7 juillet 2017

Academics in Crewe are waiting in limbo. The campus, which is run by Manchester Metropolitan University, is the main centre for higher education in south Cheshire. But in February it was confirmed it would close in the summer of 2019, with 160 academic jobs at risk, and last week those academics were planning to stage a two-day walkout in protest. Welcome to life at the sharp end of the market revolution in English higher education, writes Rebecca Ratcliffe for the Guardian. More...

The ministry of higher education and scientific research has allocated TND2.5 million (US$1 million) over four years to support academic efforts to better understand the roots of radicalisation in young people, and how to combat it. Four research projects have been selected for support under the initiative – one in the humanities and social sciences, and three in engineering and technology, writes Khaoula Sliti for Al-Fanar. More...

Labour unions and PhD student associations in Italy have criticised the government’s focus on research and development that comes at the expense of the nation’s universities after €200 million (US$223 million) was allocated to the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa at the end of May, writes Santiago Sáez Moreno for Chemistry World. More...

Students and working professionals will soon be able to obtain a degree online and it will be recognised by higher education regulator, the University Grants Commission. The human resource development ministry has decided to allow universities to offer such degrees and is drafting rules, writes Neelam Pandey for Hindustan Times. More...

Ariel University is to double in size within the next five years, according to a plan now being promoted by Education Minister Naftali Bennett. Ten or 12 new buildings are to be added for new faculties in research and teaching at the university, located in the West Bank settlement of Ariel, in occupied Palestinian territory, as well as a new medical school, to be named after US billionaire businessman Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam, write Lior Dattel and Ronny Linder-Ganz for Haaretz. More...

China’s anti-corruption watchdog has accused 14 top universities of ideological infractions after a months-long investigation, as the country’s ruling Communist Party broadens its political control over educational institutions, reports the Financial Times. More...

In recent months, there has been a surge in the demand for blockchain professionals. Recognising this opportunity, several universities have added blockchain studies to their fields of study to tailor their educational offerings to these new developments in the job market, writes Alex Lielacher for Bitcoin Magazine. More...

By Sharon Dell. Upon receiving an honorary degree from the University of Ghana in 2000, former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said universities should become primary tools for Africa’s development – not only because they can help develop African expertise and enhance analysis of African problems, but because they could strengthen domestic institutions and serve as model environments for good governance, conflict resolution and respect for human rights. Are African universities living up to this challenge. More...

By Simon Ngalomba. Climate change is emerging as a life and death concern, and its effects will increase in the future. Universities have a critical role to play in adjusting to and mitigating the emerging realities of climate change. More...

By Sharon Dell. The issue of resource constraints features consistently in all discussions on the role of universities in environmental management – a sub-theme of the recent 14th General Conference of the Association of African Universities or AAU, held in Accra, Ghana earlier this month. But as Tanzanian lecturer Simon Ngalomba reminded the conference, climate change is now a “life and death” concern. More...