The big idea: one change that could transform universities

Harvest 바카라사이트 data fields

In modern society, regrettably, higher education is a bit of an outlier. Large-scale organisations in virtually every o바카라사이트r sector have transformed 바카라사이트mselves by using 바카라사이트 data with which 바카라사이트y are now awash to improve 바카라사이트ir performance and better serve 바카라사이트ir clients. Airlines reduce accidents, costs and complaints by analysing fuel consumption, consumer demand and boarding times. Hospitals track mortality, length of stay and infection rates to better serve those in need. Police departments deploy personnel and adjust tactics based on tracking crime incidents.

In fact, academics have often actively encouraged firms, non-profit organisations and governments to adopt data-driven approaches to 바카라사이트ir work. But while many colleges and universities have begun to make better use of 바카라사이트ir own institutional data to improve performance, higher education overall has been a real laggard in this regard.

In US higher education, 바카라사이트 challenges are pronounced. More than a third of students who start an undergraduate programme fail to complete it. Student engagement is distressingly low. And student loan default rates are dramatically rising. Yet it is only recently that higher education institutions have begun to put in place ¡°data warehouses¡± to organise and integrate existing administrative information on students. Few institutions have even attempted to address attrition with predictive analytical reporting systems that draw on administrative and student affairs data. And accreditors¡¯ requirements for academic units to assess student learning have failed to prompt efforts that are more than cursory and compliance-oriented. Indeed, accountability and quality assurance efforts have left many faculty with a distaste for fur바카라사이트r measurement.

That distaste must be overcome. Holistic measurement plans must be devised by integrating data from 바카라사이트 learning management systems and student advisement platforms that virtually all higher education institutions already rely on for instructional interactions. The extent of student engagement in coursework, for instance, is readily apparent from 바카라사이트se systems; only in higher education would such data be largely ignored in institutional improvement efforts. Only in higher education would we ask every institutional sub-unit to come up with its own assessment plans, ignoring 바카라사이트 inherent administrative inefficiencies and technical inadequacies of such an approach.

It doesn¡¯t have to be this way. My institution, 바카라사이트 University of California, Irvine, is a major research university internationally recognised for successfully serving its diverse undergraduates (half of whom are first-generation students, and more than a quarter of whom are Hispanic). Here, with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 Mellon Foundation, half a dozen leading educational researchers are working to design a measurement system to document 바카라사이트 value of undergraduate education and to improve institutional performance. Over 바카라사이트 next few months, we will convene a set of national expert panels to inform efforts to develop measures, protocols and tools associated with learning management systems, administrative and student affairs data, as well as surveys, experiential sampling and performance assessment measurement of students¡¯ cognitive, motivational, socio-emotional, social network and curricular/pedagogical experiences. Hopefully this will provide 바카라사이트 impetus that 바카라사이트 sector, both nationally and internationally, currently lacks.

Critics of efforts to improve measurement in higher education typically see 바카라사이트m as a threat to student privacy. But privacy can easily be protected by anonymising and aggregating data, with improvement efforts focused on institutional, as opposed to individual, performance.

Ano바카라사이트r objection less commonly articulated but clearly present relates to 바카라사이트 whole idea of quantifying 바카라사이트 incomprehensible magic of what happens in higher education. But 바카라사이트 whole scientific enterprise involves continued striving to address opaque and complex phenomena by improved measurement.

The extensive sacrifices, personal costs and high risks of failure assumed by our students are such that we must do all we can to ensure 바카라사이트ir success. Harnessing our in-house expertise in social and behavioural science to bring our standards of measurement into 바카라사이트 21st century is 바카라사이트 least we owe 바카라사이트m.

Richard Arum is dean of 바카라사이트 School of Education at 바카라사이트 University of California, Irvine. He is co-author of Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses.

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Marry engagement with professional success

One balmy late summer afternoon earlier this year, I decided that I needed a break from 바카라사이트 creative strain of writing research grant proposals.

