Reflecting on higher education through a psychological lens
Today is an important day for the higher education sector, with the publication of the long-awaited Augar report. My intention here is not to comment on the whole report. There is much that I could (and probably should) comment on, particularly around inclusive education, but I have a writing deadline approaching, so I’m trying to… Continue reading The value of higher education: psychology (and other stories)
Yesterday, I blogged about the apparent mental health crisis in higher education, affecting both students and staff. Given some of the comments in the media, and from academics on social media, you might be forgiven for thinking that no sane person would ever consider an academic career! Numerous current PhD students are hoping to achieve… Continue reading Counting my (academic) blessings
Much attention has (appropriately) been given to student mental health in higher education, while the wellbeing of those of us who work in universities has been less prominent in the news – with the exception of a few high profile, tragic cases of suicide. Back in February, The Duchess of Cambridge called for increased action… Continue reading Pressure vessels: comment on HEPI report on mental health trends in university staff
This blog was first posted at https://onehe.org/2019/02/07/a-maverick-in-your-midst/ on 7 February 2019 I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about career development. Firstly, I was privileged to speak at a couple of conferences for students about careers in psychology, which made me reflect on how ‘long and winding’ my career path had been (why take the… Continue reading A maverick in your midst
Back in February, at the start of my scholarship sabbatical, and when I first set up this blog page, I shared an excited post about the value I was already seeing in my sabbatical, and the progress I’d made just a couple of weeks in. I’m now approximately half way through my six month period… Continue reading Scholarship sabbaticals: An insider view (Part 2)
Last week, I had the privilege of attending an All Party Parliamentary Group on Psychology (#APPGPsychology) at Westminster. The group was chaired by Dr Lisa Cameron MP, and included a number of expert panellists, presenting psychological evidence that has value in terms of informing government policy on children and young people’s mental health in schools… Continue reading Psychology in action: influencing policy
This morning, I was tagged in a fascinating Twitter discussion about technology in the classroom. When students bring in their laptops, smart phones, or other devices, what are they doing with them? How can we keep them focused on the lesson? What are they doing with their technology, and is it ok? There were several… Continue reading Education, learning technology, and performing seals…?
Universities have long been interested in sharing knowledge with and impacting upon the communities in which they exist. To some extent, this happens almost by the very fact of their existence – universities are large scale local employers, and often engage with local and regional industries for research collaborations and funding. Many have science parks,… Continue reading #TrulyCivic Psychology?
This morning, I was delighted to hear the Duchess of Cambridge speaking at yesterday’s Royal Foundation’s Mental Health in Education conference (see here for a video, and here for a transcript), and to see the wealth of positive attention she received for her short speech on Twitter (#MHinEducation). The Duchess noted that “The scientific and… Continue reading Mental health in education: A response to the Duchess of Cambridge
Sabbatical: “a period of time when college or university teachers are allowed to stop their usual work in order to study or travel, usually while continuing to be paid” (Cambridge Dictionary Online) I’ve worked in academia pretty much constantly now for more than 20 years, with a brief step out to the periphery when I… Continue reading Scholarship sabbaticals – an insider view (part 1)
HigherPsychEd 