Improbable research: academics assist lions in their roaring contests

“Lion-roaring competitions used to be private affairs, organised entirely by lions, without spectators. That changed in the early 1990s …” (more)

[Marc Abrahams, Guardian, 31 January]

Advertisement

Do parental cash transfers weaken performance in college?

“Abstract: When parents support children in college, does this undermine the incentive to do well? The authors test the hypothesis that parental cash transfers induce college students to commit moral hazard in their studies on a sample of nearly 1300 undergraduates at two Midwestern universities …” (more)

[Martin Ryan, Geary Behavioural Economics Blog, 31 January]

Tenure and academic freedom in the news

“The rather arcane principles of academic tenure and academic freedom, which have long featured on this blog, have recently moved close to the centre of industrial relations debate and political discussion …” (more)

[Eoin O’Dell, Cearta, 31 January]

77% of PhD students will stay in education rather then work in knowledge economy

“Releasing the results of a survey of PhD students, Alan Kelly, reveals that the majority of PhD students will stay in the education cycle rather than contribute to the so-called ‘Knowledge economy’ …” (more)

[Alan Kelly, Labour Party Blog, 31 January]

International success for Science Foundation Ireland-funded researchers

“Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has welcomed the announcement that two of its leading funded researchers, Professors Luke O’Neill and Ken Wolfe – both based at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) – have each been successful in securing special funding from the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) …” (more)

[Education in Ireland, 31 January]

Student nurses threaten strikes

“Student nurses are planning a campaign of industrial action in protest at Government moves to cut their pay. Under plans announced in December, the Government plans to reduce and ultimately eliminate payments made to student nurses and midwives during their mandatory 36 week placement in hospitals …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 31 January]

Using culture to understand how the academy is governed

“William Tierney’s book, The Impact of Culture on Organizational Decision Making (Stylus 2008), discusses the importance of using a cultural lens on the governance of higher education institutions …” (more)

[Bryan Gopaul, Academic Matters, 31 January]

TUI delays work reform vote until after election

“The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has taken the controversial decision to wait until after the election to ballot members on proposed work reforms in schools and colleges …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 31 January]

Shifting education costs

“Madam, – According to Niall Fahey (January 18th), ‘Education … should not be the financial responsibility of students and their families’. I disagree. Why should the ordinary taxpayer bear the costs of higher education? …” (more)

[JA Barnwell, Irish Times, 31 January]

Smurfit school jumps 20 spots

“University College Dublin’s Smurfit School has jumped 20 places in a prestigious international ranking of graduate business colleges …” (more)

[Independent, 31 January]

Campaign planned against student nurse pay cuts

“A campaign of action is being launched against planned cuts to the pay of student nurses and midwives …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 31 January]

Assessments and examinations at risk

“As governments in a number of countries try to square the circle of rising higher education participation rates and budget (and therefore faculty) cuts, one thing in particular should be borne in mind: the risk to the quality of exam and assignment correction …” (more)

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 31 January]

Elite eight head university research ratings

“The first attempt to assess the quality of research conducted in Australia’s universities shows the oldest and most elite institutions filling the top eight spots …” (more)

[Julia Hare, The Australian, 31 January]

RCSI in Bahrain to build alumni ties

“A delegation from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a move designed to strengthen relations with its alumni in the region …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 31 January]

O’Brien class too much for students

“Wicklow 4-15 DCU 1-11 Andy O’Brien gave DCU a lesson as he powered Wicklow to the final with two goals at Rathdrum yesterday …” (more)

[Independent, 31 January]

Cambridge academics offered redundancy

“Cambridge university is offering all its employees the chance to apply for voluntary redundancy to ease the pressure of budget cuts. All those accepted under the plan will be given a lump sum equivalent to one year’s salary …” (more)

[Richard Garner, Independent, 31 January]

Offaly outclass students

“Offaly booked a date with Carlow in the Walsh Shield final as they dished out an 11-point drubbing to UCD in Banagher yesterday …” (more)

[Independent, 31 January]

John O’Conor defends academy expenses

“Pianist John O’Conor has defended the expenses he received as director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, insisting his lavish spending was necessary to raise funds …” (more)

[Mark Hilliard, Sunday Tribune, 30 January]

The(se) Kids are All Right: Interview with SmartlyEdu Founders

“I’ve presented papers at conferences over the years in which I’ve argued that design (definition: the marriage of aesthetics and functionality) is integral to high quality digital education; that ‘look and feel’ matters. To put it mildly, the response to this argument has been muted …” (more)

[Keith C Hampson, Higher Education Management Group, 30 January]

Scientific Misconduct in Management Research

“Fraudulent behavior in research is the ultimate academic gossip. It is hardly surprising that our post on Thomas Basbøll’s claim that management theory heavy-weight Karl Weick has engaged in plagiarism was one of O&M’s most popular posts in 2010 …” (more)

[Nicolai Foss, Organizations and Markets, 30 January]