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By Beverley Head. University technology courses are caught in a vice with free online courses squeezing from the left and the government’s planned higher education changes from the right.  While the “demand driven” tertiary education model announced in the federal budget means universities can accept unlimited numbers of students and charge what they want, information and communication technology (ICT) courses are in a bind.  The budget’s extension of tuition subsidies to people studying with registered private providers, coupled with a growing range of free or inexpensive massive open online courses (MOOCs) by reputable providers, means that Australian universities are expecting unprecedented competition and don’t expect to be able to hike ICT course fees. More...

By Han Zhang. With English-language education at home and new schools abroad, Japan seeks a leadership role. Japan has been an Asian pioneer in learning from the West since the Meiji Restoration. Every now and then, though, the effort has been questioned: Why should Japan imitate others? Today’s Japan answers that question with some assurance: communication is a two-way street.
While Japan has adopted many Western ways, from culinary skills to schools of philosophy, it has traditionally struggled when it comes to teaching its people to speak English. Now, however, its institutions are trying some new innovations. This April, for instance, Japan’s education ministry announced that one of its divisions would carry out a four-month trial in which it would conduct its meetings in English, to see if that improves its English skills. More...

By George Fallis. We hear a lot about high tuition fees and how they have been rising. In Ontario today, the average tuition and compulsory fees for an arts degree are $6,657 and these fees have almost tripled over the past 20 years.  The standard view is that university is becoming less affordable and that these high fees risk becoming an insurmountable barrier for students from low-income families.  In fact, the opposite is true. Over the last 20 years, university has become more affordable for all students. Meanwhile, tuition for low-income students has dropped to especially low, even negative, levels. More...

By Crawford Kilian. Last spring the board agreed to cut several programs altogether. This caused considerable anger and bitterness, especially since the recommendations for the cuts had been made by a handful of administrators without consulting the university senate. Recently, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the board's failure to consult with the senate was a breach of the University Act. This upset the board members, who may yet appeal the decision. More...

By Catherine Rampell. Climbing walls, Jacuzzis, exotic chefs. There are lots of (misguided) explanations for skyrocketing tuition costs at public colleges and universities, which educate about three-quarters of America’s postsecondary students. Of course, very few schools actually offer any of these country-club-like amenities, despite the attention and mockery they’ve earned in the press. So on to the latest scapegoat: greedy executives, or so suggests the coverage of two recent reports about highly paid college presidents. More...

By John Gormley. The ending was tumultuous and predictable for University of Saskatchewan president Ilene Busch-Vishniac, fired less than two years into a five-year appointment.  And it should cause a rethinking of the old proverb that success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. This failure is owned by more than one person.  At first blush, Busch-Vishniac's end came after her academic vice-president wrongfully fired a dissident dean who had publicly opposed the university's TransformUS program. More...

By Ralph Waldo Emerson. The first and the most important thing that Teachers Teaching Online can do for you is share the true spirit of professional development through creativity, inspiration and natural communication online.
Much is written about technology, yet most of it utilises the kind of tech-speak that fails to engage us on deeper levels. I am thrilled to say that the line-up of presenters for Jason R. Levine’s Teachers Teaching Online (TTO) MOOC are amongst the most inspirational people I’ve met online through my own professional development.  Anyone who follows my articles, has seen my presentations, or even follows me on Facebook will already know how much I admire the professionals being featured in this cutting-edge line up.
If, on the other hand,  this is all new to you, it will be mind-blowing to say the least. Many people ask me about online teaching on a daily basis. Well, the MOOC has everything to need to know from top experts in the field. More...

Le décret instaurant une nouvelle prime pour les fonctionnaires, qui se substitue à la controversée prime de fonctions et de résultats (PFR), a été publié le 22 mai au Journal officiel. Le régime indemnitaire tenant compte “des fonctions, des sujétions, de l’expertise et de l’engagement professionnel” entrera en vigueur le 1^er juin.
Le nouveau régime indemnitaire “tend à valoriser principalement l’exercice des fonctions via la création d’une indemnité principale, versée mensuellement”. C’est ce que précise le décret publié jeudi 22 mai au Journal officiel et portant création “d’un régime indemnitaire tenant compte des fonctions, des sujétions, de l’expertise et de l’engagement professionnel dans la fonction publique de l’État”.
Le dispositif se substitue à la prime de fonctions et de résultats (PFR), instaurée sous le mandat de Nicolas Sarkozy et qui a connu quelques ratés. Voir l'article...