By Karen MacGregor. In Commentary, Andrew Gunn and Michael Mintrom see the new Asian Universities Alliance as an innovative policy tool for advancing China’s soft power and geopolitical ambitions. Andrew Pilkington argues that to combat disadvantage faced by ethnic minorities in universities in the United Kingdom, institutions must identify processes with adverse outcomes and take positive action to promote racial equality.
   Eric Fredua-Kwarteng outlines the concept of an African developmental university, whose mission and role is determined by the needs of local society. A ‘pedagogy of connection’ is a critical necessity for the university to function effectively as a partner for development. Kajsa Hallberg Adu describes how a deep engagement with ethics at Ashesi University College in Ghana, founded by internationally respected leader Dr Patrick Awuah, is introducing new benchmarks for business and universities in the region, continent and world.
   In Q&A, Yojana Sharma interviews Kakha Shengelia, head of Georgia’s Caucasus University in Tbilisi, about his impending presidency of the International Association of University Presidents during a period of global uncertainty. And in World Blog, Patrick Blessinger argues that engaging more students in research activities as part of their educational experience will help to transform learning.
   In Features, Haroon Mirani reports on clashes between students and the Indian army that have paralysed campuses in Kashmir and injured hundreds of people. Geoff Maslen charts the rise of Chinese student mobility across the world – alongside growth in foreign students in China and proportions of Chinese study abroad students returning home. More...

By Sharon Dell – Acting Africa Editor. In Africa News, Tunde Fatunde writes about the response of academics in Nigeria to the intensification of attacks by Boko Haram on the University of Maiduguri, while in our Academic Freedom section, Ashraf Khaled highlights the findings of a recent report by the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression on increased curbs by state authorities on academics in Egypt.
   In Africa Analysis, Eric Fredua-Kwarteng outlines the concept of an African developmental university, whose mission and role is determined by the needs of local society. A ‘pedagogy of connection’ is a critical necessity for the university to function effectively as a partner for development, he argues. Kajsa Hallberg Adu describes how a deep engagement with ethics at Ashesi University College in Ghana, founded by internationally respected leader Dr Patrick Awuah, is introducing new benchmarks for business and universities in the region, continent and world.
   In Africa Features, Reuben Kyama interviews a former university academic and Kenyan presidential candidate about his plans to redeem the image of higher education if elected to office, while Ochieng’ O Benny highlights the findings of a report by the Internet Society on the power of connectivity to transform higher education on the continent.
   In Q&A, Yojana Sharma interviews Kakha Shengelia, head of Georgia’s Caucasus University in Tbilisi, about his impending presidency of the International Association of University Presidents during a period of global uncertainty. And in World Blog, Patrick Blessinger argues that engaging more students in research activities as part of their educational experience will help to transform learning. More...