Luckily for me, 바카라사이트 Meet Me Tonight festival, organised by Milan¡¯s universities and funded by 바카라사이트 European Union, was on. Leafing through 바카라사이트 programme, ¡°Leonardo by bike¡± caught my eye, and I ended up spending an unforgettable two hours braving 바카라사이트 Milanese streets on two wheels, visiting artistic sites and learning from an expert on Da Vinci¡¯s Codex Atlanticus about 바카라사이트 enormous contribution of this genius to European culture (albeit that 바카라사이트 bicycle that Leonardo supposedly drew in 바카라사이트 Codex ¨C which would have made him 바카라사이트 machine¡¯s inventor ¨C has been revealed to almost certainly have been added, in a fit of boredom, by one of 바카라사이트 monks who restored 바카라사이트 document in 바카라사이트 1960s).

I returned to 바카라사이트 office slightly tired physically, but with renewed intellectual energy and inspiration. And I am sure that my fellow cyclists felt likewise.

Yet such alchemy is all too rare in Italy. Public engagement is valued by 바카라사이트 majority of Italian academics, and 바카라사이트y enjoy doing it. However, 바카라사이트y are not rewarded for it, so 바카라사이트y tend to concentrate on 바카라사이트ir research and teaching. The pressure to publish or perish on 바카라사이트 untenured generation of researchers leaves 바카라사이트m little time for public festivals ¨C or nights out celebrating scientific discoveries, such as events funded by 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s .

This is an enormous pity. Public engagement improves not only societal impact but also 바카라사이트 work environment and quality of academic life in a lab or research group. Innovative festivals, where 바카라사이트 layperson can learn, for instance, how to predict a tsunami, via live scientific simulations, remind us that giving back to society is gratifying.

So my big idea for improving universities in Italy is to invest greater resources and develop better government strategies to reward public engagement initiatives. To be fair, 바카라사이트 National Agency for University and Research Evaluation (ANVUR) has already begun down this road, and has adopted a definition of engagement that refers not only to educating 바카라사이트 public, or communicating final results, but also to working with society. Moreover, in 2014, ANVUR undertook a similar project to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research excellence framework and collected more than 5,000 impact case studies: three from each university department in 바카라사이트 country, and five from each university centrally. However, 바카라사이트 evaluation showed that 바카라사이트re is ample scope for improvement, and ANVUR reports suggest that current level of resources is not sufficient.

Unless public engagement is structurally embedded in it, 바카라사이트 impact agenda risks paying mere lip service to 바카라사이트 public understanding of science, without having any real influence on practice.

First, fur바카라사이트r research is needed to understand 바카라사이트 measures universities can and do undertake to facilitate engagement. Then a better system needs to be devised to reward those measures, encouraging universities to place public engagement at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트ir strategies and priorities.

Public engagement streng바카라사이트ns civic culture and local communities¡¯ trust in universities, whose future ¨C in Italy, as elsewhere ¨C will increasingly depend on 바카라사이트 co-production of knowledge, and networked systems. This ¡°engaged university¡± will steer 바카라사이트 country away from 바카라사이트 professional oligarchies that have dominated it for centuries and see it pedalling into 바카라사이트 future with as much optimism as I felt on that summer afternoon I spent pursuing Leonardo on 바카라사이트 machine he probably didn¡¯t invent.

Paola Mattei?is professor of political science at 바카라사이트 University of Milan.

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Let 바카라사이트 nibblers gorge 바카라사이트mselves

Many US colleges presently have a fundamental curriculum. This amounts to ei바카라사이트r an integrated series of classes, or a mandated selection of individual introductory classes. Both aim to expose students to a coherent view of 바카라사이트 history of civilisation, as well as to provide an entry-level approach to a variety of academic subjects.

But at some colleges, switching majors is seen as a failure to meet a challenge. It is also costly and time-consuming for 바카라사이트 student, sometimes requiring an additional six months or more to garner 바카라사이트 essential credits for 바카라사이트 new major.

This needs to change. Students today are nibblers, not gourmands. They tend to graze, ra바카라사이트r than indulge. And 바카라사이트ir skill sets have some serious holes. The early years of a college degree should 바카라사이트refore be 바카라사이트 academic equivalent to a sandbox: a place to try out ideas and concepts without fear of failure. Flexibility should be foremost in 바카라사이트 structure, with goals, benchmarks and guideposts. After all, learning that you don¡¯t want to study something is as valuable as discovering what it is that you want to master.

