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72 results for The Conversation Education
United States

How to encourage a child to try new, scary things (without traumatising them in the process)

research
The Conversation Education 1d ago research
Summary
Justin Paget/ Getty Images If your child has ever dug their heels in on the morning of the school athletics or cross country day, or refused to speak in front of the class, you’re not alone. For some children, these kinds of events bring a…
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United Kingdom

Almost 20% of Australian students don’t finish school – these 3 things can help them stay

policy
The Conversation Education 3d ago policy
Summary
Abstract Aerial Art/ Getty Images The latest data on Australian schooling shows about 81.5% of Year 10 students go on to Year 12. This is a modest rise of 1.6 percentage points on the previous year, but figures have been largely stable…
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United States

Only 37% of Year 10 students meet our national standards for digital skills

policy
The Conversation Education 8d ago policy
Summary
Frazao Studio Latino/ Getty Images The latest round of national testing has shown Australian school students’ skills around digital tools, such as computers and tablets, has dropped. This is despite students spending significant time…
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United States

You don’t need an ATAR to go to uni. You can do an ‘enabling’ or ‘bridging’ course instead

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 9d ago higher-ed
Summary
Attila Csaszar/Getty Images In years gone by, school leavers had one main chance to get into university – by finishing their Year 12 exams with certain marks. Media coverage of Year 12 results perpetuates the idea everything hinges on your…
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United States

27% of Australian students now have an adjustment for disability at school. Why are we seeing this growth?

policy
The Conversation Education 10d ago policy
Summary
Peter Cade/ Getty Images New data shows 27.2% of Australian students are receiving an adjustment for disability at school. This is up from 25.7% in 2024 and 18% in 2015. An educational adjustment helps students participate on the same…
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Australia

The government has blocked funding to 13 research projects for security reasons. What happens now?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 16d ago higher-ed
Summary
Late last week, the Australian Research Council quietly made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the academic community. The federal education minister, Jason Clare, blocked research funding to 13 projects “for reasons relevant to…
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United States

Getting the kids out the door for school drives me bananas. How can we make mornings calmer?

research
The Conversation Education 16d ago research
Summary
10'000 Hours/Getty Images Getting the kids out the door for school can feel like herding cats in the rain. Just when one child is ready, another can’t find a shoe, someone remembers homework, and someone else starts crying because they…
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United States

So your Year 12 student hasn’t decided what’s next. Here’s what to say – and what not to – about career planning

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 17d ago higher-ed
Summary
Westend61/ Getty Images For Year 12 students, final exams are getting closer and applications for university and other courses are opening. So naturally, conversations at home and with wider family and friends are turning to what’s going…
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Australia

The government wants to save $463m by tightening disability support to school students. What’s going on?

policy
The Conversation Education 21d ago policy
Summary
Alistair Berg/Getty Images The federal government has announced a new “ safeguard ” around how funding is spent to support school students with disabilities. The budget papers say there is an issue with “ inaccurate claiming ” by schools…
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New Zealand

NZ’s costly fees-free scheme did little to widen access to tertiary education – new study

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 23d ago higher-ed
Summary
Getty Images The government’s decision to scrap the one-year fees-free tertiary scheme in this month’s Budget will be contentious. Some will see it as a sensible saving, others as another blow to students facing high living costs. But the…
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United States

Help! I’m almost finished school but don’t know what I want to do next

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 23d ago higher-ed
Summary
Rachel Claire/ Pexels As Year 12 students pass the halfway point of their final year, the question of “what next?” can start to loom large. Some students have a clear plan: a course they want to get into, a trade they want to start, or a…
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United States

Governments keep trying to make childcare safer. Could a new ‘national commission’ make a difference?

policy
The Conversation Education 24d ago policy
Summary
Maskot/ Getty Images Governments have spent about a year announcing new policies to make early education safer for Australian children. In the wake of reports of shocking abuse and neglect in daycare centres , there have been moves to…
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United States

Hackers just stole data from 9,000 schools and unis around the world. How can we protect student privacy?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 27d ago higher-ed
Summary
This week, US-based education technology provider Instructure announced a significant cybersecurity incident affecting its Canvas system . This is used by schools and universities around the world, including in Australia. Cyber crime group…
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Australia

Choosing a high school can seem enormous. How do you know if one is right for your child?

policy
The Conversation Education 27d ago policy
Summary
Andresr/Getty Images Across Australia, Year 6 families are doing the rounds of high school open nights, information evenings and tours. Perhaps in your area, you don’t get a choice of schools. Maybe you and your child have already made up…
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Australia

