When the author writes, her intention is to inform readers and to invite debate and discussion (or at least individual reflection) that continues after the work has been read and put aside. As a scientist with an interest in education, the author now feels able to submit some writings to a non-science educational journal, such as "Teaching in…

This paper presents a philosophical approach to undergraduate curricula. The approach, informed by research, has been conceptualised as "socially critical vocationalism" (SCV). SCV is neither training nor pure traditional academic provision but an approach to curriculum that is academically defensible, practically relevant and socially…

In this article, the author discusses how universities and the academics who work in them understand the relationship between teaching and research. In several countries, acknowledgement of the need to link teaching and research has led to the development of institutional strategies to achieve this goal. In South Africa, the linking of teaching…

In this article, the author offers a personal view on the meaning of "teaching excellence" in higher education which makes connections with the particular historical moment people are living through--which has been variously described as "post-traditional", "postmodern", or "reflexive modernity". The author…

This article presents the author's response to Karlsson (2007) who pointed out that the author's original article that appeared in the "Points for Debate" section of "Teaching in Higher Education" (Greenbank 2006) did not discuss the concept of service as comprehensively as teaching and research. Karlsson's paper--together with the work of…

Asserts that two great problems of learning confront humanity: (1) learning about the universe and (2) learning how to live wisely. The article further asserts that the first problem was solved with the creation of modern science, but the second problem has not yet been solved. The article suggests that to solve the second problem we need to learn…

This article talks about a meeting on "Higher Education in Recessionary Times" on March 24, 2010, which was hosted by the Society for Higher Education Research Policy Network. Although the meeting did take place in the context of an expected General Election, and on budget day, there was a general sense on the day that whoever won the…

This article is a response to Greenbank's (2006) "The academic's role: the need for a re-evaluation?" It is also a contribution to the ongoing debate about the need to develop a broader view of scholarship and the different activities related to it such as "teaching", "research" and "service to the community". Arguments related to current research…

This article aims to stimulate debate about the nature of field courses in higher education. We use a colloquium format that allows each of us to reflect on the philosophy of field course teaching and our writing endeavours to establish a dialogue between the authors and leave the reader with a sense of curiosity. It starts with a position paper…

Discussion of educational methods appropriate for mature, non-standard entry students in an access course at the University of Luton (England) emphasizes the use of a "catalyst" to spark debate and critical thinking. The aim is to efficiently develop the basic skills required for higher education, thus enabling non-standard entry students to…