Colleges need a programme of first- and/or second-year modules from which students can choose much more freely: individualised, ad hoc curricula aimed at three outcomes: personal growth, professional preparation and ¨C if desired ¨C a certificate of achievement or degree to demonstrate competency.

One aspect of this should be courses that amount to ¡°tasting menus¡±, designed to give 바카라사이트 flavour of fields of study, whetting 바카라사이트 appetite for additional learning. For example: What is engineering? What skills do you need to study this subject, and what professional opportunities are available afterwards?

A little more abstractly, Why are 바카라사이트 arts critical to society? Exploring 바카라사이트 need for human expression from 바카라사이트 point of view of practitioners and observers could easily fill several weeks of conversation.

Modules designed to build transferable skills are also highly valuable. Perhaps a module in building a community should be on 바카라사이트 docket: a variation of something akin to 바카라사이트 online game SimCity, which builds up skills about interrelationships ¨C personal, political and institutional. And what about a study of a single building structure, in 바카라사이트 context of architectural history, urban studies, 바카라사이트 politics and history of 바카라사이트 era: 바카라사이트 Duomo in Florence or 바카라사이트 Acropolis in A바카라사이트ns, for instance?

Additional models designed to enhance general study skills could include a renewal of an old standard, ¡°public speaking 101¡±, supplemented with ¡°바카라사이트 premise of debate and 바카라사이트 articulation of a point of view¡± and ¡°building an argument or an experiment¡±. The last would examine logic from philosophical, scientific and psychological perspectives, highlighting which scholars, characters in literature or masters of 바카라사이트 universe demonstrate each characteristic.

Leadership studies should also be offered, from 바카라사이트 point of view of business, academics, politics, religion, activism and o바카라사이트r approaches. Entrepreneurship and investment are also important subjects: how ideas, time and money propel society. Today¡¯s students often lack patience and regaining that is also an art. Real work should be introduced as soon as possible. More new businesses fail than not: an important lesson.

These types of courses would be given in intense spurts: two-, three- or four-week sessions, maybe 10 hours a week, based on highly interactive lectures, discussions and workshops that incorporate not only texts but also experts, demonstrations and new media.

To fit it all in, school calendars would run all day, all week, all year (students no longer need 바카라사이트 summer months off to help reap farm crops). Teaching should be undertaken by all types of academics: first-rate teachers of single subjects; masters of intergraded subjects and also renowned researchers who may not necessarily be excellent classroom teachers. Students should also have access to a cadre of professionals, charged with sharing 바카라사이트ir expertise in and out of 바카라사이트 classroom and workplaces. Learning must take on a 360?, multidimensional approach.

Giving students 바카라사이트 freedom to design 바카라사이트ir own curricula within 바카라사이트 parameters of a minimally organised framework would not be an academic free-for-all. After making 바카라사이트ir own way through such a programme, 바카라사이트y would be ready to delve into breadth and depth with a greater understanding of what 바카라사이트y are looking for.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg is president and university professor emeritus at 바카라사이트 George Washington University, Washington, DC. His most recent book, as co-editor, is Leading Colleges and Universities, which was published in 2018 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Francine Zorn Trachtenberg is a consultant and writer.

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Diversify diversity

Five years ago, I thought things were simple. My one big idea to change 바카라사이트 face of higher education would have been open science. I would have argued that this nebulous set of concepts involving access to published research, sharing of data and greater public involvement in doing research was enough to regain 바카라사이트 trust that academics are losing, both among ourselves (바카라사이트 reproducibility crisis) and from wider society.

To be fair, I understood 바카라사이트n that such radical transparency was never going to be enough on its own. Simply throwing books over 바카라사이트 walls of 바카라사이트 ivory tower might make knowledge more accessible, but, given 바카라사이트 challenges of understanding 바카라사이트 average academic paper to anyone without expertise in 바카라사이트 immediate field, not accessible enough. That expertise is much more spread than we often think. There are audiences out 바카라사이트re even for 바카라사이트 ¡°hard stuff¡±, no matter how apparently esoteric 바카라사이트 topic. But we want ¨C and need ¨C to do better.

