By . Lawmakers acknowledge that the rate on a low-interest federal loan for millions of college students in financial need is likely to double on Monday because of a congressional stalemate over how to stop that from happening. But Democratic senators said Thursday that the rate hike on new subsidized Stafford loans — to 6.8 percent from the current 3.4 percent — will be temporary and reversible. Read more...30 juin 2013
No Deal on Loans
By Libby A. Nelson. It was a scenario that's become depressingly familiar for higher education in recent years: a race against the clock as a predetermined deadline loomed, with financial aid for thousands of students hanging in the balance. On Thursday, though, the clock ran out: the Senate's failure to reach a deal to avert an interest rate hike for federally subsidized student loans means the rate will double Monday. Read more...'Hall of Shame,' Again
ByLibby A. Nelson. The Education Department has updated its annual list of the country’s most expensive colleges (by net price and by list price), and, as always, this year’s list contains familiar names. Columbia University narrowly edged out Sarah Lawrence College -- a perpetual contender on the list, and one that has defended its high tuition -- for the most expensive tuition list price, at $45,290 in the 2011-12 academic year. Read more...Unusual Introduction to the Abstract
By Paul Jump for Times Higher Education. Scientists wedded to the laboratory bench around the clock must have resorted on occasion to personals columns to find a preferable nocturnal pursuit. But young biologists at the University of Derby have been given an early introduction to personal ads by two academics. Ian Turner, senior lecturer in biology and forensic science, and Ellen Beaumont, lecturer in vertebrate biology, wanted to find an engaging way to teach their second-year biological sciences undergraduates how to write the abstracts that summarize journal paper findings. Read more...Wikipedia contributors ‘should be proud’
By Chris Parr. Academics should be proud about the contributions they make to Wikipedia, instead of treating them like a “shameful secret”. That is the view of an academic who is to work as an ambassador for interaction between scholars and the online encyclopaedia. Read more...Student loan rate likely to double on Monday, but lawmakers hope to reverse hike
By . Lawmakers acknowledge that the rate on a low-interest federal loan for millions of college students in financial need is likely to double on Monday because of a congressional stalemate over how to stop that from happening. But Democratic senators said Thursday that the rate hike on new subsidized Stafford loans — to 6.8 percent from the current 3.4 percent — will be temporary and reversible. Read more...Who Bill Gates is giving money to now in education
By Valerie Strauss. The Gates Foundation has distributed a slew of grants to educational institutions and organizations in June for varied pursuits, including implementation of the Common Core State Standards, improvement of the federal financial aid system, and creation of a “national cadre of teachers experimenting with the use of games, learning and assessment tools.” Here are some of the largest education grants awarded by the foundation this month, obtained from the foundation’s Web site. Read more...Non state universities will absorb those left out
By Anushika Ranadewa. Non-state and foreign university participation in fulfilling the higher education needs of students who are unable to enter state universities should be highly appreciated”, said Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake. The Minister was addressing the international partnership conference of University of Wolverhampton, held at the Cinnamon Grand yesterday.
Commenting further, Minister Dissanayake stated “in Sri Lanka even though 125,000-130,000 students get qualified to enter State Universities, only 25,000-35,000 actually enter universities. Read more...
Up to 30 HE institutions 'could fail' if falling student demand continues
By . Dozens of higher education institutions are at risk of closure in the next few years, university leaders have warned. Several university leaders predicted in survey that 'as many as 20 to 30 current higher education institutions could become unviable if student demand continues to fall'.Over half of the leaders questioned were concerned by falling numbers of undergraduate students, and over 90 per cent were worried by decreasing numbers of UK and EU postgraduates. Read more...
Scottish Government accused of interfering in governance of universities
CONSERVATIVES and Lib Dems hit out at the Scottish Government as MSPs start their vote on the final form of the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill. THE Scottish Government has been accused of trying to interfere in the governance of universities. The suggestion was made by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats as MSPs began to vote on the final shape of the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill.SNP ministers hope the legislation will reform further and higher education, widen access, regionalise colleges, change governance and put a cap on university tuition fees. It is expected to pass its final stage today. Read more...
University presidential vacancy spurs concerns
The position of president of one of China's most prestigious universities - Zhejiang University - has been vacant for months, with alumni against the so-called assignment system of the position. The presidency became available after Yang Wei was transferred to become the secretary of the committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) of China National Science Foundation in February.Lin Jianhua, president of Chongqing University, has been considered the most likely candidate to be selected by the Ministry of Education to take the Zhejiang position, according to online speculation. The Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Education choose the presidency of a top university. Read more...
