The European Higher Education Society (EAIR) became an independent membership organisation in 1989. Over the years it has expanded considerably and currently has nearly 500 members from 50 different countries all over the world, including Africa, South America, Asia and Australasia. EAIR members are working in universities, polytechnics and other higher education institutions, primarily but not exclusively in Europe - either in university administration, or in academic departments with particular research interests in management issues. EAIR is also of relevance to policy makers in governmental ministries and policy units. EAIR holds its annual Forum in August or September.EAIR publishes a journal 'Tertiary Education and Management' (TEAM) and a Monograph Series 'Research, Policy and Practice in Higher Education'. The link address is: http://www.eair.nl/

By Claire Duffin. University leavers are increasingly going abroad for postgraduate studies in a trend which education experts say has made a foreign masters degree “the new gap year”. A combination of cheap tuition fees, a dramatic rise in the number of universities in Europe offering tuition in English and a highly competitive market for jobs in Britain has helped fuel the rise. Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that in 2012, at least 1,590 students went abroad to continue their studies, a larger proportion of postgraduates than in 2011, with a prediction that this summer will see even more go abroad. Read more...

 The Euromed Permanent University Forum (EPUF) is a network of more than a 100 Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education and Research Institutions, established in Tampere (Finland) in 2006. The EPUF’s main objective is the creation of a sustainable Higher Education Area in the EuroMed Region. They contributes to the promotion of a knowledge society and encourages collaboration and dialogue between the region’s educational institutions and cultural traditions. The EPUF, also promotes a sustainable development of scientific and technological exchange in which, education and civil society are also involved. The link address is: http://www.epuf.org/home

By David Ellis. Martin Lewis, founder of moneysavingexpert.com, says associations with the word 'loan' are scaring many teenagers away from university – this shouldn't be the case, a student loan is like no other, says David Ellis. Reading Martin Lewis’ admirable call to more appropriately name the Student Loan,before watching a flurry of misunderstandings unfurl in the comments and on Twitter, I can recognise that changing a name may seem deceitful – it comes across as exactly the kind of thing a politician would do (‘New’ Labour, anyone?). Maybe this is why David Willetts didn’t offer to change the language of student finance in June, when challenged by Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of UCAS, during a debate at the start of Universities Week. However, I sincerely hope that better labelling of student loans will happen soon. Read more...

 The Community of Mediterranean University (CMU) was thus set up in 1983, to generate a process of renewal and modernisation which would help its adhering members to overcome many serious problems. As the years passed, this process has continued by means of a series of initiatives that have met with such widespread support that the CMU now numbers over 160 members. The link address is: http://www.cmungo.org/

By Alice Philipson. Oxford University risks undermining its reputation by accepting wealthy foreign students with poor grades for “purely commercial reasons”, an internal report warns. The “associate students”, who generally have lower average grades than a typical Oxford undergraduate, pay as much as £13,000 a term and can stay for up to a year. Although the students are not officially part of the university, senior figures said they “pose severe reputational risk” because their academic standards are “often low”. The report said that colleges, which are independent of the university and are free to set their own admissions policies, granted them admission for “purely commercial” reasons. Read more...

 El Consejo Centroamericano de Acreditación (CCA) se creó con el propósito de establecer mecanismos regionales que armonicen, articulen e integren el esfuerzo de diversas instituciones y organizaciones en el ámbito centroamericano, y den validez internacional a la acreditación de la calidad de la educación superior que se realiza en los distintos países de la región. The link address is: http://www.cca.ucr.ac.cr/

By Graeme Paton. Almost 800 courses are still available at Britain’s best universities two weeks after the publication of A-level results as institutions scramble to fill the last remaining places. Students are able to choose between a range of sought-after degrees in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, law, history, geography and mathematics at universities represented by the Russell Group, it emerged. In all, vacancies are being advertised on 788 separate courses for UK students through the traditional clearing system. Read more...

 The Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) was created to respond to the needs of developing international relations, improving the quality of information, and promoting academic collaboration among Higher Education Institutes (HEI) in the Americas. The IOHE is the only university organization that spans the entire continent of the Americas. The IOHE is a not-for-profit organization whose objectives are primarily educational. This is achieved by: establishing collaboration among universities of the Americas; promoting understanding and mutual support; contributing to the sustainable development of the peoples of the Americas and respecting the free discussion of ideas. The link address is: http://www.oui-iohe.org/

By Graeme Paton. Up to 35 school leavers are competing for every job amid claims that rising numbers of bright teenagers are shunning university in favour of the workplace. New figures show that the average apprenticeship post now receives 11 applications each following a surge in demand for on-the-job training. In some industry sectors, such as plumbing and events management, the number rises well above 30.  Many leading companies are now said to be competing directly with universities to recruit the most able young people. Read more...