IPLS - Institute for Policy & Legal Studies

Shaping the policy agenda since 1999

[Cass Sunstein @CassSunstein]

Dolly Parton was a miracle - among other things, of kindness, generosity, goodness, charity, forgiveness, decency, humor, empathy, wit, perceptiveness, and love.

[Cass Sunstein @CassSunstein]

Generous review of my book, On Liberalism.
https://t.co/Lxhi0lS8Pg

[Digital EU 🇪🇺 @DigitalEU]

Why is it so hard to stop scrolling?

A study tracking 900 people found that momentary temptation, more than stress or mood, was the biggest factor driving people to social media, online shopping, or video games.

#WeekendRead: https://t.co/gBA8gk7lUz

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

The first ever Strictly Education podcast is out on YouTube!

Find it and subscribe! 😊

https://t.co/ExLiDHDqiO

[OECD Education @OECDEduSkills]

AI is changing how students learn, but what does that mean for education outcomes?

The results of the world's biggest survey of 15-year-olds is coming out soon.

Save the date for the launch.
📅 8 September

#OECDPISA

[OECD Education @OECDEduSkills]

Many of the people solving tomorrow’s problems may be sitting in classrooms right now.

Are we preparing them to reach their potential?

Find out at the upcoming PISA launch.

📅 8 September 2026
⏰ 9:30 CEST / 07:30 UTC

Watch the release live: https://t.co/DbaStISu5e

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

Excellent by @daisychristo

“What I am describing above is not a hypothetical prediction of how “vocational at 14” might go wrong. It is exactly how the system went wrong within very recent memory. So if you are advocating for vocational qualifications at 14, I think it is incumbent upon you to explain how you will stop all these problems happening again.”

https://t.co/x2qRnWhG3Z

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

Peterson’s wise words here are often misunderstood by parents/teachers.👇

We think this means we should open the fence and relax, allowing kids freedom to do as they please. (Then they aren’t cowards and they can be creative!🙄)

But inherent in what Peterson is saying is the assumption that the child is in a rule-based system where they can use their agency to push the rule or to follow along.

The stronger the fence, the more creative the child has to be to find the holes.

Tighter discipline means more creativity.

We also misunderstand discipline. We think it is about severity of punishment. It isn’t. It is about consistency. The more consistent the game, the more the kids excel.

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

@JonHaidt We don’t just ban phones at Michaela. We have a serious policy on encouraging parents not to give smartphones to kids at home either. Makes a HUGE difference. All bullying and altercations start on social media. Kids are much happier and achieve more without them.

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

“The union says prolonged social media use has damaged young people’s attention spans, concentration and capacity to learn for extended periods of time”

A teaching union saying something sensible! Woohoo! 🥳

Labour must ban smartphones for kids! https://t.co/ZRreAGVRcB

[IPLS - Institute for Policy & Legal Studies @IPLSAL]

IPLS is proud to share the publication of “On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom” by Cass R. Sunstein, now available in Albanian.

At a time of rising polarization this book explains the core ideas of liberalism, freedom, pluralism, and the rule of law!

@CassSunstein

[IPLS - Institute for Policy & Legal Studies @IPLSAL]

Archeological Museum Durres! A must-visit site, showing ancient works of art!

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Reporting from a farm in West Sussex, Sky's @ashishskynews Joshi spoke to a local farmer about how 'unprecedented' heatwaves in the UK and across Europe could lead to inflation of food prices.

This summer's extreme weather has been linked to a period of "historic and unprecedented change" to the UK's climate, with multiple records broken.

[CNN @CNN]

The first two months of summer in western Europe have been the hottest on record, the European Union's climate monitor said Monday, as the continent grapples with devastating wildfires and braces for yet another heatwave. July was also the hottest month ever logged for the world's non-polar oceans, the Copernicus climate change service said, putting sea life and coastal communities at risk. https://t.co/PqUea4qjIX

[Reuters @Reuters]

For anyone in Europe who still thought climate change was a problem for future generations, this summer's sweltering heatwaves have brought home the reality that its costly and life-altering economic impacts have already arrived https://t.co/dszLnTs3gc

[Digital EU 🇪🇺 @DigitalEU]

Ever saw weird ads online?

With the Digital Services Act:

✅Ads must be clearly labelled
🚫Minors cannot be targeted
🚫Special categories of personal data are forbidden

Discover your online rights: https://t.co/OAUDfJ5Amp

#DSA

[Katharine Birbalsingh @Miss_Snuffy]

Schools get closed down for being strict. That’s what we need to understand.

That’s what the parents fought for!

We regularly blame teachers but they are simply members of the public.

How are Heads meant to have strict discipline if parents demand a relaxed attitude?

[Albanian MEFA 🇦🇱 @AlbanianDiplo]

President Zelenskyy’s visit to Serbia is important. Dialogue is always welcome, particularly when it creates space to address difficult questions with clarity, responsibility and a sense of history.

Just as Albania stands, and will continue to stand, firmly with Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and European future, we stand equally firmly for Kosovo’s sovereignty, independence and rightful place in the Euro-Atlantic family.

There should be no misunderstanding on this point: any attempt to draw a parallel or establish an equation between Kosovo and any other international situation is wrong, opportunistic and profoundly misleading.

Kosovo’s case stands on its own historical, political and legal foundations. At the request of the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice was unequivocal: Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an entirely different matter. It constitutes a grave violation of the UN Charter and international law, and a blatant breach of the rules-based international order.

From Albania’s perspective, one principle is fundamental: a peaceful, stable and European Western Balkans requires acceptance of the reality and irreversibility of Kosovo’s independence. Kosovo independence has contributed to regional stability and is part of a future in which borders are not changed through force, and peoples and communities can determine their future in peace and security.

We firmly maintain also that Serbia and Kosovo both belong in a common European future. The normalisation of their relations, ultimately leading to mutual recognition, would not weaken Serbia. On the contrary, it would help close one of the most painful chapters of our region’s recent history and open the way to genuine reconciliation, good-neighbourly relations and lasting peace. The Western Balkans needs that positive energy today, perhaps more than ever.

President Zelenskyy’s visit to Serbia advances, first and foremost, Ukraine’s interests. This is both understandable and legitimate. Yet, every step that helps Serbia move further away from Russia’s malign influence and closer to Europe is positive. But every engagement is also an opportunity to advance a fundamental understanding: the Western Balkans must move forward, not backward.