Mapping (but Not Solving) the Science Communication Crisis

The dramatic expansion of higher education and research has meant that publications have expanded exponentially. They have become the coin of the realm for academic advancement, university prestige, and global rankings. New technologies, multinational publishers, and open access arrangements have led to an expansion that is essentially destroying the traditional publishing system and creating an insurmountable crisis in scientific communication. This analysis provides a roadmap of the crisis, but no clear solutions

Edward Kessler and Neil Wenborn, Eds. A Documentary History of Jewish-Christian Relations: From Antiquity to the Present Day

No abstract is available

The Twin Challenges for Tertiary Education in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, tertiary education enrollments have exploded globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This expanding demand for tertiary education presents two central challenges for policy makers: managing the pressures on quality, relevance, governance, and equitable access; and managing the financing of the sector. Effective responses will involve substantial investments in infrastructure, training, diversification of delivery, and regulatory reforms

The Recurring Tide: Politicization and the Future of International Higher Education

The politicization of international higher education is not new, but a recurring pattern shaped by global shifts. This essay traces historical debates documented by International Higher Education over the last 30 years, analyzing how past challenges—nationalism, economic rationales, and security concerns—mirror today’s discussions. By recognizing these cycles, we can explore strategies to move beyond reactive policies and foster more purposeful and sustainable internationalization approaches

Recognition of Microcredentials in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities

Higher education is expected to prepare students with skills relevant to the job market. In response to this, policy makers have begun integrating microcredentials into degree programs. Microcredentials carry academic credits, distinguishing them from traditional short courses. Therefore, it is important to focus on microcredentials by trusted providers, ensuring quality assurance and portability. Their expanded use will undoubtedly enable students to flexibly acquire skills of their interest while pursuing a degree

E-Learning Adoption and Use in Higher Education: Evidence from Zimbabwe

E-Learning adoption and use by university students have become prevalent worldwide, but developing nations still need to catch up. This study aims to establish critical paths amongst determinants of “behavioural Intention” and “use behaviour” in eLearning use and adoption in Higher Education in Zimbabwe using the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The PLS-SEM method was used to evaluate the modified unified theory of acceptance and use of technology path model. A sample of 520 university students was used to collect data using an online survey created on Google Forms. The findings show that “Habit” had the most influence (0.804) on “Behavioural Intention,” followed by “Performance Expectancy” (0.319) and “Effort Expectancy” (0.270). Behavioural Intention had a significant influence (0.831) on “Use Behaviour.” The path model explains 88.8% of “Behavioural Intention" and 76.1% of “Use Behaviour” variances. Though limited, this study is significant to students in higher Education, policymakers and researchers, given the importance of technology in the education sector

Azerbaijan's Aliyev Dynasty

Azerbaijan has been captured by the Aliyev family, which has turned the nation into its personal fiefdom since consolidating power in 1994. Current president Ilham Aliyev operates virtually unconstrained by any form of opposition: in addition to overseeing his father’s cult of personality, he has also pocketed hundreds of millions in state funds and changed the constitution to allow himself to stay on as president for life. How has Azerbaijan, a nation with a proud heritage as the first Muslim democracy, fallen into the grip of such a retrograde regime? This paper argues that the Aliyevs have successfully used a cocktail of oil wealth, nationalism and repression to keep themselves in power. But regime tactics are only part of the story: a key factor in Azerbaijan’s failure to democratize has been the astounding lack of external pressure and the international community’s problematic willingness to accept Aliyev regime narratives. Until this changes, the Azerbaijani people will likely continue to languish in the shadow of Heydar Aliyev and his enormously corrupt son

Cognitive Misers: How People Calculate the Worth of Their Vote

Each election ushers in a torrent of political analysis venturing to predict what voter turnout will look like— which demographics of people will participate in the highest numbers, and which will stay home. Whether the analysis is based on gender, race, education, age, or level of political awareness, no single attribute can capture the enigma of voter turnout. This piece confronts the question of how people decide that voting is worthwhile. In light of human tendency to act as cognitive misers who seek to minimize effort and maximize reward, voting, as a rational choice and collective action problem, defies logic. The nature of voting is such that costs are incurred at the outset (learning about candidates and registering), but rewards (victory for one’s ideal candidate and feelings of personal virtuosity) cannot be redeemed until Election Day. In examining the social, mental, and objective reasons for voting, this article analyzes voter motivation and examines the paradoxical factors that push citizens to the voting booth

A Legal, Ethical, and Public Policy Analysis of Airbnb: How Platform Design and Legal Loopholes Enable Discrimination in the Sharing Economy

This paper analyzes how Airbnb’s platform design, legal classification, and economic incentives enable racial discrimination within the sharing economy. Despite public commitments to diversity and inclusion, Airbnb continues to facilitate bias due to loopholes in civil rights legislation and design features such as profile pictures and name visibility. Empirical studies and high-profile incidents underscore persistent racial disparities for both guests and hosts. This paper concludes with policy recommendations, including legislative reforms, design changes, and stronger state-level protections. It advocates for a modernized legal framework that holds digital platforms accountable and ensures equity across the sharing economy