Think Education Christopher Hill

In an attempt at a meta-session, Chris and Judith took a little time today to think and talk about podcasting.
This episode was motivated by several factors: we thought it might be nice to talk and think about something other than what is going on in the sector at the moment; and a colleague and friend of ours, Fabrizio Tfifiro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/1234591/ has just launched a new podcast Experiences of International Education (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7204862986262343681/) on which we will both appear in later episodes reflecting on our experiences and journeys in international higher education.  We started thinking about community, paying it forward and the opportunity to engage – and how valuable all these factors have been to us over the past few years.
Our conversation moved through paying attention, active listening, engagement, honesty and reflection – with a brief pit stop on a plane, in the classroom and the car on the way home from baseball practice – to come to the inevitable conclusion that podcasting has been a force for good in our lives and we are grateful for the opportunity and the ability to engage.
While there is no substitute for actual conference attendance and in-person engagement, this platform has provided an almost perfect back-up and one that is accessible and easy to arrange.  We have been consistently impressed and thankful for how open and honest guest have been and how much we have been able to develop our own thinking and viewpoints as results of these learning experiences.
Please do get in touch if you would like to be on the podcast as we are always interested in a good chat!
 
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#podcasting #engagement #discussion #community #access #internationalisation #conferences #digitalcoffeebreak

International Student Perspectives: Taiwan and the UAE
In a companion type piece to last week’s look at international student mobility in Australia, today we asked students to reflect on their experiences with and at university.
This episode of the Think Education podcast includes reflections from postgraduate students from the College of Education at National Chengchi University (Taiwan) and the Faculty of Education at the British University in Dubai (UAE).
We talked about what they hope and hoped to get out of their journey in higher education.  We asked them about their reflections on the role and purpose of a university.  We talked about community engagement and the profile of a university in the community itself.
We asked them to reflect on the future of international higher education, and they gave some advice on navigating presenting at international conferences.  We talked about imposter syndrome and how it never really goes away.
Their reflections are positive and insightful – and not always what you might expect.
I even took the opportunity to ask what their collective noun for a group of academics would be.  The best one didn’t make the recording as it was offered afterwards – ‘an echo chamber’.
 
#studentperspectives #reflectionsoneducation #highereducation #internationalstudents #mobility #research #nccu #BUID #studentpresentations #researchcontribution #impostersyndrome
 

International student recruitment caps in Australia – a review and discussion
In this latest episode of the Think Education podcast, Judith and myself were delighted to be joined by return guest, Dr Douglas Proctor, Pro Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement, Swinburne University of Technology.  We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Douglas again – even if the subject matter wasn’t all that cheerful in nature.
Douglas provided a deeply insightful and reasoned discussion regarding the recent changes in Australia regarding international student numbers and legislation to curtail and significantly reduce them. Douglas explained that there will be a system of caps put in place to regulate numbers and while these can be exceeded with a financial penalty, Ministers will also have the ability to prevent recruitment and even possibly licenses, should this occur.  While this seems like an extreme case and perhaps unlikely, the fact that the possibility exists is significant.  The capping of numbers will naturally have both a financial and practical impact.  As Douglas explained, in Australia, we are talking of a 48-billion-dollar industry.  In practical terms, there will be a considerable increase in the management and 
We talked about what the medium to long term goals were behind these decisions – impacting not just Australia but many other countries. Douglas made the insightful point that these decisions taken in one country, give license for others to follow suit and highlighted that issues don’t need to be real (allegations of international students taking up all available university places and accommodation), they only have to be believed to be real.  Douglas talked about the significant mechanisms that exist within Australia for universities to be able to communicate to government and that he is hopeful these will be avenues for discussion and influence.
Douglas remained optimistic (even if he had to squint to do so) about the future.  There are some good elements in the recent legislation and plans – namely a greater sense of regulation regarding students changing degrees/providers shortly after having arrived in Australia.
We talked about the role of TNE in all this.  Douglas saw this in a very positive light.  Not as a means to offset reduced international recruitment but as a fundamental function of Australian higher education.
 
