The Conversation

Equity and social justice, Politics, Public policy, Students

The importance of international students to Atlantic Canada

Kelly Toughill, University of King's College

Anita faced a tough choice when she discovered she was unexpectedly pregnant. If she took a term off school to care for her newborn, her family would lose its dream of settling in Canada. So, eight weeks after the summer birth, with her diplomat husband away on a long-term work assignment in the Caribbean and two more children at home, the international student from Cameroon returned to class full-time.

Academic freedom, Free speech and expression rights, International issues

What you need to know about the new free speech pledge for universities

Suzanne Whitten, Queen's University Belfast

UK universities may no longer be able to ban controversial speakers from giving talks on campus – those that continue to do so could face a fine. The freedom to debate and discuss difficult topics should remain a central feature of university life, according to the universities minister, Sam Gyimah.

Why some students are excluded from university later in their degree, and how to remedy it

Colin Jevons, Monash University and Sophie Lindsay, Monash University

Student attrition is of concern to universities and to politicians and, most importantly, costly for the students concerned, both financially and emotionally. […]

Academic mentorship, Equity and social justice, Students, Teaching and learning

Navigating racism: Black graduate students need support

Anita Jack-Davies, Queen's University, Ontario

I have mixed feelings about my experiences in graduate school. As a Black, first-generation Canadian and the first in my family to become a doctoral student, I did not understand the culture of the academy. If I knew then what I know now as an Adjunct Professor teaching part time, I might have made different choices.

When college and university tuition goes up, campus diversity goes down

Drew Allen, Princeton University and Gregory C. Wolniak, New York University

As college tuition continues to rise at a staggering rate, people tend to worry about how much harder it becomes for students […]

Equity and social justice

Race and gender still an issue at academic conferences

Sara Cannon, University of British Columbia; David A. Reid, University of British Columbia; Kiely McFarlane, University of British Columbia; Leonora King, University of British Columbia; Lucy MacKenzie, University of British Columbia; Marc Tadaki, University of British Columbia, and Michele Koppes, University of British Columbia

In the midst of social justice movements such as #MeToo, pervasive sexist and racist attitudes are being examined across all sectors, including […]

Mental illness on campus really is ‘a thing’

Ivor Shapiro, Ryerson University

Unlike his former classmates, Alex isn’t writing final exams right now, or searching for a summer job, or choosing electives for next […]

A university president apologizes for academia’s role in residential schools

Santa Ono, University of British Columbia

Earlier this month, I stood before hundreds of people gathered at the University of British Columbia and publicly apologized for the role […]

Can we really teach ‘Indigenizing’ courses online?

Matthew Stranach, Thompson Rivers University

On April 16, Canadians — and internet users around the world — have the opportunity to participate in “Indigenous Canada,” a Massive […]

Academic mentorship, International issues, Students, Teaching and learning

Stop treating students like customers and start working with them as partners in learning

Kelly E Matthews, The University of Queensland

Students and lecturers at the University of Queensland researching ‘students as partners’ activities across Australian universities. The University of Queensland University […]

The importance of international students to Atlantic Canada

What you need to know about the new free speech pledge for universities

Why some students are excluded from university later in their degree, and how to remedy it

Navigating racism: Black graduate students need support

When college and university tuition goes up, campus diversity goes down

Race and gender still an issue at academic conferences

Mental illness on campus really is ‘a thing’

A university president apologizes for academia’s role in residential schools

Can we really teach ‘Indigenizing’ courses online?

Stop treating students like customers and start working with them as partners in learning

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