‘What do you want to be?’ The spark that helps Indigenous people go to uni

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 29d ago higher-ed
Summary
Sol Stock/ Getty Images Across Australia, universities and governments say increasing the numbers of Indigenous graduates is one of the main priorities in tertiary education. First Nations people are still considerably underrepresented in…
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United States

You don’t get long in parent-teacher interviews. Here’s how to use the time well

research
The Conversation Education 31d ago research
Summary
SDI Productions/ Getty Images It’s the time of year when schools and parents typically meet for parent-teacher interviews. These meetings are often short: in high school, usually only five to ten minutes per subject. In primary school,…
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Australia

$50,000 arts degrees look set to stay, despite a new bill trying to slash uni fees

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 35d ago higher-ed
Summary
For five years, many Australian university students have been watching the amount they have to pay for their studies with alarm and despair . In response, the Senate is considering a Greens bill to slash high university student…
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United States

‘I don’t believe no screens is possible’: how parents manage devices and little kids

policy
The Conversation Education 35d ago policy
Summary
Vanessa Loring/ Pexels Parents are told to avoid screens altogether in the first two years of a child’s life. At the same time, digital devices are part of everyday family life used for communication, work, learning, and at times, simply…
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Australia

We studied the bacteria on kids’ sports mouthguards. The results were eye-opening

research
The Conversation Education 38d ago research
Summary
Galitskaya/ Getty Images Many young Australians are beginning their winter sports season, gearing up for sports such as football, hockey and rugby. Apart from the training sessions, weekend games and oranges at half-time, these contact…
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United Kingdom

Taking your child to an Anzac service? Prepare for loud noises and big questions

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 41d ago higher-ed
Summary
Tens of thousands of Australians are expected to attend Anzac Day marches and services over the weekend. Many children will also be there with their families or school groups. Anzac events are often very sombre and can provoke serious…
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United States

Pretend play is a magical part of childhood. New research suggests it can also help mental health

research
The Conversation Education 43d ago research
Summary
Liliana Drew/ Pexels Pretend play is a significant and often magical part of childhood . Children have huge imaginations and use these to turn rocks into spaceships, tables into forts or pens into fairies. They might pretend to be “mum” or…
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United Kingdom

Australia has access to 20,000 migrant teachers, but is not using them. Why not?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 44d ago higher-ed
Summary
Vanessa Garcia/ Pexels Australia needs more teachers. It ranks among the worst-performing countries in the OECD for teacher shortages. This is particularly so for public schools . As of December 2025 , there was a reported shortfall of…
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Does your school do mental health checks? They should be regular, not just a one-off

research
The Conversation Education 50d ago research
Summary
Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty Images Students’ mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing schools. In Australia, half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14 . It is also estimated that more than 50% of children…
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Does your school do mental health checks? They should be regular, not just a one-off

wellbeing
The Conversation Education 50d ago wellbeing
Summary
Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty Images Students’ mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing schools. In Australia, half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14 . It is also estimated that more than 50% of children…
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🌐

Google promotes ‘teacher approved’ apps for kids. Here’s what parents should know

News
The Conversation Education 51d ago General
Summary
Ron Lach/ Pexels As school holidays continue around Australia, many parents are looking for educational ways to keep their children entertained. If you own an Android device and have young children, you may find yourself browsing Google…
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Google promotes ‘teacher approved’ apps for kids. Here’s what parents should know

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 51d ago higher-ed
Summary
Ron Lach/ Pexels As school holidays continue around Australia, many parents are looking for educational ways to keep their children entertained. If you own an Android device and have young children, you may find yourself browsing Google…
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Australia

Fixating on a ‘magic number’ of childcare hours misses what’s most important for kids’ development

research
The Conversation Education 55d ago research
Summary
Lisa from Pexels/Pexels Families with kids juggling full-time work may have been alarmed by media reporting this week, suggesting “ too much ” time in early childhood education and care could harm their child’s development. Data from a…
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Fixating on a ‘magic number’ of childcare hours misses what’s most important for kids’ development

research
The Conversation Education 55d ago research
Summary
Lisa from Pexels/Pexels Families with kids juggling full-time work may have been alarmed by media reporting this week, suggesting “ too much ” time in early childhood education and care could harm their child’s development. Data from a…
Read Story
🌐

Choosing a school holiday program can be tricky. Here’s how to identify a good one

News
The Conversation Education 59d ago General
Summary
Phynart Studio/ Getty Images When the bell rings at the end of each term, there is a happy buzz as kids leave school for the break. But for many parents, the start of the holidays brings a different feeling entirely: how are they going to…
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Choosing a school holiday program can be tricky. Here’s how to identify a good one

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 59d ago higher-ed
Summary
Phynart Studio/ Getty Images When the bell rings at the end of each term, there is a happy buzz as kids leave school for the break. But for many parents, the start of the holidays brings a different feeling entirely: how are they going to…
Read Story
🌐

I hate it when other adults ‘parent’ my kids. What can I do?

