Higher education, impact, and the Internet: Publishing, politics, and performativity

First Monday ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Scholarly Work ◽  
Internet Publishing ◽  
Written Word ◽  
Academic Communication ◽  
Opening Up

This paper considers how and why scholarly publishing has changed over the last two decades. It discusses the role of the Internet in overcoming earlier barriers to the rapid circulation of ideas and in opening up new forms of academic communication. While we live in a world increasingly dominated by images, the written word remains vital to academic life, and more published scholarly material is being produced than ever before. The paper argues that the Internet provides only part of the explanation for this growth in the volume of written material; another key contributing factor is the use of performance-based research funding schemes in assessing scholarly work. Such schemes can exert a powerful influence over researchers, changing their views of themselves and the reasons for undertaking their activities. With their tendency to encourage the relentless, machine-like production and measurement of outputs, they can be dehumanizing. Of even greater concern, however, is the possibility of systems based entirely on metrics, ‘impact’, and revenue generation. The paper critiques these trends, makes a case for the continuing value of peer review, and comments briefly on the subversive potential of the Internet in resisting the dehumanization of scholarly work.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of cartographic presentation methods applied within small-scale thematic maps in the press and on the Internet

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-17
Author(s):  
Jolanta Korycka-Skorupa
Keyword(s):  
Graphic Design ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Thematic Maps ◽  
The Press ◽  
Presentation Methods ◽  
Written Word ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Better Than

Abstract The author discuss effectiveness of cartographic presentations. The article includes opinions of cartographers regarding effectiveness, readability and efficiency of a map. It reminds the principles of map graphic design in order to verify them using examples of small-scale thematic maps. The following questions have been asked: Is the map effective? Why is the map effective? How do cartographic presentation methods affect effectiveness of the cartographic message? What else can influence effectiveness of a map? Each graphic presentation should be effective, as its purpose is to complete written word, draw the recipients’ attention, make text more readable, expose the most important information. Such a significant role of graphics results in the fact that graphic presentations (maps, diagrams) require proper preparation. Users need to have a chance to understand the graphics language in order to draw correct conclusions about the presented phenomenon. Graphics should demonstrate the most important elements, some tendencies, and directions of changes. It should generalize and present a given subject from a slightly different perspective. There are numerous examples of well-edited and poorly edited small-scale thematic maps. They include maps, which are impossible to interpret correctly. They are burdened with methodological defects and they cannot fulfill their task. Cartography practice indicates that the principles related to graphic design of cartographic presentation are frequently omitted during the process of developing small-scale thematic maps used – among others – in the press and on the Internet. The purpose of such presentations is to quickly interpret them. On such maps editors’ problems with the selection of an appropriate symbol and graphic variable (fig. 1A, 9B) are visible. Sometimes they use symbols which are not sufficiently distinguishable nor demonstrative (fig. 11), it does not increase their readability. Sometime authors try too hard to reflect presented phenomenon and therefore the map becomes more difficult to interpret (fig. 4A,B). The lack of graphic sense resulting in the lack of graphic balance and aesthetics constitutes a weak point of numerous cartographic presentations (fig. 13). Effectiveness of cartographic presentations consists of knowledge and skills of the map editor, as well as the recipients’ perception capabilities and their readiness to read and interpret maps. The qualifications of the map editor should include methodological qualifications supported by the knowledge of the principles for cartographic symbol design, as well as relevant technical qualifications, which allow to properly use the tools to edit a map. Maps facilitate the understanding of texts they accompany and they present relationships between phenomenon better than texts, appealing to the senses.

scholarly journals Let's Not Railroad American Higher Education!

