By Wondwosen Tamrat. While significant improvements have been made in female student access rates in universities in Ethiopia, high attrition rates remain a challenge. More...

By Sharon Dell. The long-awaited Heher Commission report into the feasibility of fee-free higher education and training has finally been released to the public by President Jacob Zuma, although South Africa still awaits Zuma’s pronouncement on its contents. More...

By Kudzai Mashininga. The University of Zimbabwe deferred examinations scheduled for Wednesday, and at least two other universities advised students to stay at home last week, according to news reports and local sources. This came as the military staged what appeared to be a coup to end President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule. More...

By Gilbert Nakweya. A Kenyan high court has outlawed the controversial pre-bar examinations administered by the Kenya School of Law under the advocates training programme aimed at law graduates from local universities. More...

By Rodrigue Rwirahira. The University of Rwanda is pinning its hopes on the generosity of the university’s graduates currently working in the private sector to provide funding to make up for a substantial shortfall in the institution’s budget, occasioned by government cuts. More...

By Maina Waruru. The African Academy of Sciences, or AAS, is launching its own publication platform early next year that guarantees researchers immediate publication of articles and other research outputs without editorial bias, and a transparent post-publication peer review. More...

By Gilbert Nganga. The Kenyan government has kicked off a fresh round of audits of state universities which will see campus closures, prosecution of top managers in defaulting institutions, massive job cuts and a radical change in the conditions of service for lower-level and non-teaching staff. More...

By Sharon Dell – Africa Editor. The 2017 Open Doors report charting international student mobility in and out of the United States is the topic of a Special Report. Jenny J Lee proposes an alternative to competing for a dwindling supply of international students – “rehumanising, politicising and conscious-raising international education”. Rahul Choudaha suggests that American universities differentiate their offerings and diversify their source countries to stem a decline in international students.
In Commentary, Simon Marginson highlights the essential roles of world-class universities in advancing the global common good through, among others, providing a networked global space for free inquiry, encouraging international mobility and offering social opportunities. Aurelija Valeikienė contends that the need to demonstrate impact and uncertainty over what quality means are impeding quality assurance in higher education.
Roger Chao Jr argues the case against a boycott of universities in Myanmar over the Rohingya issue, as this will undermine efforts to rebuild a higher education sector that will be core in supporting development, democracy and peacebuilding. Wondwosen Tamrat reveals that major strides have been made in access to higher education by women in Ethiopia – but high attrition rates are a challenge.
In World Blog, Ashwini Deshpande suggests how campuses might begin to tackle the problem of sexual harassment. Finally, in Features, Suvendrini Kakuchi reports that approval for a new veterinary school in Japan has sparked heated debate and highlighted challenges facing higher education reform. More...

By Karen MacGregor. The 2017 Open Doors report charting international student mobility in and out of the United States is the topic of a Special Report. Jenny J Lee proposes an alternative to competing for a dwindling supply of international students – “rehumanising, politicising and conscious-raising international education”. Rahul Choudaha suggests that American universities differentiate their offerings and diversify their source countries to stem a decline in international students.
In Commentary, Simon Marginson highlights the essential roles of world-class universities in advancing the global common good through, among others, providing a networked global space for free inquiry, encouraging international mobility and offering social opportunities. Aurelija Valeikienė contends that the need to demonstrate impact and uncertainty over what quality means are impeding quality assurance in higher education.
Roger Chao Jr argues the case against a boycott of universities in Myanmar over the Rohingya issue, as this will undermine efforts to rebuild a higher education sector that will be core in supporting development, democracy and peacebuilding. Wondwosen Tamrat reveals that major strides have been made in access to higher education by women in Ethiopia – but high attrition rates are a challenge.
In World Blog, Ashwini Deshpande suggests how campuses might begin to tackle the problem of sexual harassment. Finally, in Features, Suvendrini Kakuchi reports that approval for a new veterinary school in Japan has sparked heated debate and highlighted challenges facing higher education reform. More...