By Matthew Kupfer. When Munkhtsetseg Enkhbat, a Mongolian language instructor at the National University of Mongolia, wanted to expand her knowledge in the related field of Manchurian linguistics, she decided to go abroad. But instead of heading to China, she enrolled in a doctoral program in Russia. That decision might seem strange on the surface, but it made perfect sense to Enkhbat. “This is a center of Mongolian studies, and a Manchuria expert works here,” she said, referring to St. Petersburg State University, where she is doing her doctoral work. “Many famous scholars in this field spent their whole lives doing research in this university.”
Russia has traditionally been a magnet for Mongolian students seeking a higher education. Since 1922, over 60,000 Mongolians have obtained degrees in Russia, according to the Kremlin-sponsored Russian Center of Science and Culture in Ulaanbaatar. But since the collapse of communism, these ties have frayed, as a growing number of Mongolian students headed to Asia and the West for their higher education. Russia is no longer Mongolia’s only ally and link to the outside world. Read more...

By Liz Brassington. Increasingly, higher education institutions are viewing themselves and their mission on a global, rather than simply a national, scale - as, indeed, are their students and academic staff. As a result, many are considering entering into an international joint venture (JV) or partnership, whether that may be through validation of courses run abroad, franchising, the establishment of branch campuses or strategic partnerships for research. This article looks at some of the potential benefits and risks of international JVs to UK higher education institutions (HEIs). Read more...

Westliche Universitäten gründen gern Filialen in China. Damit wollen sie neue Studenten gewinnen. Doch in China wird zuweilen ganz anders gelehrt und gelernt. So kann das Studium in Fernost frustrierend werden.
Das große Haus in Minhang im Westen von Schanghai ist ziemlich leer, das Kinderzimmer seit Jahren unbewohnt. „So ist das, wenn die Kinder aus dem Haus sind“, sagt Jiang Min, eine kleine Frau mit welligem Haar. „Dann wird es stiller.“ Ihr Sohn Chao Hong Yu, der früher in dem Kinderzimmer gewohnt hat, studiert in Ningbo - an der University of Nottingham. Die britische Universität betreibt dort, knapp 150 Kilometer südlich von Schanghai, einen eigenen Campus. Chao Hong Yu macht dort im Sommer seinen Bachelor-Abschluss, dann soll es nach Großbritannien gehen, nach Nottingham, an den Hauptsitz der Universität. Dort will der Chinese seinen Master machen. Seine Mutter wird ihn höchstpersönlich dorthin bringen. „Ich muss ja sehen, wo mein Kind hinkommt“, sagt sie. Chao Hong Yu wird mehrere Jahre lang in Großbritannien studieren - und dort als „internationaler Ausländer“ saftige Studiengebühren zahlen. Doch die muss er nicht selbst aufbringen. Seine Mutter ist Direktorin bei einer Versicherung, der Vater hat ein Unternehmen. Geld ist da, auch für ein Auslandsstudium. Mehr...

Following the recent integration of ESMU into EFMD we are pleased to share an invitation to attend the Heads of University Management & Administrative Network in Europe (HUMANE) 2013 Annual Conference that will be hosted by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, Italy on the 14-15 June 2013. This historic setting will be a beautiful backdrop to a very dynamic conference on the theme of - International Students: Challenge and Change!
With speakers from DAAD, the University of Amsterdam, i-Graduate, the University of Nottingham and our hosts, this subject will be explored form different angles. We are proud to announce the leading presentations from:
    * Internationalisation in Higher Education: Rationales, Drivers, Stakeholders
      Nina Lemmens, Director for Internationalisation and Communication, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) (DE)
    * How to Attract and Retain International Students
      Nannette Ripmeester, Director of Client Services Europe, i-Graduate Europe (NL)
    * Social media strategies for Universities: engaging students on the web
      Donatella Padua, Adjunct Professor of Sociology, University for Foreigners of Perugia (IT)
    * Branding the intellectual hub in Europe
      Yasha Lange, Head of Corporate Communication and Spokesman of the Executive Board, University of Amsterdam (NL)
    * Three memos for this millennium
      Roberto Fedi, Professor of Italian Literature and Dean, University for Foreigners of Perugia (IT)
    * The case of Nottingham (tbc)
      Paul Greatrix, Registrar, University of Nottingham (UK). Read more...
See also on the blog: Successful Universities, The social dimension in European higher education, Next HUMANE Seminar: Edinburgh 22-23 September 2011.

By Shane McGinley. Australia is considering relaxing visa requirements for UAE citizens in a bid to boost trade between the two countries and encourage more Emirati students to study at Australian universities, the UAE Foreign Minister has said.
“We have the opportunity to discuss this issue and we have received positive indicators from the Australian foreign minister. The process requires more time and consultations between the two countries,” UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said when asked about the possibility of a waiver of visa requirements for UAE citizens wishing to visit Australia.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, speaking at a press conference to mark his visit to the emirates, said UAE-Australia ties were “strong and firm” and noted trade between the two countries had reached $6bn. Nearly 16,000 Australians are living and working in the UAE and more than 125 flights per week are scheduled between the two countries. Read more...

By Dave Solomon - New Hampshire Union Leader. CONCORD - A university near Torino, Italy, licensed by the state of New Hampshire, had its degree-granting authority extended for another year by the state Higher Education Commission.
The commission voted last week to accept a May 1 update from St. John International University on finances and enrollment, and extended approval through June 30, 2014, with progress reports due on Nov. 1, 2013 and March 1, 2014.
The commission plans another site visit to SJIU in the spring of 2014. The actions taken Wednesday were based on the recommendations of a team that visited the Italian campus in December of last year. All expenses for those visits are paid by the university, according to Richard A. Gustafson, director of the Division of Higher Education. At its March meeting, the commission requested more information on enrollment and finances. Enrollment is projected to increase from 99 last year to 204. Read more...

The Canada-Africa Research Exchange Grants program is part of a two-year pilot program funded by the International Development Research Centre.
IDRC aims to fund seven to eight grants worth a maximum of $40,000 each to support short-term exchanges between Canadian and African universities and research institutes that address IDRC research themes. As well as joint research activities, the program will also provide some support to activities aimed at improving student training at the graduate level.
APPLY HERE – Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Read more...