This paper explores undergraduate academic probation policies in United States universities from a policy discourse analysis perspective. Academic probation policies from 32 institutions were characterized by normalization and regulation. These encompassed classification, exclusion, and sanctions of students in order to produce retention.…

"Beyond Good Intentions" provides a guide for states to craft equity-driven policies that are specific, actionable, measurable and well funded. It outlines four major steps states should take when considering and creating new policy: (1) Examine the Data to Set the Goal for the Policy: Specific types of data to consider when identifying…

After many years of dominant anti-utopianism, there has been a resurgent and fruitful interest in utopian thought across disciplines. In our uncertain times, many theorists call for a rethinking of what counts as a desirable future. We respond to this call from an interdisciplinary perspective on the interconnectedness, and potential common cause,…

Rankings dominate higher education policy making, although little is known about the experiences of those involved in perpetuating rankings. This paper explores middle-level academic leaders' sensemaking about university rankings and related policies in East Asia. Since university rankings have affected higher education policies and strategies…

In recent years, research policy has increasingly prioritized the societal impact of academic work, emphasizing external relevance, public value, and collective benefit. In many countries, a wealth of data has been generated by national assessments that require universities to submit narratives on their contributions outside the academy. Despite…

This case study engages educational leaders in exploring how district-specific stakeholder perspectives might impact recruitment policy implementation and resource allocation through the lens of the Community Cultural Wealth framework. The case introduces Dr. Sheila Hill, the superintendent of a large district with a significant population of…

New data streams highlight the low levels of access to climate finance by the most climate-vulnerable countries, which struggle with conflict and displacement and call for more effective financing mechanisms. While such measures are urgent, their effectiveness and impact depend on investments in capacity development and education. In exploring…

In today's educational landscape, where censorship is increasingly being used to control and homogenize ideologies, it's crucial to examine how censorship policies are being framed and subsequently negotiated. This paper uses frame analysis to analyze two instances of book censorship in Catholic schools, exploring how insiders (e.g.,…

Staff and faculty at every institution could share stories about how they have seen some initiatives spectacularly succeed and others completely fail--leading to feelings of frustration and fatigue. Too often, a "good idea" or new institutional policy is developed in a vacuum or with little thought as to how professionals on campus will…

Based on a 16-month qualitative study, this article documents the diverse guanxi practices used by private tutoring entrepreneurs in Chongqing, China. It reveals how these entrepreneurs leverage their social connections to support their businesses. Informed by Karl Weick's theory of organising, we argue that guanxi practices are sensemaking…

Sustainability education governance plays a vital role in advancing global environmental and social goals, yet its institutional forms vary widely across countries and regions. While international frameworks such as SDG 4.7 and UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) provide broad objectives, the ways in which sustainability education…

As digital transformation increasingly drives reforms in vocational education, this study aims to assess the current status and effectiveness of digitalization policies across five provinces in China. By applying the Policy Modeling Consistency (PMC) index model, the study quantitatively analyzes 21 policy documents from 2012 to 2024 based on nine…

This study aims to analyze the influence of the discourse of international organizations on university social responsibility (USR), from international organizations, in the policy and management frameworks of the State University System in Colombia. Then, we reviewed institutional documents of global and regional organizations, as well as…

In the United States, the Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) has emerged as a state-level policy innovation to recognize high school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages. Just after the state of South Dakota passed the 50th and final state SoBL policy in 2024, Aguirre and Chou (2024) released the national SoBL report to detail the…

Background: Early childhood education (ECE) in Southern Africa has gained increasing attention for its role in promoting educational equity. At the same time, inclusive education has been promoted across the region. Both ECE and inclusive education face challenges such as inadequate teacher training, limited infrastructure and sociocultural…