News
The Conversation Education 63d ago General
Summary
Suzanne Walstrom/ Getty Images Long weekends often bring family and friends together in a mix of generations. Somewhere between the egg hunt and hot cross buns this weekend, there might be a moment where another adult steps in to “parent”…
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I hate it when other adults ‘parent’ my kids. What can I do?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 63d ago higher-ed
Summary
Suzanne Walstrom/ Getty Images Long weekends often bring family and friends together in a mix of generations. Somewhere between the egg hunt and hot cross buns this weekend, there might be a moment where another adult steps in to “parent”…
Read Story
🌐

Does AI mean more uni students are plagiarising their work?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 63d ago higher-ed
Summary
dusanpetkovic/ Getty images People using other peoples’ ideas, words and creations without acknowledgement is a widespread problem. Plagiarism occurs everywhere from restaurant menus to political speeches and music . Within academia,…
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Does AI mean more uni students are plagiarising their work?

edtech
The Conversation Education 63d ago edtech
Summary
dusanpetkovic/ Getty images People using other peoples’ ideas, words and creations without acknowledgement is a widespread problem. Plagiarism occurs everywhere from restaurant menus to political speeches and music . Within academia,…
Read Story
🌐

‘Mum and Dad both finished school in Year 10’ – how to help first-in-family students graduate from uni

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 65d ago higher-ed
Summary
Each year, about 30% of new undergraduates in Australia are the first in their families to go to university. This means their parents do not have a university-level qualification. Often, they also don’t have any siblings or relatives who…
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‘Mum and Dad both finished school in Year 10’ – how to help first-in-family students graduate from uni

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 65d ago higher-ed
Summary
Each year, about 30% of new undergraduates in Australia are the first in their families to go to university. This means their parents do not have a university-level qualification. Often, they also don’t have any siblings or relatives who…
Read Story
🌐

We surveyed more than 8,000 principals – they face violence, threats and stress in their schools

wellbeing
The Conversation Education 66d ago wellbeing
Summary
Hill Street Studios/ Getty Images Almost half of surveyed Australia’s school principals face physical violence in their jobs. Almost 90% say they encounter offensive behaviour from students, parents and even colleagues, according to new…
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We surveyed more than 8,000 principals – they face violence, threats and stress in their schools

wellbeing
The Conversation Education 66d ago wellbeing
Summary
Hill Street Studios/ Getty Images Almost half of surveyed Australia’s school principals face physical violence in their jobs. Almost 90% say they encounter offensive behaviour from students, parents and even colleagues, according to new…
Read Story
Australia

Are you worried about your preschoolers’ anxiety? Here’s how to help

research
The Conversation Education 69d ago research
Summary
New research on a group of Australian preschoolers suggests more than 40% are dealing with an anxiety disorder. The study , led by Monash University and published in the journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, was based on…
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🌐

Are you worried about your preschoolers’ anxiety? Here’s how to help

wellbeing
The Conversation Education 69d ago wellbeing
Summary
New research on a group of Australian preschoolers suggests more than 40% are dealing with an anxiety disorder. The study , led by Monash University and published in the journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, was based on…
Read Story
🌐

Why are public schools asking parents to pay fees?

News
The Conversation Education 71d ago General
Summary
Pixdeluxe/ Getty Images At this time of the school year, many schools are asking families to pay fees . These are not private schools, but public schools. The fees are voluntary and go towards a range of items such as stationery, textbooks…
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Why are public schools asking parents to pay fees?

policy
The Conversation Education 71d ago policy
Summary
Pixdeluxe/ Getty Images At this time of the school year, many schools are asking families to pay fees . These are not private schools, but public schools. The fees are voluntary and go towards a range of items such as stationery, textbooks…
Read Story
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Victorian teachers are on strike for the first time in 13 years – it’s about more than pay

policy
The Conversation Education 72d ago policy
Summary
Victorian public school teachers are walking off the job today. Tens of thousands of school staff, including support staff and principals , are expected to strike. Teachers in Tasmania are also striking this week . Public schools will be…
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🌐

Victorian teachers are on strike for the first time in 13 years – it’s about more than pay

policy
The Conversation Education 72d ago policy
Summary
Victorian public school teachers are walking off the job today. Tens of thousands of school staff, including support staff and principals , are expected to strike. Teachers in Tasmania are also striking this week . Public schools will be…
Read Story
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Some schools have stopped running camps as costs rise. What can we do instead?

