By Daniel Cottle Associate Professor of Secondary Education (Physics), University of Birmingham COP28 has come to a hopeful close with countries agreeing to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems”. One important energy system of relevance to all of us as we cope with high energy prices and the onset of winter is how … Continue reading “Change the national curriculum in science to empower climate action”
Category: Education
The Autumn Statement or a New Political Game in Spotting the Politics of Tokenism
By Professor John Bryson Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography, Birmingham Business School In 1777, Samuel Johnson proclaimed to James Boswell, his friend and biographer, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. I must admit to being tired of Autumn Statements and of a British political system that is not … Continue reading “The Autumn Statement or a New Political Game in Spotting the Politics of Tokenism”
Leading for fairness in Black History Month
By Steve Gulati Associate Professor, Director of Healthcare Leadership, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham October is Black History Month. It’s also the month assertions have been made at the Conservative Party Conference that the UK is the ‘best country in the world in which to be black’. This provided a sharp contrast to … Continue reading “Leading for fairness in Black History Month”
Saluting Our Sisters: Voices from across the College of Social Sciences
October is an important opportunity to share and celebrate black history. This year’s theme is ‘Saluting Our Sisters’, highlighting the crucial role that black women play in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities. As a College we have much to contribute and celebrate, be that the groundbreaking research of academics, student success stories, or … Continue reading “Saluting Our Sisters: Voices from across the College of Social Sciences”
Putting it Simply: What is decolonisation?
By Anita Lateano Research Fellow, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham First, we must look at why colonialism is still an issue in today’s universities. Universities are rooted in colonialism. At the height of the British empire, over a quarter of the world’s land mass was covered by British rule. Much of what was taught … Continue reading “Putting it Simply: What is decolonisation?”
Empowering children and young people with vision impairment through PE and sport
By Hester Richardson Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN), School of Education, University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham is currently hosting the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) World Games. The IBSA World Games raise awareness of accessibility in sport and celebrate the skills and abilities of athletes with vision impairment. Vision impairment … Continue reading “Empowering children and young people with vision impairment through PE and sport”
Do Rishi Sunak’s ‘maths to 18’ plans add up?
By Kalsoom Akhtar, Lecturer in Primary Education (Mathematics), School of Education,University of Birmingham Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement has sparked a lot of discussion on the importance of studying maths for 16 to 18-year-olds, generating a mixed reaction from different sectors of society. As someone who is passionate about maths education, I see the opportunities this … Continue reading “Do Rishi Sunak’s ‘maths to 18’ plans add up?”
Levelling up requires pathways through education and work throughout life, not separate routes
By Chris Millward, Professor of Practice in Education Policy, School of Education This week’s levelling up White Paper is reported to be inspired by the Medici rulers of renaissance Italy. One issue not mentioned, though, is their handling of the local university in Florence, the Studium Generale, which they exiled to Pisa. The government’s plan … Continue reading “Levelling up requires pathways through education and work throughout life, not separate routes”
What are the first steps in addressing rape culture in schools?
By Dr. Sophie King-Hill, Senior Fellow, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham. “Speaking and listening to children and young people about sex and relationships is key in supporting them to make informed decisions about their choices, contributing to the reduction of harmful sexual behaviour.” As noted recently in the press, harmful sexual behaviour in … Continue reading “What are the first steps in addressing rape culture in schools?”
Inclusion for students of determination in Dubai during Covid-19
By Dr Sarah Benson, Programme Director, Inclusion and Special Educational Needs, Dubai Campus, University of Birmingham. “In the Emirate of Dubai, 75% of schools are private and run with a wide variety of international curriculums. This makes each individual school very heterogeneous in terms of teaching, but more homogenous when considering socio-economic capacity, which in … Continue reading “Inclusion for students of determination in Dubai during Covid-19”