Michelle L. Stack

Michelle Stack is associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Her research centers on the role of media and market logics in the transformation of education; media education; and media-academic communication aimed at expanding public debate about what a good education is. Prior to becoming an academic Michelle was a communications director and policy consultant. Michelle can also be found on twitter at @MichelleLStack

University of Otago, NZ

University Rankings Distract From Higher-Education Reform

University rankings might claim to provide an index through which students, faculty, and the general public might ascertain a number of things: the quality of education provided by an institution, the potential for networking at an institution, the breadth and depth of research being performed at an institution, and more. The institutional quest towards topping the university rankings can, however, derail efforts towards the improvement of society and higher education at large.

4 years ago
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Worry About Adults and How We Come to Believe in Lies

We have entered an era of lifelong media education, says Michelle L. Stack. This includes an examination of how we freely share information about ourselves on social media that is then used to frame how we see others and ourselves.

7 years ago
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What’s ‘World Class’ About University Rankings?

Higher education is a globally competitive market and institutions with a high rank can claim exceptionalism that brings in students and funding, acknowledges our Michelle Stack. But are rankings genuinely useful for students or for research?

7 years ago
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Back to School – ABCs

Just in time for the first days of school, Michelle Stack offers an A-to-Z lesson in concepts that should be packed in every university-level schoolbag.

7 years ago
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Which University Rankings Should You Trust?

There are at least 12 university rankings that claim to be global, and in this video Michelle Stack focuses on the big three — the Times Higher Education, QS, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities. She asks what does being a “top-ranked” university mean to students? And who decides this ranking anyway?

7 years ago
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What Connects English Language Testing, Tours and Education Markets?

Universities around the world are impacted by narrow definitions of world-class education, but a just-concluded trip o India reminded our Michelle Stack that institutions individually and through international collaborations can and do make choices that mitigate or increase inequity.

8 years ago
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Lego figures working

The Politics of Knowledge Mobilization

When universities make note of how they ‘mobilize knowledge,’ they tend to focus on a select group of activities for an equally select audience. That’s a disservice.

8 years ago
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