Blog Archives
HE News Brief 6.7.10
by Anisa Siddikah
From Students studying a Masters degree to new graduates working in low-paid jobs, here are this weeks news:
- In Dubai more and more students are returning back to higher education, in particular studying for a Masters or a Postgraduate Diploma due to the downturn in the job market. Students are incurring a huge financial burden but are anticipating securing a job in this tough climate.
Full Story:The National - Universities in Pakistan are going to have a tough job of verifying degrees of high ranking officials, such as law makers and members of parliament. The Higher Education Commission has barred the Al-Kahir University from admitting any new students from last year as the university failed to meet government approved criteria for what is classified as a ‘degree’. Universities, including University of Punjab, Peshawar University, University of Karachi and The Pakistan Military amongst others have until the 13th July to verify these degrees:
Full Story:Dawn.com
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HE News Brief 29.06.10
by Abby Chau
From poor performance European Universities to a retail store offering degree courses, here are this week’s news:
- A group of experts at the University of Maastricht at Brussels are calling for a manifesto to be drawn in order for differentiation between teaching and research universities, greater autonomy from the government and increased internationalisation. The manifesto urges European universities need to act quickly as performance in general is quite poor in the university world rankings. Europe needs to attract more students from all over the world but the government are reluctant to put any more funding in the higher education. The manifesto highlights the need for graduate contributions and business funding in order to recruit skilled graduates.
Full Story: Times Higher Education - A letter from the Higher Education Funding Council for England announced £200 million cut will be made for universities this year, alongside 10,000 student places would be funded this autumn, the government announces. Tighter savings cost have to be made by univesities after 2011. According to University College Union, secretary, Sally Hunt argues making cuts to the this sector is a wrong move at the wrong time.
Full Story: Google - Private colleges in America are being accused of recruiting vulnerable students, leaving them in huge student debts and without any high job prospects. Universities are breaching federal rules to recruit these vulnerable students and are having to fork out in millions to settle these charges. The US Public Interest and Research Group and US Student Association are calling for strong rules to help protect students being recruited by deceptive recruiters on one hand as well as from ruthless lending companies on the other.
Full Story: University World News
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HE News Brief 22.06.10
by Anisa Siddikah
From a dispute of a control USA-Indian project to the World University Rankings, Here are this week’s news stories:
- A $10 million project financed by the USA and India has been in dispute regarding who will control this project. The project is to enhance the ties between the two countries higher education system and promoting exchanges between junior faculty members in the American and Indian colleges. The USA are arguing they want full control of the project and India are arguing they want partial or full control. A senior Administrator at the Indian Ministry and a U.S. Embassy spokesperson deny there is there is a power control issue that exists between both parties. However The US government argue the Intuition called the India-United States Educational Foundation are best equipped to take control as they have the right sources, experiences and infrastructure. However the Indian Regulating Agency (Government agency that regulates India’s university) argue that the Educational Foundation is still predominantly an American organisation and not entirely neutral.
Full Story: The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Business Leaders are urging the British Government to think long and hard before they make cuts on university fundings. Senior executives from Shell, Glaxo Smith Klien, National Railway amongst others argue universities make a huge contribution to the UK economy. The British Government are planning to make £650 million cuts in the higher education. According to the University sector links between businesses and university contribute £31 billion directly and £59 billion indirectly.
Full Story: BBC News Continue Reading
HE News Brief 15.6.10
by Anisa Siddikah
From spending cuts on UK education to reforming higher education in Abu Dhabi, here are this week’s news stories:
- David Willets the Minister for Universities for the UK, told the BBC that the current university system needs to be changed to give taxpayers and students a better deal. Universities are facing hard times economically and therefore need to find cheaper and flexible methods to teach. A report is expected to be due in the autumn regarding funding. Many students fear that tuition fees will rise and are angry at this.
Full Story: BBC News
- Almost 200,000 places are being frozen for university places due to public sector cuts. Students are to be left without degree courses and foreign students are likely to be charged very high fees.
Full Story: Telegraph Continue Reading
