News

This section provides news about PASCAL together with significant developments in policy and research relating to the areas of interest to PASCAL. It is based on regular scanning of policy, practice and academic literature, including web-based sources.

We invite readers to submit items for consideration. Please send your contributions to our Submissions Administrator.

High-level group issues ‘wake-up call’ for Member States to address literacy crisis

The report states that literacy is a ‘big deal’ because:

  • The labour market requires ever higher literacy skills (by 2020, it is estimated that 35% of all jobs will require high-level qualifications compared to 29% today);
  • Social and civic participation are more literacy-dependent in the digital world;
  • The population is ageing and their literacy skills, including digital literacy skills, need updating;
  • Poverty and low literacy are locked in a vicious circle, each fuelling the other;
  • Growing mobility and migration are making literacy more and more multilingual, combining a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The Crisis in Higher Education - Technology Review

Online versions of college courses are attracting hundreds of thousands of students, millions of dollars in funding, and accolades from university administrators. Is this a fad, or is higher education about to get the overhaul it needs?

An interesting and informative article in Technology Review by Nicholas Carr.

Towards Common Criteria for Learning Communities and Cities (Second Extended Version)

Featured below and attached you will find the second and extended version of the framework document Towards Common Criteria for Learning Communities and Cities (Word and PDF).

You are most welcome to circulate the framework, as we are interested in all kinds of comments and reflections.

Best regards,

Jan Gejel

Xploit Coordinator

Survey evaluates Queensland local government climate mitigation

The University of Southern Queensland was involved with PURE recently in a review of the engagement processes in existence amongst government, agency and higher education institutions in the Darling Downs region. A report has been issued recently on climate concerns and illustrates the further linkages now in progress between the University and local government agencies in the area. It is an interesting postscript to the PURE review of such relationships.

Associate Professor Heather Zeppel, Mid Career Research Fellow at USQ reports:

New book from PASCAL Associate, Professor Peter Mayo

Politics of Indignation – Imperialism, Postcolonial Disruptions and Social Change

Peter Mayo
Publication date: October 2012

This work focuses on contemporary issues within the context of neoliberalism and colonial legacies, while exploring decolonizing  spaces.

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13th PASCAL International Observatory Conference - Glasgow

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