2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (01) ◽  
pp. 94-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry E. Brady
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Market Forces ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
For Profit ◽  
American Higher Education ◽  
Privatization Of Higher Education ◽  
The Way

Politics, economics, and technology have conspired to make this an exceptionally challenging time for American higher education. Some critics claim that costs are out of control in traditional public and private nonprofit higher education. They believe these institutions will soon go the way of the railroads as for-profit institutions displace them and the Internet replaces college campuses and classrooms. Other critics bemoan the privatization of higher education and the increasing role of market forces. Still others think higher education has lost its way and fails to focus on educating undergraduates.

scholarly journals World Class at All Costs

2020 ◽  
pp. 107-121
Author(s):  
Mats Hyvönen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Board Of Trustees ◽  
Global Competition ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Education Systems ◽  
Higher Education Systems ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
World Class

AbstractThis chapter takes up the now infamous case of the so-called Macchariani Scandal in light of the Karolinska Institute’s tactics for maintaining and enhancing its position as a WCU. It pays special attention to research funding policies in general, and, in particular, the role of the chairman of the Institute’s Board of Trustees, the Liberal politician Lars Leijonborg, as an example of how the dream of becoming a world-class country in the increasingly fierce global competition can have far-reaching negative consequences for national higher education systems as well as for individuals.

The Collegial Tradition in English Higher Education

2019 ◽  
pp. 145-158
Author(s):  
David Palfreyman ◽  
Ted Tapper
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
State Control ◽  
University Policy ◽  
Competition And Cooperation ◽  
Market Driven ◽  
The University

The basic structure of the Oxbridge type evolved historically as a federal set of multi-disciplinary and largely self-governing colleges. Each set was balanced between competition and cooperation. A distinct feature is that teaching is divided between the university role of organizing and examining taught courses, and the college role of organizing the attendant processes of student learning, especially via the system of tutorials/supervisions, a form of apprenticeship in critical thinking. University policy is strongly influenced by faculty assemblies. This formula is now under pressure from greater dependence on government research funding, and from new performance criteria in evaluation. There are fears that new forms of state control will result in a decline of autonomy, and so the capacity for academic initiative, as universities as a whole become more market-driven.

Differences in Internet and LMS Usage A Case Study in Higher Education

2012 ◽  
pp. 247-270
Author(s):  
Rosalina Babo ◽  
Ana Cláudia Rodrigues ◽  
Carla Teixeira Lopes ◽  
Paulo Coelho de Oliveira ◽  
Ricardo Queirós ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Learning Management Systems ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Scientific Fields

The Internet plays an important role in higher education institutions where Learning Management Systems (LMS) occupies a main role in the eLearning realm. In this chapter we aim to characterize the Internet and LMS usage patterns and their role in the largest Portuguese Polytechnic Institute. The usage patterns were analyzed in two components: characterization of Internet usage and the role of Internet and LMS in education. Using a quantitative approach, the data analysis describes the differences between gender, age and scientific fields. The carried qualitative analysis allows a better understanding of students’ both motivations, opinions and suggestions of improvement. The outcome of this work is the presentation of the Portuguese students’ profile regarding Internet and LMS usage patterns. We expect that these results can be used to select the most suitable digital pedagogical processes and tools to be adopted regarding the learning process and most adequate LMS’s policies.

Computers in Education: Activities, Contributions, and Future Trends

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Khosrowjerdi ◽  
Gary L. Kinzel ◽  
David W. Rosen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Technical Committee ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Computers In Education

The Computers In Education (CIEd) technical committee focuses on educational issues and advances related to the usage of computing technologies in mechanical engineering courses and curricula. This paper provides a retrospective on CIEd activities, issues, and advances beginning with its formal start in 1983 and continuing through the present. Throughout the years, many different topics were explored, new technologies emerged while others disappeared, and many issues were investigated. Current CIEd activities are in six areas: CAD in higher education, robotics in higher education, software tools in the classroom, mechatronics and data acquisition, multimedia for higher education, and the role of the internet in higher education. The first four areas date from 1983, while the last two emerged in the late 1990’s. Future trends and issues are proposed to stimulate further investigations.

scholarly journals Disciplinary system of higher education of the capital in the early 20th century: the establishment and activities of the professorial court

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-145
Author(s):  
Ekaterina A. Smirnova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Administrative Law ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Disciplinary System ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

