A textbook case …
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 23rd, 2008
Should students be required to purchase textbooks authored by their instructors? Does it matter whether the textbook is “self-published” or commercially published? These questions are currently being debated at many universities (see here for example).
For trade books (the books found in bookshops), self-publishing is known as “vanity” publishing because the only people who do it […]
Ethical research: time to take an oath?
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 23rd, 2008
Macquarie University is currently in the midst of a large project to develop an ethical framework for the university.
Thus, it is apposite to note that the University of Toronto is now asking medical researchers to take an oath that says: “I promise never to allow financial gain, competitiveness or ambition to cloud my judgment […]
Assessing the benefits of Gmail
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 21st, 2008
In a follow up to my earlier earlier blog on Gmail, the University of Auckland has now moved students and staff who wish to shift to web-based Gmail service. Macquarie was first in Australia to move students to Gmail but staff have not yet been (officially) moved, although responses to the blog made it clear […]
Faith, hope and … higher education?
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 16th, 2008
World Youth Day is underway in Sydney with more than 100,000 young Catholic pilgrims from Australia and around the world in attendance. It’s a great occasion made even more significant by the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, who will receive a public welcome in Sydney later this week.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Tuesday welcomed the […]
Why we need to work together
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 14th, 2008
I think it’s fair to say that academics love a good argument, and they don’t come much better than one underway now on the role of the humanities.
In his New York Times blog, Professor Stanley Fish posed the question - of what use are the humanities?”, to which he gave the answer “none whatsoever”.
He throws […]
Meeting the costs of a university education
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 11th, 2008
As part of my submission to the Bradley Review of Higher Education, I argued that we should allow students to borrow the cost of accommodation, subsistence, books and transport and repay them through the HECS system. See also my article in the Canberra Times on this topic.
My point is that while HECS makes it possible […]
Let us now praise scholars and teachers
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 8th, 2008
Recently the online world was buzzing with talk about Tiger Woods following his “wounded knee” victory over Rocco Mediate to take out his third US Open and his 14th major.
One debate asks: Is Woods not only the greatest golfer, but also the greatest ever sports star?
Considering that there is a website devoted to the notion […]
Open Access: what do you think?
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 3rd, 2008
I am thinking about bringing a paper to the Macquarie University Senate on Open Access, the subject of an earlier blog.
A draft of this paper appears below. I would like your feedback. Have I missed anything? Can the paper be improved?
For more information on Open Access, you might like to consult this guide.
DRAFT - Open […]
Towards a fairer Australian higher education system
Written by Steven Schwartz on July 2nd, 2008
This week I made a submission to the Bradley Review of Higher Education in which I put forward my personal views on how we could make the Australian higher education system much more accessible.
I’ve titled it ‘Six steps towards a more equitable higher education system’, and you can read the full version here in […]