By Andrew Marszal. The university at the heart of last year's row over "bogus" student visa applications has regained its licence to teach international students, the Home Office announced today. London Metropolitan University had its licence to recruit and teach non-EU students revoked last year over concerns about its failure to monitor students’ immigration status and attendance. The move had left up to 2,600 foreign students faced with either finding an alternative course or being forced to leave the UK. Read more...

By Katherine Long. Senate leaders are proposing a 20 percent surcharge on international college students to subsidize higher education, but universities say the fee could drive students away. Each fall, thousands of students from overseas apply to study at the University of Washington and other state schools. So why not charge them extra, then use that money to help solve higher education’s funding woes? That’s the thinking behind a new Senate bill that could raise as much as $60 million over two years by levying a 20 percent surcharge on international students.
It’s one of a handful of strategies some Senate leaders are proposing to try to increase higher-education funding. But universities say the fee is so high that it will drive international students away from state schools, leading to a loss of revenue — not an increase. Read more...

In 2013 UIL is pleased to be able to offer three CONFINTEA Scholarships for a period of one month to students and researchers from UNESCO Member States (particularly from the global South):

• one Peter Jarvis / Taylor & Francis CONFINTEA Scholarship
• two Nomura Center CONFINTEA Scholarships

All scholarships are funded by private donations. CONFINTEA Scholars will benefit from UIL's knowledge base and resources for their research in the area of lifelong learning with a focus on adult and continuing education, literacy and non-formal basic education. The scholarships will take place at UIL either in August or September 2013. Candidates should be fluent in English, which is the working language at the Institute. The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is an international non-profit research, training, information, documentation and publishing centre. It promotes lifelong learning with a focus on adult and continuing education, literacy and non-formal basic education.
UIL will provide each scholar with a fully equipped and networked computer workplace and the use of the resources and support of its unique Documentation Centre and Library. With 60,000 books, documents, non-print media and periodicals in adult education, literacy, non-formal education and lifelong learning, it is one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind in the world. Started in 1952 by the UNESCO Institute for Education, UIL's predecessor organisation, the Documentation Centre comprises English language materials (some 60% of the collection), as well as publications in German, French, Spanish and a variety of other languages.
UIL maintains effective working relations with the University of Hamburg, which is within walking distance. Its supportive infrastructure, such as its library and dining facilities, are open to scholars, as (in principle) are other research institutes in UIL’s research environment such as the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), which is also within walking distance of the Institute. Each of the three scholarships worth a fixed amount of US $2,500, provided by the donors as a contribution to costs related to the stay. UIL will arrange for suitable accommodation close to the Institute and health insurance and pay for these out of the scholarship money. The remaining amount will be forwarded to respective scholarship recipients, to pay for their air-ticket and all other costs before, during and after the research stay at UIL (such as visa costs, transportation, daily food, etc.).
Scholars will be working under the supervision of a UIL researcher, but should be prepared to work under their own initiative for a good deal of time. They will be expected to present the research they have undertaken at UIL for discussion at a concluding seminar and to report on follow-up activities and results of their research in the following months. The scholars will be offered membership in UIL`s Alumni Network.
In order to apply, please submit the following:

• your research proposal
• the intended outcome of research (e.g., policy paper, article, book, dissertation)
• your current résumé or CV

Interested candidates are asked to submit their application by mail or e-mail to the Director of UIL by 15 May 2013:
Dr Arne Carlsen, Director
UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
– CONFINTEA Scholarships –
Feldbrunnenstr. 58
20148 Hamburg
Germany
For further information and for sending applications by e-mail, please contact Ms Lisa Krolak at l.krolak@unesco.org.

Danish universities have to pay up for not adhering to regulations regarding the balance of exchange students. Danish universities have to pay fines totalling 97.5 million kroner for accepting more foreign exchange students than they have sent abroad, according to freesheet metroXpress. The fines stem from the universities having broken regulations that state that the number of incoming foreign students must equal the number of Danish students that go to foreign universities. Read more...

The 36th ACA European Policy Seminar held on March 14, despite the adverse weather conditions, turned out to be another well-attended event attracting some ninety participants to exchange their insights and the latest information about EU-India higher education cooperation.
India is a country of diversity. This applies to the different languages, cultures and religions found in the country, as well as the growing mix of private and public institutions in Indian higher education. Reliable information about Indian higher education is scarce, however. By bringing together the forerunners who have been working with Indian institutions, those currently active in the field and the onlookers searching for new opportunities in one of the BRIC countries, the ACA seminar has again proven to be the ideal platform for first-hand knowledge exchange.
The seminar began with a systemic overview of the latest developments in Indian higher education, followed by institutional practices and national and European policy frameworks. The day was concluded with an emphasis on “trust” by Ruth Kattumuri, who flew into Brussels at 4 a.m. the same day as a result of the snow.
The door to ACA’s 20th Anniversary Conference is now open. To book yourself a seat in De Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague on 9-11 June 2013, please follow the link below. ACA 20th Anniversary Conference.

By Mel Broitman. The Harper government boasts that foreign students brought $8-billion into the Canadian economy in 2010. When you consider what’s at stake, and the federal government’s goal to double the international student intake by 2022, it borders on the absurd to think that in promoting Canadian education abroad, the Canadian government is short of funds to serve a glass of water. Such is the way Canada frequently presents itself as an international student recruiter. This was on display recently when the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade held a major Canadian education promotion event in Lagos, Nigeria, in January. Read more...

By Nigel Thrift. A recent trip to India I took underlined the challenge that higher education faces worldwide. It must change what it does and how it does it to meet the growing demand. In India, for example, one estimate is that 500 million people will need training in vocational skills by 2022 and 40 million will need a university education by 2020. The consequences of these kinds of numbers for colleges and universities—not only in India but elsewhere, too—are still only being thought through.
I can think of five consequences. First, higher education will have to become even more involved in secondary and adult education. Read more...

Aujourd'hui, "il est temps de procrastiner !"
Qui n'a jamais cédé à la tentation de repousser au lendemain ce qu'il pouvait faire aujourd'hui? De l'étudiant pris d'une subite envie de nettoyer son appartement plutôt que de bosser ses partiels au salarié délaissant un dossier urgent pour surfer sur les forums de voyage, la procrastination toucherait 20 à 30% des actifs selon les pays. Si vous êtes atteint par ce mal somme toute assez commun, ce lundi 25 mars est votre journée. A l'initiative de David d'Equainville (Manifeste pour une journée reconductible, Introduction à la procrastination), cette date est en effet consacrée "journée mondiale de la procrastination". Certes, cet événement n'est pas encore vraiment un succès mais aux collègues qui vous demanderaient de traiter un service en urgence, vous pourrez toujours leur répondre "oui, oui, demain...". Le point avec l'organisateur de cette journée où il est permis de tout reporter. Suite de l'article...