The article considers government measures to establish professorial disciplinary court at higher education institutions of the capital (the court conducted its work from August 27, 1902 to February 22, 1917), the work of the commission on the development of regulations for this body, and the main normative legal acts to implement it. The article examines the issues of the activity of the professorial disciplinary court and the relationship between the participants of this disciplinary system: students, professors, and the authorities. The students who appeared before the professorial disciplinary court were accused of violation of the norms of administrative law of their educational institution, and in accordance with the university charter and the rules of the university, they had to abide by the decision of the court. Professors were in the same position of dependence: membership in the Council of the educational institution obliged them to assume the role of judges. The article explains why the professorial courts did not have the opportunity to become an autonomous body, why the professors themselves did not want to take on the responsibility of judges, and whether all students were hostile to their work. Analyzing the cases of violations which were considered at that time and concerned the rules and order at a university, the author comes to the conclusion that it was not possible to ensure order and create conditions for the restoration of the proper course of academic life by introducing the system of university disciplinary proceedings. The compromise between the authorities and the students, which should have been facilitated by the existence of the professorial court, was not reached. Resistance from students and professors forced the Ministry of Public Education to reconsider the need for the existence of professorial courts and exclude them from the draft of the new university charter.

scholarly journals Science Communication 2.0

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 42-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dra. María Dolores Olvera-Lobo ◽  
Lourdes López-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Scientific Culture ◽  
Online Newspapers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Spanish Science ◽  
The Media

The level of scientific culture among young Spaniards is one of the lowest in Europe. The media, as spokespersons to the public, and public universities, as the institutions responsible for higher education, are two important parties with the responsibility for changing this situation. This study analyses how both use the Internet and Web 2.0 to promote science. In the case of universities, the results demonstrate the effort they are making to connect science to these tools. 72.9% have a scientific news feed and almost a third have a profile on Facebook and Twitter. However, the role of Spanish science is still irrelevant in online newspapers. Only 35.4% of published information refers to research in Spain.

scholarly journals Role of Math in the Working of the Internet

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (08) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Arshad Ahamad ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Encryption And Decryption ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Way

The goal of many mathematicians since the dawn of time has been to apply mathematics to practical applications and to also derive the mathematics behind many everyday things. Although we seldom have such pursuits, many everyday things have been affected by the principles of math. And things like the internet, run on fundamental mathematics principles, and hardly any credit is given to the subject. This paper aims to uncover contributions of everyday Math in the working of the internet. From encryption and decryption all the way to how search engines to index various web pages online, if one looks hard enough, concepts related to mathematics are bound to pop up. This paper also sheds light on various concepts taught in higher education that are often forgotten and only treated as something solely scholastic, but in reality, has a lot of applications in real life.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of the Practice of Internet Use in the Marketing Activities of Higher Education Institutions in Poland and Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-102
Author(s):  
Artur Kisiołek ◽  
Oleh Karyy ◽  
Liubov Нalkiv
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Information Age ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Social Progress ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Dominant Feature ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
Use Of The Internet

In the information age, the role of higher education as a factor of social progress is increasing. The competition among higher education institutions is also growing. This requires higher education institutions’ (HEIs) marketing policies to be diversified, digitalized, and integrated into the virtual space. In order to find out the role and importance of Internet tools and in marketing activities, a questionnaire survey was conducted among managers and specialists of HEIs in Ukraine and Poland. The data served as the basis to study the level of variation, structure similarity, and consistency of the generalized responses of the respondents of the two countries. We verified hypotheses about (1) the absence of significant differences between the estimates of the role of the Internet in the marketing activities of HEIs in Poland and Ukraine; (2) the consistency of answers of the respondents of the two countries regarding the use of the Internet in market activites of HEIs; (3) HEIs’ use mostly geo-targeting potential consumers of higher education online. The dominant feature of the Internet – quick access to information – enables effective marketing activities. The management of HEIs should increase the awareness of their marketing staff in using the Internet to expand the delivery of educational services, intensify interviewing practices for obtaining feedback from customers, attract sponsors, promote their own brands, do market research, and so on.

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