By Ranjit Devraj. The Indian government will put more money into quality higher education – especially its prestigious medical, technological and management institutes, in a bid to propel them towards ‘world-class’ status – according to budget plans announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last week. More...

By Wagdy Sawahel. United States president Donald Trump’s travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, including the three African nations of Libya, Somalia and Sudan, is a blow not only for African students and academics, but for the US itself, according to North African and Middle East academics. More...

By Ian Wilhelm, The Chronicle of Higher Education. As reports of the impact of the Trump administration’s travel restrictions emerge, one population in higher education seems disproportionately affected – Iranian academics and students. More...

By Matthew Hartley. There’s a surprising winner in United States President Donald Trump’s travel ban for people from seven predominantly Muslim countries: research universities in China – and their counterparts in Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Mexico. More...

By Rahul Choudaha. The potential impact of the recent ban on entry into the United States by citizens from seven Muslim countries, signed by US President Donald Trump, could be severe for international enrolments at many US higher education institutions. More...

By Brendan O’Malley – Managing Editor. In a Special Report emanating from United States President Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries, University World News reports on the outcry from higher education leaders and associations in America and around the world. Rahul Choudaha predicts a damaging impact on US international student recruitment and a precipitous decline in enrolment from Muslim countries. Gerard Postiglione argues that there will be no university winners in the changing diplomatic relationship between the US and China – but the advantage could go to Chinese higher education – while Matthew Hartley contends that research universities in China, Europe and other countries could benefit from Trump’s travel ban while the US and post-Brexit Britain experience brain drain.
In a second Special Report, we cover last week’s annual conference of America’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation held in Washington DC. In one of four articles Mary Beth Marklein writes that one of the overriding messages of the conference was for quality assurance and accreditation professionals to rise to the challenge of preserving core academic values while adjusting to a shifting higher education terrain.
In Commentary, Simon Marginson reflects on the role that higher education needs to play in rebuilding social solidarity and operating as a common good in what have become fractured societies – with higher education not blameless in perpetuating social inequality. Libby Blanchard urges scientists and concerned citizens to fight back against the Trump administration’s broad attack on US federal environmental protection and scientific research, and to defend truth in all ways possible.
World Blog focuses on academic leadership, with Nita Temmerman cautioning universities to appoint deans who have faculty interests – rather than their own research – at heart.
You are invited to register for the free international webinar entitled “Are universities crucibles of transformative leadership?”, to be held on Wednesday 8 February and hosted by University World News, in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation and DrEducation. Read more...