In Features this morning

Merlin Crossley (UNSW) argues that in higher education big is beautiful  “we are delivering more knowledge to more people than ever before”. Problem is that universities can now look like corporations, which some people don’t like – not non-profits investing in teaching and research. So what is to be done? “We have to focus and avoid expanding the core purpose of universities to beyond what is credible to our critics,” he suggests.

plus Jack Breen (UNSW) looks at election advertising in social media. So far Labor is spending way most – but not on education messages.

and Warren Bebbington (Uni Melbourne) on how universities can urgently address climate change in teaching, research and service. “It is in their core programmes that universities can make the most significant contribution to ending this alarming crisis,” he writes.

with Catharine Coleborne and Clare Lloyd (Uni Newcastle) on a new BA, with more inquiry-based subjects and interactive pedagogies. It has changed how academics think about designing and teaching humanities. It’s Commissioning Editor Sally Kift’s selection this week for her celebrated series, Needed now in teaching and learning.

as well as Angel Calderon’s (RMIT) analysis of the new Times Higher impact rankings (CMM yesterday) – which Aus universities are up, those that are down, how it happens and why it matters.