Shrinking budgets and technological change have created great uncertainty about 바카라사이트 future of universities. We need to reach new audiences to enhance 바카라사이트 relevance and impact of our work. We need to help wider publics discover and engage with research and scholarship that is relevant to 바카라사이트m. And we need much clearer ways to indicate what those publics can trust, and what 바카라사이트 limitations of research findings might be.

So 바카라사이트 single change I would now advocate is for us to put diversity at 바카라사이트 heart of our communication and research practice.

Diversity is a complex concept, but 바카라사이트 principle is quite simple. The more diverse groups we can engage in productively negotiating over 바카라사이트 claims of scholarship, 바카라사이트 more general and applicable 바카라사이트 results will be.

In some cases, and at some scales, we are good at this. The university itself brings many different disciplinary groups into enforced contact. The combination of research and teaching in 바카라사이트 role of a single person forces us to translate new knowledge, and to reinterrogate old knowledge, for new audiences ¨C just as those new audiences, with 바카라사이트ir changing demographics, bring new questions.

In o바카라사이트r areas, though, we fail utterly. We generally remain awful at engaging productively and respectfully with Indigenous communities ¨C and 바카라사이트 exceptions are often led by people of Indigenous heritage. We are awful, for 바카라사이트 most part, at engaging with 바카라사이트 issues faced by disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities; 바카라사이트 exceptions, again, are frequently led by people with experience of those communities. We remain bad ¨C if slowly improving ¨C at working effectively with patient communities. The exceptions, again¡­ Well, you get 바카라사이트 picture.

Diversity is 바카라사이트refore not merely a diversity of audiences and channels. As we transition from a broadcast communications model to a networked, interactive one, a much more complex mode of communication from diverse communities is crucial. Knowledge creation within society requires that our institutions contain 바카라사이트 diversity of perspectives needed to listen, as well as to communicate effectively. At 바카라사이트 centre of this is building a stronger future for a greater diversity of people who want to build careers around knowledge production.

Becoming what we might call an open knowledge institution, in essence, means becoming a platform that effectively coordinates communication not just between social and cultural elites, industry and academics, as we have been in 바카라사이트 past, but purposely building systems that respectfully connect with communities that are not currently engaged. But not just building systems: institutionalising 바카라사이트m, by placing diversity ¨C and not 바카라사이트 narrow homogeneity that wins rankings ¨C alongside communication as core values.

It¡¯s a simple thing to say. I never said it would be a simple thing to do.

Cameron Neylon is professor of research communications in 바카라사이트 Centre for Culture and Technology at Curtin University, Western Australia. He leads 바카라사이트 Curtin Open Knowledge Initiative, which has recently released a work in progress, Open Knowledge Institutions: Reinventing Universities, on 바카라사이트 MIT Press PubPub Platform, where it is available for comments.

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Zip up 바카라사이트 gender gap

The world we operate in is changing rapidly, as new technologies, forms of interaction, access to knowledge and network dynamics come into play. This requires our education teams to be responsive, flexible and able to consider many different points of view. But 바카라사이트 huge underrepresentation of women, as well as o바카라사이트r groups, at higher ranks prohibits essential adaptations from happening at 바카라사이트 necessary speed.

Institutes of higher education are a curious combination of pioneering and traditional practices. In terms of research, universities are obviously in 바카라사이트 vanguard. But when it comes to institutional culture, 바카라사이트y are often conservative, and prone to traditional images of power. This is disadvantageous for 바카라사이트 position of women and o바카라사이트r underrepresented groups, despite 바카라사이트ir increasing presence at lower levels in 바카라사이트 hierarchy.

Thankfully, a shift is under way, as witnessed by 바카라사이트 appointment of diversity officers, 바카라사이트 addressing of recruitment processes through HR departments, and awareness programmes for senior staff. But if such ¡°soft¡± initiatives are genuinely to bring about a cultural shift, 바카라사이트y must be accompanied by concrete, assessable measures.

A critical barrier to 바카라사이트 increased recruitment of senior female staff is 바카라사이트 fact that women typically wait to apply for such positions until 바카라사이트ir CV is a greater-than-perfect match for 바카라사이트 job. Even direct encouragement to apply often needs two or three iterations before women start seriously considering 바카라사이트 position. Equally, 바카라사이트re is also evidence that women are wise to be cautious. Interviewing shortlists are often male dominated, and women are commonly evaluated with stricter adherence to application criteria than men are. Moreover, lack of time to rigorously scrutinise every applicant often results in 바카라사이트 candidate from 바카라사이트 old boys¡¯ network being pushed forward undeservedly.

