Research is playing a key role in efforts to better understand and fight ISIS

By Brendan O’Malley – Managing Editor. In Commentary Matthew Francis says academics have made tremendous advances in understanding why and how people join violent extremist groups like ISIS, and are sharing this research with intelligence agencies to inform the fight against terrorism. Jeremy Rappleye and Edward Vickers give pointers, from the perspective of foreign academics in Japan, as to how the country can produce the more globalised education system its policy-makers want. Eric Fredua-Kwarteng defends his concept of the developmental university in Africa, saying the developmental role of universities in helping solve Africa’s problems should start now. Draft education reforms in Vietnam have sparked controversial debate on the teaching of history in secondary schools and Ly Pham contends that reforms must start at university level, ensuring teachers are trained to build critical thinking skills. Alain Mayeur describes a new Internet portal for online learners and teachers in France, launched by the government as part of its digital strategy for education.
In our World Blog, William Patrick Leonard suggests that mission statements may be the place to start a slimming down process in United States universities to better align expenses with likely income streams.
In Features, Nicola Jenvey tells how higher education is the top cause that philanthropists donate towards, garnering 30% of total million-dollar global donations. And Wachira Kigotho says although Kenya is taking the university to the village, there are many compromises on quality that need to be addressed before other African countries think this is the answer to low access rates. Read more...