Stop the Insanity! Please!

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Remember Susan Powter? That punk-looking fitness/nutritional guru back in the 1990s? Yes, she’s the one who lost 130 lbs and then ran around America shouting “Stop the Insanity!” Well, that’s what came to mind this week after reading several articles on student loans, Marion Jones, US torture, et al. I read an AP article yesterday … Continue reading Stop the Insanity! Please!

Regional Development and the Role of the University

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute  “In order to be competitive in the globalizing knowledge economy, the OECD countries need to invest in their innovation systems at the national and regional levels…As key sources of knowledge and innovation, higher education institutions (HEIs) can be central to this process.” (OECD, 2007, p. 11). VALENCIA, SPAIN — And so it began. A three-day … Continue reading Regional Development and the Role of the University

When Europe Comes Alive

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Last week I had the fortune of presenting at the European Association for Institutional Research Conference (EAIR) in beautiful Innsbruck, Austria. For those who don’t often get the opportunity to travel to Europe, let alone international conferences, much of the current dialogue revolves around something called the “Bologna Process” (or Accord). For the uninitiated, the … Continue reading When Europe Comes Alive

Does Money Matter?

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute Earlier this morning, InsideHigherEd.com reported on a new study released by “NBER” (the National Bureau of Economic Research) on the importance of money in college access and success. The study looked at the relative importance of finances in the persistence of students in higher education, especially for low-income students. So you don’t have to wait, … Continue reading Does Money Matter?

A Potpourri of News

By Watson Scott Swail, President & Senior Research Scholar, Educational Policy Institute The more I write this weekly column, the more I feel like I’m shifting towards VH1’s “The Best Week Ever,” wanting to make fun of every lawmaker in the US and Canada (not that there aren’t many more lawmakers around the world we couldn’t make fun of). But I’ll try and behave myself and not … Continue reading A Potpourri of News