News
The Conversation Education 73d ago General
Summary
Imgorthand/ Getty Images School camps have long been a rite of passage for many Australian students in both primary and high school. Typically, camps begin in primary school and continue into the secondary years, ranging from a single…
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Some schools have stopped running camps as costs rise. What can we do instead?

policy
The Conversation Education 73d ago policy
Summary
Imgorthand/ Getty Images School camps have long been a rite of passage for many Australian students in both primary and high school. Typically, camps begin in primary school and continue into the secondary years, ranging from a single…
Read Story
🌐

Some kids stop swimming lessons too early. How well can your child actually swim?

News
The Conversation Education 76d ago General
Summary
As the weather starts to cool down and outdoor pools shut, are you thinking of pressing pause on your child’s swimming lessons, or even stopping altogether? If your child has reached a certain level, has stopped making progress or is no…
Read Story
🌐

Some kids stop swimming lessons too early. How well can your child actually swim?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 76d ago higher-ed
Summary
As the weather starts to cool down and outdoor pools shut, are you thinking of pressing pause on your child’s swimming lessons, or even stopping altogether? If your child has reached a certain level, has stopped making progress or is no…
Read Story
Australia

Victoria’s school reports are set to change. What does this mean for teachers and families?

News
The Conversation Education 78d ago General
Summary
Rawpixel/ Getty Images On Tuesday, the Victorian government announced it is revamping its student reporting for public schools. As part of a broader push to cut down on teachers’ paperwork, it will simplify the reports that go home to…
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🌐

Victoria’s school reports are set to change. What does this mean for teachers and families?

policy
The Conversation Education 78d ago policy
Summary
Rawpixel/ Getty Images On Tuesday, the Victorian government announced it is revamping its student reporting for public schools. As part of a broader push to cut down on teachers’ paperwork, it will simplify the reports that go home to…
Read Story
Australia

Almost 80% of Australian uni students now use AI. This is creating an ‘illusion of competence’

News
The Conversation Education 79d ago General
Summary
Thai Lian Lim/ Getty Images In Australia, artificial intelligence is becoming a near-universal feature of education. As of 2025, nearly 80% of university students reported using AI in their studies. Overseas, reports are even higher. This…
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🌐

Almost 80% of Australian uni students now use AI. This is creating an ‘illusion of competence’

edtech
The Conversation Education 79d ago edtech
Summary
Thai Lian Lim/ Getty Images In Australia, artificial intelligence is becoming a near-universal feature of education. As of 2025, nearly 80% of university students reported using AI in their studies. Overseas, reports are even higher. This…
Read Story
Australia

There’s a new plan to help First Nations students from daycare to uni. What does it need to work?

News
The Conversation Education 80d ago General
Summary
David F/ Getty Images The federal government is promising a new policy to guide First Nations students right throughout their education careers. It will cover from the time they are in early childhood education right through to after they…
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🌐

There’s a new plan to help First Nations students from daycare to uni. What does it need to work?

policy
The Conversation Education 80d ago policy
Summary
David F/ Getty Images The federal government is promising a new policy to guide First Nations students right throughout their education careers. It will cover from the time they are in early childhood education right through to after they…
Read Story
🌐

NAPLAN is being used by some schools as an entrance exam. This isn’t what it’s designed to do

curriculum
The Conversation Education 83d ago curriculum
Summary
Alistair Berg/ Getty Images School students around Australia have begun their NAPLAN tests this week. Amid technical glitches during the writing component of the exam on Wednesday, there has also been confusion about the purpose of the…
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🌐

NAPLAN is being used by some schools as an entrance exam. This isn’t what it’s designed to do

curriculum
The Conversation Education 83d ago curriculum
Summary
Alistair Berg/ Getty Images School students around Australia have begun their NAPLAN tests this week. Amid technical glitches during the writing component of the exam on Wednesday, there has also been confusion about the purpose of the…
Read Story
🌐

As NAPLAN suffers technical problems, why are major tests done online?

curriculum
The Conversation Education 84d ago curriculum
Summary
Rawpixel/ Getty Images NAPLAN testing started with a technical glitch on Wednesday morning. Schools were advised to pause the first day of assessments while a “widespread issue affecting students being able to log on to the online…
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🌐

As NAPLAN suffers technical problems, why are major tests done online?

curriculum
The Conversation Education 84d ago curriculum
Summary
Rawpixel/ Getty Images NAPLAN testing started with a technical glitch on Wednesday morning. Schools were advised to pause the first day of assessments while a “widespread issue affecting students being able to log on to the online…
Read Story
🌐