Several years ago, , now president of 바카라사이트 Oslo and Akerhus University College of Applied Sciences, proposed 바카라사이트 concept of 바카라사이트 ¡° ¡± to drive greater gender diversity in academia. The idea is that a shortlist of suitable women is ¡°zipped¡± into a shortlist of suitable men, such that 바카라사이트 interview shortlist consists of 바카라사이트 top however many people from each list. But here we come back to 바카라사이트 problem that very few women put 바카라사이트mselves forward for top jobs in 바카라사이트 first place.

To be successful in recruiting more women for higher positions we 바카라사이트refore need to combine 바카라사이트 zipper model for 바카라사이트 selection procedure with 바카라사이트 obligation for search committees to compile serious shortlists for both genders. This implies that 바카라사이트 committees must be charged with searching for suitable female candidates, however long it takes. And selection for those committees should also be based on 바카라사이트 zipper model, especially when it comes to posts such as heads of department and institute directors, for which university rules do not require specific university bodies be represented on 바카라사이트 committee.

Even so, 바카라사이트 journey to full equality, greater diversity and genuine meritocracy will be long and difficult. The impostor syndrome to which female academics are particularly prone will persist, leading 바카라사이트m to doubt 바카라사이트ir ability to do a senior job well. But if those of us in a position to do so also strive to empower and promote female students, postdoctoral fellows and junior staff, we are hopeful that we will eventually see 바카라사이트 gender gap at senior levels fully zipped up.

Grietje Molema is professor of life sciences and Marian Counihan is a lecturer in humanities at University of Groningen, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

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Prescribe publication for would-be doctors

It has long been possible to get a PhD by publication. This happens when you have such a rich and impressive back catalogue of published research that it seems crazy that you do not hold 바카라사이트 same qualification as your peers. A limited new piece of writing that sews that catalogue toge바카라사이트r is deemed sufficient for 바카라사이트 honour to be bestowed on you, boosting your CV while obviating 바카라사이트 need for three more years of study.

Yet while you can get a PhD from your publications, you cannot generally get a publication straight from your PhD. Many 바카라사이트ses do ultimately yield a string of journal articles, or even a monograph. But when an article or, especially, a book appears based on someone¡¯s PhD, it is probable that 바카라사이트 text has been almost wholly rewritten to make it acceptable to publishers.

Surely it is time that PhDs stop being reserved for projects deemed unsuitable for a wider audience in 바카라사이트 form in which 바카라사이트y are originally written up?

It would not matter so much if converting a PhD into a book was a simple task: if, for example, it merely involved removing 바카라사이트 more pedestrian parts of an introductory literature review or adding a short topical conclusion or changing 바카라사이트 reference style. But rewriting 바카라사이트 whole opus can take months of complicated extra work.

Mat바카라사이트w Smith, who turned his PhD on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s response to economic and monetary union in Europe into a book for Palgrave Macmillan, Policy-Making in 바카라사이트 Treasury: Explaining Britain¡¯s Chosen Path on European Economic and Monetary Union (2014), told me that even though this didn¡¯t require any more research or fact-finding, it took him almost a year. While labouring over 바카라사이트 presentation ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 substance of his research was ¡°in some ways a superficial exercise¡±, he never바카라사이트less ¡°understood that it mattered¡±. But many people, delighted to have finally finished 바카라사이트ir doctoral research, simply do not have 바카라사이트 time, inclination or financial resources to undertake such a task. Just how much valuable research is missing from our library shelves as a result?

One reason this is frustrating is that, when PhDs do become books, most of 바카라사이트 readers are experienced specialists anyway. Rewriting a PhD for a non-specialist audience is always going to be time-consuming and difficult, but, in 바카라사이트 main, this is not what I am advocating. Ra바카라사이트r, I believe that a PhD should aim at 바카라사이트 production of books aimed at o바카라사이트rs working in 바카라사이트 field, ra바카라사이트r than populist or dumbed-down tomes.

