Think Education

Dr Paula Sanderson, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary Cardiff University joins the Think Education podcast to talk about TNE, branch campus development in Kazakhstan and to field our prods to write about her experiences for our next book. Paula’s experience is truly global, and she reflected on her initial work in Malaysia and the tensions that exist in the international learning spaces – around access, identity and representation.  We talked about the ways in which these approaches can be adapted, developed and improved through conversations, discussions and transparency.  It is important to sit with people you disagree with and not assume that you are always right.  Places of true inclusivity are those where we have difficult conversations and work on issues. Several key questions that arose from our discussion: How does TNE improve cross-cultural competence? How do we just listen to others and engage accordingly? Do we self-censor? If we meet the needs of the host country, why can’t we also

Talking about change has been a constant for us over the past few Think Education podcasts and indeed books we have written.  Today we talk about international students and the changes that are afoot. While we recorded this episode a few months ago, the subject is still as relevant today as it was then.  Political issues are driving actions and students are often at the end of the process and feeling the brunt of action – along with the financial bottom line of many universities, and the communities in which they operate, around the world.  Education may well be a public good, but it is also a political tool – particularly when we consider this within the landscape of transnational education.  Judith reflected on whether this is seen as a ‘blip’ that can be weathered and ‘got through’ or an indicator of a much broader and deeper change in higher education and identified that are conversations about programme pricing models and the reality that costs over the past decade have naturally changed and the need to

In this latest episode of the Think Education Podcast Judith discussed her recent attendance at Going Global, a panel discussion she attended on Europe – which links to one of our previous episodes, and in particular a plenary session she attended on AI in international higher education. We talked about the nature of fear regarding the use of AI in education and the need to regulate that formed many of the early conversations about AI and how this is changing to focus on the need for relevant training and support.  Chris talked about a recent HEPI study (linked below) that highlights student concern over the use and integration of AI in their learning and the fact that we need to consider how to leverage and integrate AI to support teaching and learning. Chris talked about his work with Dr Tendai Charles on AI in teaching and learning and the UAE initiative, earlier this year, on the integration of AI at all levels of curriculum.  We discussed different possible applications for AI in teaching and learning –

In this latest episode of the Think Education podcast, Judith reflected on her planning for the upcoming Going Global in London – this has now taken place.  Going Global holds a special place in our hearts, as it does for many people in our sector, and always provides a wonderful opportunity for engagement, discussion and learning. And is quite likely the place where Judith and Chris actually met. We discussed collaborative models and Judith highlighted that many of the European partnership agreements fall into one of two categories: student exchange – such as Erasmus; and research but often the two don’t meet in the middle. We did mention Brexit and the impact this had upon institutions and their ability to support (certainly financially) programmes and engagement. And identified that one positive at least of that process was in raising the level of conversation about possible collaboration. Chris reflected on the still relative ‘newness’ of discussing TNE in Europe as it is so often understood as something

In this latest Think Education podcast episode, Judith and Chris continue their conversation from last week – Who does TNE depend on? - to think more deeply about the next stages for TNE development.  We discussed underlying motivations for TNE engagement (finances, branding, necessity) and reflected on the intrinsic value of TNE and the need for it to have its own identity and space in a university agenda.  Partnership is absolutely pivotal whether within education, government or industry.   We covered several questions along the way:  What is happening in the UK higher education space and is TNE going to solve it?  What is the next fix for international higher education?  What’s next for TNE?  We thought about the need for new models and approaches to developing TNE and would be interested to hear from colleagues on this – answers on a self-addressed envelope please.  We should think about the positive nature of developing TNE for TNE’s sake, rather than as a fix for something that has gone wrong.  We

In this latest episode of the Think Education podcast, Chris talks to Judith about her recent attendance at the UUKi Transnational Education Conference 2025, held in Senate House, London. https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/events/transnational-education-conference-2025 Judith reflected on the sessions she attended, and the information shared and discussed throughout the two-day event and the people she heard present and lead discussion - Janet Ilieva, David Pilsbury, Eduardo Ramos.  Some of the key takeaways were the need to be prepared and try to think of key issues in advance, such that you can communicate your findings and realities to different audiences. How do different types of university networks support engagement and activity? Competitive space appears to shifting to a collaborative one. People were sharing their reflections about a bold new world and there was an element of hope and forward thinking that Judith found very powerful. Never underestimate the value of a good discussion about taxe

Memory and the Impact of Learning In this episode of the Think Education podcast, Chris and Judith talk about memory, the past, the present and the future.  We ponder the student experience, motivated by our own understanding of what impacted us along our respective journeys. The impact of a good teacher should not underestimated, nor should the road less travelled.  The intangibles have been instrumental in our development, even if they are hard to quantify. The value of a university is based on reputation, credibility, accreditation and so a lot of the value for the student is based on the past but the degree will be awarded in the future. But we don’t know where we are going to be in the future despite how many of us talk about being ‘future focused.’  We are assigning a future value to a degree that rests on the past.  This led us to rambling on about how we assign value and what function does memory play in this?  We talked about things that impacted us over the course of our careers; who were those teac

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

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

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 cultu

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 introductio

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 talk

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-p

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 fea

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 passi

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 p

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

International Student Perspectives: Taiwan and the UAE In a companion type piece to last week’s look at international student mobility in Australia, today we asked students to reflect on their experiences with and at university. This episode of the Think Education podcast includes reflections from postgraduate students from the College of Education at National Chengchi University (Taiwan) and the Faculty of Education at the British University in Dubai (UAE). We talked about what they hope and hoped to get out of their journey in higher education.  We asked them about their reflections on the role and purpose of a university.  We talked about community engagement and the profile of a university in the community itself. We asked them to reflect on the future of international higher education, and they gave some advice on navigating presenting at international conferences.  We talked about imposter syndrome and how it never really goes away. Their reflections are positive and insightful – and not always what you

International student recruitment caps in Australia – a review and discussion In this latest episode of the Think Education podcast, Judith and myself were delighted to be joined by return guest, Dr Douglas Proctor, Pro Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement, Swinburne University of Technology.  We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Douglas again – even if the subject matter wasn’t all that cheerful in nature. Douglas provided a deeply insightful and reasoned discussion regarding the recent changes in Australia regarding international student numbers and legislation to curtail and significantly reduce them. Douglas explained that there will be a system of caps put in place to regulate numbers and while these can be exceeded with a financial penalty, Ministers will also have the ability to prevent recruitment and even possibly licenses, should this occur.  While this seems like an extreme case and perhaps unlikely, the fact that the possibility exists is significant.  The capping of numbers will natu

In this latest Think Education podcast episode, Judith and Chris talk to Sharon Davies-Smith, College Director/Principal and Chief Operating Officer – The College, Swansea University. In addition to this being a fascinating conversation, it has been a few months since we spoke to somebody from Wales and this could clearly not be allowed to stand any longer! Sharon talked about her background and journey through education, hall tutor, teacher, commercial buyer for Sainsbury’s and Next and then back to education to her current role as Chief Worrier at Swansea University.  We explored her journey and reflected on how, as if often the case, things make complete sense when seen in reverse.  Sharon also talked about the need to be assertive and put yourself forward for opportunities and how this was, and remains today, a challenge that faces many women. Sharon reflected on the work in progress that is achieving work-life balance and understanding what things you can let go, what to fight for and how to know the dif