All it takes is paint and pancakes. How to boost your preschooler’s science skills

News
The Conversation Education 85d ago General
Summary
Andrea Piacquadio/ Pexels Parents of young children will be aware of the need to encourage early reading and maths skills in their kids. They know it’s important to make time to read with their children. Or point out that “cat” starts with…
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🌐

All it takes is paint and pancakes. How to boost your preschooler’s science skills

curriculum
The Conversation Education 85d ago curriculum
Summary
Andrea Piacquadio/ Pexels Parents of young children will be aware of the need to encourage early reading and maths skills in their kids. They know it’s important to make time to read with their children. Or point out that “cat” starts with…
Read Story
🌐

School hours have barely changed since the 1800s. This doesn’t suit teenagers’ sleep

News
The Conversation Education 87d ago General
Summary
Anastasia Babenko/ Getty Images This year, students at The King’s School in Sydney are starting lessons later on Wednesdays. The start of the usual day has been pushed back from 8.50am to 9.40am. This is to allow students to do…
Read Story
🌐

School hours have barely changed since the 1800s. This doesn’t suit teenagers’ sleep

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 87d ago higher-ed
Summary
Anastasia Babenko/ Getty Images This year, students at The King’s School in Sydney are starting lessons later on Wednesdays. The start of the usual day has been pushed back from 8.50am to 9.40am. This is to allow students to do…
Read Story
🌐

NZ wants to double foreign student revenue by 2034 – but does it have capacity?

News
The Conversation Education 91d ago General
Summary
Joe Allison/Getty Images On the face of it, New Zealand’s push to expand international education looks like an easy win for economic growth. Government targets, announced last year, aim to nearly double revenue to NZ$7.2 billion by 2034,…
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NZ wants to double foreign student revenue by 2034 – but does it have capacity?

international
The Conversation Education 91d ago international
Summary
Joe Allison/Getty Images On the face of it, New Zealand’s push to expand international education looks like an easy win for economic growth. Government targets, announced last year, aim to nearly double revenue to NZ$7.2 billion by 2034,…
Read Story
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Back at uni? How to help your wellbeing while you study

research
The Conversation Education 94d ago research
Summary
University can be a time of great opportunities, but it can also be very stressful . Many students need to support themselves financially and may be living away from home. Students are also under constant deadlines and, if in their final…
Read Story
🌐

Back at uni? How to help your wellbeing while you study

wellbeing
The Conversation Education 94d ago wellbeing
Summary
University can be a time of great opportunities, but it can also be very stressful . Many students need to support themselves financially and may be living away from home. Students are also under constant deadlines and, if in their final…
Read Story
🌐

Should unis ditch group assignments?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 97d ago higher-ed
Summary
Is it time to get rid of group assignments at university? Federal Opposition education spokesperson Julian Leeser thinks so. On Thursday, he called for universities to drop group assessments entirely, arguing they are fundamentally…
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Should unis ditch group assignments?

higher-ed
The Conversation Education 97d ago higher-ed
Summary
Is it time to get rid of group assignments at university? Federal Opposition education spokesperson Julian Leeser thinks so. On Thursday, he called for universities to drop group assessments entirely, arguing they are fundamentally…
Read Story
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Victorian public school teachers want a 4-day week trial. What could this mean for schools?

News
The Conversation Education 99d ago General
Summary
JohnnyGreig/ Getty Images When we think about jobs you can do from home, you may not immediately picture a school teacher. But as Victoria debates a new right to work from home , the state’s teachers are asking what this might mean for…
Read Story
🌐

Victorian public school teachers want a 4-day week trial. What could this mean for schools?

policy
The Conversation Education 99d ago policy
Summary
JohnnyGreig/ Getty Images When we think about jobs you can do from home, you may not immediately picture a school teacher. But as Victoria debates a new right to work from home , the state’s teachers are asking what this might mean for…
Read Story
Australia

I’m a drowning prevention researcher – my kid’s school swimming carnival shocked me

News
The Conversation Education 100d ago General
Summary
Pixabay/ Pexels It is swimming carnival season in Australia. This typically means children from about Year 2 and up are asked to swim a distance of 50 metres or one length of an Olympic-size pool – if they say they can. As a parent of…
Read Story
🌐

I’m a drowning prevention researcher – my kid’s school swimming carnival shocked me

research
The Conversation Education 100d ago research
Summary
Pixabay/ Pexels It is swimming carnival season in Australia. This typically means children from about Year 2 and up are asked to swim a distance of 50 metres or one length of an Olympic-size pool – if they say they can. As a parent of…
Read Story