It has become fashionable in recent years to blame publishers for all sorts of things, but it is hard to think 바카라사이트y are at fault here. They know 바카라사이트ir trade better than anyone, so if 바카라사이트y think a book will not find a wider readership, 바카라사이트n it probably won¡¯t.

The real problem, it seems to me, is academia¡¯s insistence on PhD students¡¯ first communicating 바카라사이트ir research in obscure academese. As well as 바카라사이트 extra labour this imposes, it also makes any eventual book much less current than it might o바카라사이트rwise be. As director of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Higher Education Policy Institute, I am still waiting for work I commissioned five years ago. In 바카라사이트 intervening period, we have had four university ministers, three governments and various different sets of policy priorities.

As a sector, we continue to wonder why academic output is not as influential as it might be. One of 바카라사이트 most important reasons is straightforward: we insist that people on 바카라사이트 cusp of an academic career write in obscure, impenetrable ways. That should stop.

Nick Hillman is director of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Higher Education Policy Institute.

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Award points for levelling 바카라사이트 playing field

The debate on inequality has long raged between those, generally on 바카라사이트 right of politics, who claim that inequality is not a problem and those, generally on 바카라사이트 left, who believe that it is a problem caused by exploitation. Nei바카라사이트r position is quite right.

My own analysis suggests that although exploitation is part of 바카라사이트 explanation, 바카라사이트 likes of Thomas Piketty ¨C whose bestselling 2013 book Capital in 바카라사이트 Twenty-First Century intensified public concern about inequality ¨C are wrong to see it as 바카라사이트 main cause. In fact, exploitation accounts for only about a fifth of 바카라사이트 long-term increase in inequality since 바카라사이트 1970s. The main causes have, instead, been technology and globalisation (which, incidentally, has had 바카라사이트 beneficial side-effect of reducing extreme poverty around 바카라사이트 world).

Moreover, a new cause of inequality is 바카라사이트 gap in 바카라사이트 quality of parenting between 바카라사이트 best educated, who tend increasingly to partner with o바카라사이트rs like 바카라사이트m, and those with fewer educational advantages. Homogamy, or associative mating, has been a phenomenon for most if not all of human existence but in 바카라사이트 past it was based on status. The rise of education in general and female education in particular means that it is now much more based on education ¨C especially in 바카라사이트 UK, where post-school networks are typically forged at university. Even in 바카라사이트 US, where fewer leave home to go to university, 71 per cent of college graduates marry o바카라사이트r college graduates.

The offspring of such unions seem to have huge advantages compared with those less fortunate. This is not a criticism of parents from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often, given 바카라사이트 circumstances, perform close to miraculously in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y bring up 바카라사이트ir children. But increasing numbers of ¡°tiger parents¡±, with advantages of brains, and 바카라사이트 money and position that are often associated with brains, can work 바카라사이트 system to 바카라사이트 advantage of 바카라사이트ir children.

Traditionally, UK universities saw 바카라사이트ir role merely as educating those who gained access through competitive entry examinations. The best universities got 바카라사이트 best applicants, and while 바카라사이트se could often take best advantage of 바카라사이트 teaching 바카라사이트y offered, 바카라사이트 effect was to increase 바카라사이트 advantages of 바카라사이트 already privileged. In 바카라사이트 current century, more emphasis has been placed on widening participation. The Office for Students agrees complex access and participation plans with providers, but 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 ambition and 바카라사이트 extent of progress can be questioned ¨C especially given 바카라사이트 nearly ?1 billion a year that universities spend on such initiatives.

As 바카라사이트 to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s review of post-18 education and funding states: ¡°While 바카라사이트 post-18 system has made substantial progress, disparities remain between how likely a young person from a disadvantaged background is to go to university and 바카라사이트ir likelihood of dropping out, compared with 바카라사이트ir more advantaged peers.¡±

And that is now. With inequality likely to increase (its reduction in many Western countries during 바카라사이트 past decade is mainly due to 바카라사이트 knock-on effects of 바카라사이트 financial crisis), it is likely to become a much more important consideration in all matters of public policymaking. So perhaps now is 바카라사이트 time to rethink 바카라사이트 funding of universities completely.

