The hottest Higher education Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Entrepreneurship, entre nous

Heterodox STEM • 128 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Economics Intellectual Property Higher education
  1. Entrepreneurship is complex and can't be easily taught in schools. It's not just about making money; it involves creativity, risk-taking, and personal traits.
  2. Intellectual property rights are crucial for protecting new business ideas. Entrepreneurs need these rights to ensure their innovations are safe from theft.
  3. Current approaches to teaching entrepreneurship often mix social issues with business principles, which may confuse the true goals of innovation and success in the marketplace.

The Canceling of the American Mind Explains the Silence of University Leaders Last Week

After Babel • 2868 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Cancel Culture Free speech
  1. The book 'The Canceling of the American Mind' by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott explores the impact of cancel culture in various fields.
  2. The silence of university leaders after recent events raises questions about fear and self-censorship.
  3. American higher education institutions need to address the challenges posed by cancel culture and prioritize free speech to regain trust.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #122

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 111 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Quantum Computing Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Higher education Government Efficiency
  1. Microsoft and Atom Computing are making big moves in quantum computing by using neutral atom processors to create stable computations. This could lead to real breakthroughs in things like medicine and cryptography.
  2. Nabla Bio has created an AI platform that can design new antibodies from scratch, speeding up the process of developing new drugs. This means we could potentially treat more diseases faster and cheaper.
  3. Starting in fall 2025, MIT will offer free tuition to students from families earning under $200,000, making education more accessible. This could help more talented students pursue important scientific and technical careers.

"Striving For Upward Mobility Without Background"

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 3011 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Higher education Social Class Literature
  1. Some elite college professors have a habit of starting sentences with lowercase letters and abbreviating words randomly.
  2. The discussion about Harvard Extension School's legitimacy brings to mind the concept of clinging to social prestige.
  3. There is a recognizable psychological type of individuals who are intelligent enough to attend prestigious universities but not exceptionally bright.
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Universiteten välkomnar en viss sorts politisk aktivism

Rak höger med Ivar Arpi • 707 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Academic Freedom Cancel Culture Political Activism Freedom of Speech Higher education
  1. Universities are selective in addressing challenges to academic freedom, with instances of cancel culture being omitted in responses.
  2. There is a discrepancy between how universities present academic freedom and the actual management of challenges and controversies within academic institutions.
  3. Some universities tend to prioritize certain ideologies and political activism, creating tensions around issues like cancel culture and academic freedom.

Yes, Xxit

Never Met a Science • 88 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🚌 Education Higher education Communication Media Studies Sociology Public Engagement
  1. Many universities are considering leaving social media platforms like X because they can hurt their reputation and make communication less effective.
  2. Instead of trying to compete for attention on crowded platforms, universities should focus on creating their own quality spaces for sharing academic knowledge, like high-quality videos and public talks.
  3. Communication needs to be taken seriously; a careless online presence can be more damaging than having no presence at all, so investing wisely is important.

A DRAFT Syllabus for Econ 113: American Economic History :: Spring 2025 :: UC Berkeley

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 76 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🚌 Education Economic History American history Higher education Social Issues
  1. American exceptionalism is a key theme in understanding the country's economic history, exploring what makes it unique compared to other nations.
  2. The course examines significant historical events, like the rise of manufacturing and the impact of immigration, which shaped the American economy over the centuries.
  3. Inequality and economic mobility are crucial topics, focusing on how these issues have evolved from the 1940s to the present day.

For more lifeboats: The only just academic job market is a tight academic job market

Philosophy bear • 135 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Job Market Social Critique Higher education
  1. Lifeboat ethics talks about how to share limited resources when not everyone can have what they want. It's an important conversation in academia to think about who gets what.
  2. Many discussions in philosophy focus on how to share jobs and recognition, but we need to pay attention to creating more opportunities rather than just dividing what's there.
  3. Increasing the number of academic positions can help reduce inequality and give people a better chance, especially those who face challenges in their careers.

Letter from Harvard

Natural Selections • 10 implied HN points • 20 May 25
🔬 Science Research Funding Medical Science Cancer Research Public Policy Higher education
  1. The end of federal funding for research can hurt students, especially those from low-income families, making it harder for them to contribute to important medical advancements.
  2. A lot of scientific research relies on federal money, and cuts can disrupt ongoing projects and harm future innovation, making it a complex issue beyond just budget cuts.
  3. Having more people involved in science is great, but it raises questions about how to fund it fairly. We need to ensure that decisions on funding are made wisely and not based on popularity.

Why This Berkeley Professor Is Sleeping in His Office

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1085 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Protests Antisemitism Higher education
  1. Ron Hassner staged a sit-in protest in his UC Berkeley office to address rising campus Jew-hatred due to inaction by the administration.
  2. There was a violent incident at UC Berkeley involving pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups, leading to campus tensions and fear among Jewish students.
  3. Hassner's demands to the university include keeping Sather Gate open, issuing apologies to disrupted speakers, and providing staff with Islamophobia and antisemitism training.

