Press Release

HIFA2015: to achieve goals - more support is required
17 May, 2014

“Our shared vision is a world where people are no longer dying for lack of healthcare knowledge.” Statement on HIFA2015 website.

HIFA2015 (Healthcare Information for All by 2015) is a global network of more than 10,000 members which aims to improve the availability of lifesaving information in developing nations. Based in the United Kingdom, HIFA2015 is now supported across 167 countries by at least 2,000 separate organisations. These include the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Midwives and Publication Integrity & Ethics (PIE).

Educating women in the third world: what is the socio-economic impact?
14 May, 2014

Educating women is purported to be one of the most valuable investments a developing country can make. Research has found that nations that educate girls to the same degree as boys benefit from longer life expectancies, lower birth rates and higher economic growth. Evidence also shows that educating girls reduces child malnutrition rates and lowers the risk of HIV infection. So, if educating women is such a good idea, what is holding the third world back?

Communications between COPE and PIE
02 May, 2014

The Publication Integrity and Ethics (PIE) received its first communication from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) on the 18th of February 2014. Dr Virginia Barbour, Chair of COPE and Medicine Editorial Director of PLOS sought clarification on some of the issues that were raised previously by anonymous bloggers. The communications can be accessed through these following links:

1st communication (18th Feb 2014): Email from Natalie Ridgeway, COPE Operations Manager with an attachment from Dr Virginia Barbour, Chair of COPE and Medicine Editorial Director of PLOS. (Link)
2nd communication (26th Feb 2014): Email from Waseem Jerjes, Director and Vice-Chairman of PIE. (Link)
3rd communication (11th Mar 2014): Email from Waseem Jerjes, Director and Vice-Chairman of PIE. (Link)
4th communication (18th Mar 2014): Email from Waseem Jerjes, Director and Vice-Chairman of PIE. (Link)
5th communication (2nd April 2014): Email from Dr Virginia Barbour, Chair of COPE and Medicine Editorial Director of PLOS and Natalie Ridgeway, COPE Operations Manager. (Link)

Student numbers soar - and staff levels fall
02 May, 2014

University students should feel confident that lecturers can provide the support they need throughout their academic study at the institution. Is this crucial aspect of higher education being compromised?

Whilst job cuts are limiting the number of lecturing staff, enrolment figures continue to rise. If a lecturer does not have enough hours in the day to spend time with an ever increasing number of students, the quality of learning will, inevitably, decline.