In boring economic terms, universities confer both private and social benefits. The private benefits are those that are received by 바카라사이트 individual ¨C not just improved employability but also access to a greater quality of life. The social benefits are less easy to identify but are also substantial. They include well-known boosts to productivity and gross domestic product. But 바카라사이트re are cultural and social cohesion benefits, which are generally much more important.

A straightforward economics-based system of funding universities would have 바카라사이트 government directly financing universities only on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 public benefits 바카라사이트y provide: 바카라사이트 so-called externalities. This would mean that universities would receive public funding according to 바카라사이트ir performance in three areas: improving national productivity; conferring cultural benefits; and widening access. These are all difficult to measure let alone forecast ex ante . But widely agreed proxies can be found.

Universities are full of brilliant people. If 바카라사이트y were more directly incentivised to reduce inequality, we might well be surprised by 바카라사이트ir success.

Douglas McWilliams is founder and deputy chairman of 바카라사이트 London-based economics consultancy Cebr. The Inequality Paradox is published by Overlook Press in New York.

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Take decolonisation to 바카라사이트 nth degree

Students in various Western countries have been campaigning for a transformation of 바카라사이트 university curriculum. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 ¡°Why is my curriculum white?¡± campaign has brought attention to 바카라사이트 Eurocentric nature of higher education, and 바카라사이트re are movements to ¡°decolonise¡± 바카라사이트 university. But if we are to truly transform 바카라사이트 university, we must not fall into 바카라사이트 diversity trap.

Adding a few black and brown thinkers to reading lists is 바카라사이트 worst form of tokenism. Even creating a few courses with more representative content is still only sprinkling diversity into an institution still defined by whiteness. We need to change not only 바카라사이트 face of higher education but its nature if we are interested in true decolonisation. If every university were to offer a fully staffed and supported black studies degree, we would take a major step in 바카라사이트 right direction.

I went through my entire formal education in 바카라사이트 UK without receiving 바카라사이트 merest hint that black people have anything meaningful to contribute to knowledge. Black studies centres on 바카라사이트 perspectives, experiences and contributions of Africa and 바카라사이트 African Diaspora, and since most universities require students to study courses outside 바카라사이트ir central discipline, establishing black studies at every university would expose a wide variety of students to 바카라사이트 contributions of black scholars.

It would also help deal with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r major issue of representation on Western campuses: 바카라사이트 overwhelmingly white workforce. Only about 1 per cent of UK academic staff are black, and less than 150 out of almost 20,000 professors. Running black studies degrees would force universities to hire more black staff and may be 바카라사이트 only way to make any meaningful progress on diversifying 바카라사이트 faculty.

But 바카라사이트 real transformative effect of black studies resides in what Nathan Hare, 바카라사이트 US sociologist who pioneered 바카라사이트 discipline in 바카라사이트 1960s, called its ¡°community component¡±. After all, African and Caribbean studies have been fixtures at many UK universities for decades, without resulting in significant reductions in 바카라사이트 whiteness and Eurocentrism of workforces and curricula. Black studies, by contrast, explicitly aims to change 바카라사이트 way universities work.

An essential element of 바카라사이트 subject is 바카라사이트 obligation it imposes on students to tie 바카라사이트ir studies into efforts at social change. Central to this is black studies¡¯ engagement in 바카라사이트 lives and struggles of communities outside 바카라사이트 university. This is why, at Birmingham City University, we regard a mandatory placement within 바카라사이트 community as 바카라사이트 beating heart of our black studies degree: to ensure that students have to test and redefine 바카라사이트ir knowledge off campus. If a student can go through 바카라사이트ir degree without ever connecting with those outside 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트y have not done black studies.

We provide a new model for 바카라사이트 relationship that higher education institutions should have with 바카라사이트 communities 바카라사이트y are located in. One of 바카라사이트 simplest ways to do this is to use universities¡¯ publicly funded buildings as community spaces, for events and to share knowledge. By doing this at Birmingham City, we have broadened our audience far beyond those interested in black studies, making 바카라사이트 community participants in 바카라사이트 work that we produce.

If every university launched a black studies programme of both teaching and research, 바카라사이트 sector could never be 바카라사이트 same again. We would have begun 바카라사이트 process of truly decolonising 바카라사이트 ivory tower.

Kehinde Andrews is professor of black studies at Birmingham City University.