'It is possible to be successful economically without great universities, but you cannot have great universities without a commitment to free inquiry'

Article Abstract:

An an analysis of the level of academic freedom in the university systems in the UK and the US. It is contended that while universities in the US may be better funded that those in the UK, the extreme reaction of some to the comments by Lawrence Summers, president of Harvard University, that biological differences between men and women may explain why one sex is better at some things than the other, demonstrates that the commitment to free debate at universities in the US is much more subject to the influence of vocal pressure groups than is the case in the UK.

United States, Public affairs, Social aspects, Comparative analysis, Academic freedom, Teaching, Freedom of

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'Millions of our citizens log on to chatrooms, find old school friends and look at porn without the benefit of a publicly funded campaign'

Article Abstract:

An examination of the UK government's current obsession with the promotion of e-learning. It is argued that the government does not actually really understand e-learning. That the government's constant complaints that e-learning is not delivering the economies of scale that it expects are completely missing the point and that while e-learning has changed the way we work, the amount of work that needs to be put into the creation of viable forms of e-learning will always mean that its economies of scale will always be similar to traditional learning.

Political aspects, Online education

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'There is no chance that universities will start funding long apprenticeships of the type that barristers, physicians or schoolteachers undertake'

Article Abstract:

An analysis of the government's plans to introduce a framework of teaching standards for university teachers. It is argued that such a system of professional standards for academics would be meaningless and that it would discriminate against contract researchers.

Product standards, safety, & recalls, Administration of Education Programs, Education Programs, Standards, Education and state, Education policy, College teachers, College faculty, Teachers, Rating of, Teacher evaluation

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