Think Education

Chelsea Buns and Mergers - The Evolving Nature of Higher Education Partnerships

Following on from our recent conversation with Prof Ian Mabbett, Prof. Christopher Hill and Prof. Judith Lamie revisit the issue of partnerships – how they are changing and how we are responding to these changes in international higher education.
We discuss teaching and learning, research and innovation and the increasingly explicit nature of the integration of all of these elements in our thinking about partnership.
Partnerships have evolved and we are more readily acknowledging the more equitable nature of engagement.  We talked about how encouraging we find the current approach to TNE – not as a financial necessity – but as part of a strategic understanding of development. Judith reflects on how the TNE landscape is being discussed and understood in the current climate and the levels of increased discussion regarding attempts to broaden opportunities for people to engage in education – even within the wider discussion of geopolitics and the economy.
We talked about the nature of partnership and the extent to which we might see institutions from the same country, largely seen as competitors, partnering on an international activity that wasn’t research focused.  We did record this episode of the Think Education podcast back in May 2025 and so acknowledge its place in the development of current activity.  We talked about mergers and what this means for the partnership and individual identity of the partners themselves.
We ended the podcast talking about the nuances of how we refer to different elements of partnership and the extent to which this can impact both our understanding and indeed, the reality of what we are doing.  The more things change, the more they often stay the same.  And we also learned that, whether it is in reference to American universities merging or the purchasing of Chelsea Buns, Judith is correct!
 
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#parternships #internationalhighereducation #mergers #teachingandlearning #research #strategicparternships #identity #TNE

A Deep Dive on the Future of TNE with Janet Ilieva

Cher.  Madonna.  Elvis.  People so significant to culture and context that they went by one name.  To this list, we add Janet.
Christopher and Judith are delighted to be able to present our recent Think Education podcast with Dr Janet Ilieva, founder and director of Education Insight.  Known by all in the international higher education sector, Janet is a font of knowledge and expert analysis and the conversation predictably touched on many different topics.
Janet talked about the current landscape of international higher education and how it is being impacted by geopolitical decisions and developments.  We discussed the issue of multipolarity and what this means for issues of trust, student decision making and mobility.
Janet offered insight into the flows of global mobility and changing patterns we have seen in student mobility and outlined the emerging destinations for international students.
We talked about the nature of TNE partnerships and the intersection of collaboration and compromise that must often be reached.  Janet stressed the importance of joint ventures as a means to reduce costs and risk and highlighted that undergraduate recruitment is no longer the sole driver of TNE activity and property investors and business engagement require serious consideration and non-degree activity, vocational qualifications, professional development, and micro-credentials will be relevant for capacity building.
There is scope for more tailored education that better fits student needs.
 
#UKwhiteppaer #geopoliitcs #multipolarity #trust #internationalstudents #globalmobility

Watching Philosophical Paint Dry - A fascinating conversation with Prof Ian Mabbett

Professor Ian Mabbett
Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Research Culture, Swansea University
Returning to our former pattern of having a Welsh connection in our Think Education podcast, Chris and Judith are joined by Professor Ian Mabbett.  In a deeply engaging conversation that was parts philosophical, ethical and practical.
Ian talked about his background in chemistry and revealed the wonderful titbit that his PhD was about ‘watching paint dry’.  His main focus was on looking into how we can make things that are less resource intensive, and this led him to an interest in international and global challenges – in turn leading him to think about the place and role of universities overseas.
Ian asks the critical question - how are our research activities and our outreach activities connected.  He goes on to discuss the way in which we can connect research output, employability and community need.
We talked about the current state of international higher education and the intersection of identity and research culture.  Ian talked about the changes he has seen over the past few years – a lot of consolidation of effort in key areas of university focus.
Ian argues that there is a balance to be struck between the richness of our international student body and the funding mechanisms around research activity.  Ian argues that we have sharpened our minds on how interconnected these issues are.
Ian talked about the interconnectness between international research activity and ethics and argued for the personal connection and understanding that this can bring.
The aim should be to bring together all the key areas and think about things holistically.
Innovation is about disruption and where we disrupt, we get a skills gap. If we then think about this properly, we can plan for addressing this gap and build relevant partnerships. If we can answer the question ‘how does this benefit both sides’ you have a much greater chance of succeeding.
 