Bucknell Graduation

Splattern • 179 implied HN points • 13 May 24
🎭️ Culture Social Events Higher education Personal Reflection Family Dynamics Celebration
  1. Seeing the graduation was a surprise. The students really embraced the moment and had a lot of fun, even if it meant pushing their limits.
  2. People often feel uncertain during big life changes, like graduation. This makes them focus more on enjoying the present instead of worrying about the future.
  3. Family gatherings can change over time. It was nice to see everyone getting along and sharing laughs while helping each other, showing how relationships evolve.

Changes in the Demand for College

In My Tribe • 394 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🚌 Education Higher education Gender Issues Cultural Trends Youth culture
  1. More women are going to college, but many young men feel it's not a masculine environment. This creates a gap where some boys are looking for other paths instead.
  2. There's a belief that too many people are attending college, especially those who may not need a degree for their career goals. It might be better for those individuals to seek alternative options.
  3. The way colleges handle dating and social interactions may be discouraging relationships, leading some to think less about the college experience as a place to meet partners.

What I Didn't Learn at the Evergreen State College

I Might Be Wrong • 15 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🚌 Education Higher education Pedagogy Curriculum Student life Academic standards
  1. Without grades, college can become a joke, leading many students to slack off instead of genuinely engaging with learning. It’s important to have some accountability to encourage real effort.
  2. Professors often pass students regardless of their actual participation or effort, which undermines the purpose of education and makes it hard to assess true performance.
  3. To improve education, grades need to mean something again so that employers can better understand which students truly excel and which do not. Making grades meaningful is a better alternative than removing them altogether.

The End of Liberal Education?

Castalia • 539 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🚌 Education Higher education Liberal Arts Social justice Student activism
  1. There is growing concern that elite universities like Harvard are losing touch with their traditional liberal values. Recent incidents have highlighted a divide between student activism and mainstream liberalism.
  2. The rising costs of education are making it harder for middle-class families to access top schools. This situation has led to a focus on superficial diversity rather than true socioeconomic representation.
  3. The environment on college campuses has shifted towards heightened sensitivity and protection of student feelings. This shift includes the use of concepts like 'safe spaces' and 'trigger warnings,' which some argue restrict open debate and dialogue.

Class War Behind Harvard’s Embrace Of DEI Race Pseudoscience

Public • 580 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Pseudoscience Plagiarism Academic standards Influence
  1. Harvard University is committed to attracting and retaining top scholars, offering high salaries and benefits.
  2. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned due to plagiarism accusations and a lackluster academic record.
  3. Harvard's influence and reputation make its scandals significant on a national and international scale.

Commentator

Castalia • 299 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Public Opinion Military Strategy Human Rights Higher education
  1. Public opinion plays a huge role in international conflicts, often influencing how countries act. It's surprising how much leaders consider public sentiment when making decisions about wars like those in Gaza and Ukraine.
  2. American universities are facing tension between free speech and protecting students. The recent actions of university presidents show a struggle to balance these principles, leading to calls for free speech policies amid accusations of hypocrisy.
  3. The complex nature of global power dynamics means that decisions made can cause significant harm, yet they may be seen as necessary in political terms. This understanding challenges the naive view that nations can act purely on moral grounds.

University of San Diego Retracts Illegal Job Posting Following Karlstack Inquiry

Karlstack • 476 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Gender discrimination Legal issues Investigative Journalism
  1. A professor posted a job ad requiring the postdoc to be a woman but later retracted it, claiming it was open to everyone.
  2. The story highlights the importance of investigative journalism in exposing deceptive practices and holding people accountable.
  3. Transparency plays a crucial role in preventing illegal actions, and it is essential to call out such behavior to pressure institutions into more ethical practices.

The Gonzo Syndrome

Disaffected Newsletter • 719 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Social Behavior Activism Identity politics Urban life Higher education
  1. Many pedestrians act like they own the road, stepping into traffic without care. This behavior creates a feeling that they are challenging drivers, similar to Gonzo's reckless taxi-hailing.
  2. Some people ignore social norms and expect others to accommodate them. They seem to purposefully disregard basic courtesies and often act like their actions don't even matter.
  3. Adopting a confident stance can change the dynamic in these encounters. Instead of yielding, standing firm may surprise those who seek to intimidate and assert dominance.

College leaders should say what they stand for

Science Forever • 298 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🚌 Education Leadership Higher education Politics Institutions Challenges
  1. College leaders should clearly communicate their values and beliefs, even in the face of political pressure. Staying true to one's values can lead to respect and support from the community.
  2. Presidents who stand up for their beliefs may face challenges, but they often land in new fulfilling positions. Those who prioritize the board's wishes over campus values may not fare as well.
  3. Institutions benefit from leaders who stick to their principles. Even if presidents are let go, they usually find other positive opportunities as long as they remain aligned with their beliefs.

Literary Study Needs More Marxists

Cosy Moments • 46 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
📚 Literature Literary theory Cultural Studies Marxism Higher education
  1. Literary study often lacks a balanced perspective, and introducing more Marxist ideas could enhance understanding of texts through social and historical contexts.
  2. Removing classic texts from curricula due to their controversial content is problematic and can limit students' educational experiences.
  3. It's important to appreciate literature, like Shakespeare, for its cultural value, regardless of political beliefs.

