. Kwok (NTEU National Office). ‘If the prophets of the demise of the nation-state are right, we should be thinking about making international decision making itself more democratic, open and transparent.’
– Sir Anthony Mason, former High Court Chief Justice
Mason made this statement on 4 March 1998 to the Melbourne Convention at the height of international debates about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). In that speech, he extensively critiqued Australia’s treaty-making process, saying:
‘But at the end of the day it is possible that the terms will be set in concrete leaving Australia with very limited choices to make, the effective choices having been made by Treasury and Federal Cabinet during the course of the unpublished negotiations.’
The MAI was another agreement negotiated in secret; another plurilateral agreement that was the worst the world had ‘never seen’. The Agreement was comprehensive in breadth. It also contained clauses that would enable corporations to sue nation-states where new investment conditions resulted in loss of profit, as well as providing access to secret arbitration tribunals as the arena for the recovery of costs. Sound familiar?
In 1998, the anti-globalisation protesters won. By October, the host nation France announced it could not support the Agreement, effectively ending negotiations. In a little over a year, anti-globalisation groups would coalesce in the ‘Battle for Seattle’ bringing together tens of thousands of civil society protestors, trade unionists and environmentalists. The victory should have been the end of this story. But if anti-globalisation activists won then, why does the MAI sound so similar to some of the bilateral and plurilateral agreements being negotiated now and including the Australian Government. More...
By . In the nearly 50 years since its creation, about 80 million American children have watched Sesame Street. For many Americans, Jim Henson’s Muppets are iconic cultural figures that trigger childhood nostalgia. More...
The Open Data Institute (ODI) is looking for ideas demonstrating the impact of open data. Successful projects will receive funding up to 7,000 British pounds and full support to help maximise their project. More...
By Jane Marshall. University students will not have to pay more for their studies in the 2015-16 academic year in spite of an inspectors’ proposal for a substantial rise in fees.
As well as welcoming the fees freeze, students’ representatives have given a qualified welcome to recommendations for a national plan to improve students’ living and studying conditions.
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, higher education and research minister, and Thierry Mandon, the new state secretary for higher education and research, announced that annual enrolment fees for national degree courses in public institutions of higher education would remain unchanged at €184 (US$203) for a licence (bachelor level); €256 for a masters; €391 for a doctorate; and €610 for an engineering degree. Read more...
By Tracy Mitrano. It was a warm, spring night in late May when my father offered to teach me how to play golf. Mom cleared off the table while Dad put his clubs in the car. Genesse Valley Park was only a mile from our house and we were there in minutes. Dad put on his shoes, paid the starter and we approached the first tee. Read more...By Tracy Mitrano. Ten years ago when I first started teaching culture, law and policy of the Internet, I assigned Friedman’s The World is Flat. One of the attractions of this book was the wide-angle historical lens he offered as a framework into which to situate the Internet. Read more.../https%3A%2F%2Fprofilepics.canalblog.com%2Fprofilepics%2F1%2F0%2F1076071.jpg)