Remember, we are not always lost, we are just sometimes directionally challenged.
 
#culture #internationalisation #researchoutreach #researchculture #partnerships #employability
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/i.mabbett/

Higher Education: rapid scale of change or none at all?

As a continuation of our last episode, and indeed part of the current podcasting series, Prof Judith and Prof Christopher discuss change in the university context.
Over the course of this session, we think about change as a concept and how we approach and respond to it.  How do we manage change itself?  What are the mechanisms in place?   How do we assess needs and then respond to them?
Judith ponders the philosophical reality of change and seemingly manages to present both sides of the argument simultaneously!  We debate the reality that the one constant in all of this is people.  So perhaps, the changes in leadership, and approaching and processing issues changes as much as people change.  People’s reaction to change is often very constant and if you provide a rational explanation it often works out.  Except when it doesn’t, of course.
We recognised the reality that, technologically speaking, the changes have been dramatic and then tripped down memory lane remembering overhead projectors and the introduction of printing in colour.
We continued the theme of looking at people and thinking about the central purpose of a university is the outcome – namely the students graduating.  And yes, we are aware of research output.  When thinking about the external environment we understand the changing landscape but when we think about the internal environment, it could perhaps be thought of as business as usual.  Getting students in the door, supporting them throughout their journey and then helping them on their way.  We wonder how many members of a university or student facing?  How many interact with students on a daily/weekly basis and how this impacts their understanding of where they are and indeed, the very idea of a university.
Does being non-student facing mean you aren’t ‘part of a university’ or is the reality much more that departments are integral in the success of the university, and indeed of providing student support, whether they talk to them or not.  A university is a delicate organisation – and organism – and all parts contribute.  Managing change is a delicate too – so let’s bring in some experts to help us with this.
 
 
#leadershipstyles #leaders #change #management #people #studentfacing #management #environment #technology #overheadprojectors

Managing Change in a Changing World

Just under a year ago, Judith and I talked about the value of reflection and taking time away from the office to recharge. We clearly took this far too literally as this is our first podcast since August 2024!!  In the time since then we have reflected, and we have continued talking and thinking about all things international education.  And we finished writing and submitted our third book – and even began our fourth in the trilogy.
Given the current climate in higher education (and our interest in evolution) we have begun to think much more seriously about change.  Change in all forms really.  But particularly with a focus on how universities are adapting to the external environment; shifts in funding; new recruitment pathways; research agendas; diversity of learning; technology and AI – to name but a few.
In this, our first podcast of the new era (that sounds better than just not having done one for a while) we talk about change and innovation in international higher education partnership activity.  We talked about emerging models of TNE engagement and the new levels of partnership since COVID that have gained both traction and success.
We talked about risk and sustainability and how these two components impact strategic and practical decision making in terms of partnership.  Looking at the changes in both models and relative power and value interpretation led us to thinking more about partnership choice, capacity building and a greater sense of equity in collaboration.
In subsequent episodes, we will turn our attention to the inside approach and look at change within the classroom, the offices, the very corridors of our institutions and we look forward to learning from the experiences of colleagues to broaden our understanding further in this regard.
 
#change #internationalhighereducation #innovation #funding #branchcampuses #studentrecruitment #transnationaleducation #insiderview #jointventures #researchinstitutes #powerdependency #collaboration #regulations

Fake Conferences: More widespread than you think!

I have seen quite a few posts on Linkedin in the past week or so about fake reviews, fake journals and general fakeness all around.  It reminded me of a fascinating conversation I had with Professor Perry Hobson last year about fake conferences and their impact on academia.
For those who didn't get a chance to hear this when first published, please enjoy.
 
In this latest Think Education podcast @ProfChrisHill talks to Professor Perry Hobson, Director of BUas Academy for Tourism at Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, about fake conferences and the impact these have on academia.
Perry outlined work he has undertaken looking at the issue of fake conferences, how they operate and the knock on effect they can have on academic practice.
We discussed the academic practice of creating and disseminating knowledge and the challenges of access – in terms of paid journal subscriptions – faced by many countries around the world.
 