How do you define quality in higher education?

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🚌 Education Quality Higher education Curriculum Faculty
  1. Quality in higher education is not just about academic content; it also involves factors like faculty-student relationships and the overall health of the institution.
  2. General education requirements should be reimagined to focus on developing essential skills and qualities in students, rather than just breadth of knowledge.
  3. Institutions should consider aligning their educational offerings with what students actually value and seek in order to adapt to changing dynamics in higher education.

We Need to Do Better than Hum 1 & Soc Sci 2 in General Education

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 215 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🚌 Education Humanities Higher education Liberal Arts Critical Thinking
  1. The purpose of humanities in education should be more than teaching a limited view of Western literature and thought.
  2. It is valuable to provide students with a broad liberal education that includes exposure to different perspectives, even critical ones.
  3. American universities should focus on teaching true facts and how to think critically rather than implanting specific values.

The Impact of DEI on College Campuses

Journal of Free Black Thought • 157 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics DEI Higher education Racism Anti-racism
  1. DEI in higher education is often influenced by Critical Social Justice ideology, which perpetuates racism by assuming it in every situation.
  2. Critical Social Justice can lead to the imposition of certain values, attitudes, and behaviors based on race, discouraging critical thinking and questioning of the narrative.
  3. People are pushing back on DEI approaches underpinned by Critical Social Justice ideology as they find it infantilizing, anti-intellectual, and not aligned with their beliefs.

Make America Hungary Again

Can We Still Govern? • 148 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Media Control Higher education Bureaucracy
  1. The MAGA movement's admiration for Viktor Orban signifies a desire for authoritarianism over greatness, as demonstrated by Orban's undemocratic tactics in Hungary.
  2. Orban's success lies in his ability to consolidate power by controlling institutions like the media, judiciary, and higher education, mirroring patterns seen in the potential rise of American Orbanism.
  3. Orban's strategy includes increasing control over the bureaucracy to create a network of loyalists, leading to a corrupt system enabling his authoritarian rule, which American politicians are observing for potential application.

The surveilled campus

Can We Still Govern? • 239 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Higher education
  1. Story highlights how the professional outrage machine targets faculty and students on American campuses.
  2. Conservative campus groups use tactics like building plywood walls to provoke and surveil, leading to media scrutiny and consequences for individuals.
  3. Incidents like these reveal a trend of surveillance, recording, and media pressure for punishment that undermines trust and community on college campuses.

What's gone wrong at university

Theory Matters • 5 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🚌 Education Higher education Curriculum Development Academic standards
  1. Universities are becoming more focused on producing workers rather than promoting true learning. Students are often funneled into narrow paths instead of exploring a wide range of ideas and subjects.
  2. The pressure on universities to grow is leading to bigger class sizes and less individual attention for students. This results in a decline in the quality of education and weakens the relationships between students and teachers.
  3. There's a shared responsibility between the institutions and students for the decline in education standards. Everyone needs to push for better learning experiences instead of taking the easy way out.

I'm joining the Cornell faculty!

Data: Made Not Found (by danah) • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🚌 Education Higher education Teaching Research
  1. The speaker is excited to join the faculty at Cornell as a Professor of Communication starting in fall 2025. They are looking forward to teaching and working with students.
  2. After many years at Microsoft Research, the speaker felt a strong desire to become a full-time professor. They believe teaching can make a bigger difference than just research.
  3. The transition from Microsoft Research is bittersweet, but the speaker is grateful for the support they've received. They aim to maintain connections with their colleagues even after leaving.

Links to Consider, 3/18

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Status Industrial Policy Higher education
  1. The perspective that social media is responsible for the prevalence of disinformation is challenged. The era of the mid-twentieth century press was also insular and biased.
  2. There has been a shift in societal values, with the relative importance of a good job increasing in status over having a good family.
  3. The implementation of industrial policy, like the CHIPS Act, is criticized for being slow and laden with DEI-related issues that hinder progress.

✅ Rethinking public relations education: bridging theory and practice

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🚌 Education Higher education Public Relations Industry Trends
  1. Public relations education needs to connect real-world practice with academic learning. Right now, many students enter the field without the skills they need.
  2. Only a few UK universities offer public relations as a specialist degree, and the industry doesn't always value formal education. This is a problem for both students and employers.
  3. There's a big demand for new public relations professionals, but current education and training systems aren't meeting that need. A change in how we teach and prepare these future practitioners is necessary.

Diversity in college admissions devoid of meaning

Bruce Fein's Pioneering Lyceum • 117 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race Higher education Diversity Civil Rights Discrimination
  1. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is unsure about the meaning of 'diversity' in college admissions favoring racial minorities.
  2. Race is not a unique proxy for a diverse perspective, as viewpoints are not inherited characteristics, and people of all races have overlapping ideologies.
  3. Using diversity in college admissions to justify racial preferences is based on a flawed assumption that all members of minority races think alike, lacking evidence of superior academic outcomes.