#internationalstudentnumbers #australia #UK #Canada #TNE #recruitment #internationalisation #caps #leadership #mobility

In this latest Think Education podcast episode, Judith and Chris talk to Sharon Davies-Smith, College Director/Principal and Chief Operating Officer – The College, Swansea University. In addition to this being a fascinating conversation, it has been a few months since we spoke to somebody from Wales and this could clearly not be allowed to stand any longer!
Sharon talked about her background and journey through education, hall tutor, teacher, commercial buyer for Sainsbury’s and Next and then back to education to her current role as Chief Worrier at Swansea University.  We explored her journey and reflected on how, as if often the case, things make complete sense when seen in reverse.  Sharon also talked about the need to be assertive and put yourself forward for opportunities and how this was, and remains today, a challenge that faces many women.
Sharon reflected on the work in progress that is achieving work-life balance and understanding what things you can let go, what to fight for and how to know the difference.  This is such a relevant topic, now so perhaps more than ever as we openly acknowledge the need to understand mental health and wellbeing.  A professional should not be judged purely on their output as this way madness lies.
We then asked Sharon about her recent holiday (the first one in years) to Japan and how she had approached planning for this, how she had found the experience and the need for distance from work in order to recharge and experience something completely new.
 
It is OK to allow yourself to care a little less at times.
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-davies-smith-612b12b3/?originalSubdomain=uk
 
#leadership #timemanagement #wellbeing #motivation #prepare #mentorship #mentalhealth

In this latest Think Education podcast episode, Judith reflected on her recent attendance at the UUKi’s International Higher Education Forum 2024 – held in London, UK.  Judith highlighted the honesty and reflective nature of presentations and discussions seen now as normal and the value that this bring to the community and understanding.
Three key issues emerged from Judith’s reflections and they are all connected to the shifting realities of higher education:
International student mobility and the impact this has on institutions, cities and communities.  This is not an issue for any single one country or region but rather a sector wide concern.  The conversation naturally focused on international students and the extent to which their presence, and indeed absence, can dramatically impact local, regional and international economies and stability.
Online and distance learning.  Students demonstrating an increasing interest in studying online for the first year or two of their degrees and then switching to in person.  We talked about how this can be seen as evidence of students taking advantage of a disrupted pattern of learning to their own advantage – supported by employer attitudes on the value of a degree.
Employability and graduate outcomes.  In particular, the lack of tracking applied in this regard to international students.  We talked about the role universities should play in this debate and what it will mean to not adapt to emerging, and indeed current, realities.
We tried to end on a positive note and that included referencing Tom Hanks and his work with the American astronauts who faced life and death issues.
Tackle the problem in front of you and then the next one.  Don’t get overwhelmed.
 
https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/events/international-higher-education-forum
 #UUKi #conferences #studentmobility #pathways #internationalrecruitment #engagement #challengingtimes #employability #studyonline #leadership #educationalpolicy

AI and Origami: Responding to New Challenges with Old Techniques
 
In this latest Think Education podcast, Judith and Chris continue their previous conversation about resilience and change, but with a focus on the use of technology in education – particularly AI.
Chris reflected on a conference he chaired - The 2nd Global Conference on Research in Education and Research (GCEL 2024) – this past week in Dubai, and talked about the challenges some participants had faced due to the floods in the UAE.  The sheer value of academic engagement and interaction was never more fully evident!
One of the presentations, talked about the use of origami in teaching mathematics – by way of encouraging creativity.  One of the audience members remarked that this was at least one teaching/assessment method that AI could not be used to subvert!  This led Judith and Chris down the verbal pathway of AI, cheating, creativity and technology usage, acceptance and distrust.
We talked about the role of AI in higher education and our response to new technologies more broadly.  Why are we threatened by it?  What does this say about AI and about ourselves?
We are eager to continue this conversation with colleagues engaged in the use of technology and to learn more about views on creativity.  If you are interested in joining a conversation about this, please do let us know.
 
 
#ai #managingchange #GCEL2024 #technologyinteaching #riskassessment #culture #strategy #origami #institutionalresponses