Mounties always get their man!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-perry-hobson-5b7517b/?originalSubdomain=nl
#fakeconferences #academicintegrity #researchengagement #publication #journals
 
Twitter
#Think Education @ProfChrisHill talks to Professor Perry Hobson, Director of BUas Academy for Tourism @bredauas about #fakeconferences #academia #researchdissemination #publication #internationalhighered @ProfJudithLamie @buid_team

All Aboard - AI for Inclusion in Teaching

In this latest Think Education podcast, Christopher talks to friend of the show, Dr Tendai Charles – Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, British University in Dubai – about AI and its function to support an inclusive learning environment.
Tendai talked about his recent attendance and presentation at the Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference 2024, held at Nottingham Trent University, UK, and how AI dominated the conversation - even on sessions not necessarily focused on it.
We talked about work being done by Dr Philip Quirke – HCT – about the responsible use of AI in teaching and learning and the efficient ways it can be used to demonstrate both its value and its limitations.  Using AI as a tool to support engagement and critical thinking is a powerful way to implement it.
Tendai and I talked about the need to start these conversations with a focus on pedagogy and then work from there to see where AI and technology could best be used to enhance learning, rather than starting with AI and having fear or overwhelming support be the origin point.
 
https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/programmes-events/calendar/teaching-and-learning-conference-2024
 
#AIineducation #inclusion #learningenvironment #technologyinteaching #CRDE #BUiD

Chocolate biscuits and all that is wonderful in life - Jessica Turner QS CEO

In this latest Think Education podcast, Chris and Judith talk to Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, about her journey from Australia to the USA to the UK – with all stops in between. This marks the second in our current series looking at women in leadership and international higher education.
Jessica talked about her background in music and how this creativity and willingness to follow her own path – even while studying in a heavily male-dominated engineering discipline at university – as helped her throughout her professional career.
Jessica talked about mentors and shared a powerful story about the normalisation of balancing home and work life – and being equally comfortable in both.  We talked about the role of parents and how we can help to shape the environment in which our children work and more importantly, how they are able to respond to, and indeed, challenge it.
Jessica is strongly motivated by learning and brings a curiosity to everything she does. This shines through in our conversation, as does her passion for what she does on a day to day basis with QS.
We talked about advice Jessica would give to her younger self – or to women entering the international higher education space and she stressed the need to follow your own path.  Build up skills and confidence to know your vision is as good as anybody else. Didn’t try to conform. Be yourself.
The conversation came full circle with Jessica linking her interest in being an orchestra conductor to her current professional life.  The role of a conductor is to bring people together.  Jessica is fundamentally interested in the what and why of how things work – and how the people operate within this space. International Higher Education provides a great opportunity to do this and, as a result, demonstrate impact and solve problems.
Be hugely supportive and hugely aspirational - both as parents and leaders.
 
https://www.qs.com/our-team/jessica-turner/
#womeninleadership #empowerment #curiosity #forgeyourownpath #teamwork #QS #internationalhighereducation
 
 

Barriers, Mentors and Progress: Journeys in International Higher Education

In this latest Think Education podcast, Chris and Judith talk to Dr Lobar Babakhodjaeva, Associate Professor, Global Education Department, Westminster International University in Tashkent – Uzbekistan.  We spoke to Lobar about her journey through education, to senior leadership, to a focus on her research and teaching.
This podcast is the latest over the past year, grounded in our ongoing interest on voices and journeys in education and is linked to the book we are currently finishing (writing, not reading) that has a particular focus on the role of women in international higher education.
Lobar talked about the role of mentors in her life and career development and how important this is to develop leadership capabilities and awareness of what is possible.
We talked about the importance of normalizing equal access and opportunity for both boys and girls.  Both Lobar and Judith shared stories about experiences they have had where gender was seen as a barrier – or at the very least, a challenge.
Lobar wrote a post following the podcast - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7213593511944699905/ - where she outlines more of her experience and poses the following questions for comments:
What are the challenges faced by female leaders in higher education? How many female leaders/managers do you have in your institution? 2.    What was the role of mentors in your career development?3.    What can HEI do to try to address the inequality and imbalance?
We talked about strategies and approaches for access, development and empowerment and Lobar talked about her experience and the need to not focus on others but make sure you can prove things to yourself. 
Progress will be made through continued conversation, increased understanding and meaningful action.
 
#femaleleadership #womeninhighereducation #mentors #development #research #professionaldevelopment #homeeconomics #access #support #opportunity

Breaking the Fourth Wall: What we talk about when we talk about podcasting

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