By Karen MacGregor – Africa Editor. In Africa Analysis, Eilis Ferran argues that if all of the world’s leading research universities partnered with African institutions to boost research capacity, there could be a transformative impact on the continent’s capacity to produce knowledge. Elizabeth de Kadt, Brenda Leibowitz and Precious Sipuka report on a pilot staff development initiative that aims to empower senior academics to rethink approaches to the curriculum.
In Africa Features, Sharon Dell reports on the centenary celebrations of the University of Fort Hare in South Africa – the alma mater of numerous African leaders including Nelson Mandela – which were marred by violent student protests. We interview Michael Faborode, secretary general of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, and find institutions uniting in their efforts to develop higher education in Africa’s biggest economy.
In a series on ‘Transformative Leadership’, published in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, University World News looks at barriers to social equity and social justice and ways to overcome them through education. Suellen Shay suggests South African higher education leaders look beyond widening access to a vision of equity that is about re-landscaping the terrain to ensure a more appropriate higher education for all, and Rebecca Farnum looks at the growing movement of scholactivists, scholars who are keen to ensure their work has social impact.
In World Blog, Hans de Wit warns of the consequences of internationalisation indicators in global rankings, which influence the way universities and governments internationalise and the way internationalisation is measured. And in Commentary, Pratik Gandhi sets out the benefits to India of attracting more international students, and suggests how this can be done. Read more...
Universities to team up with councils to boost regions
University heads have teamed up with local councils on a project aimed at driving growth, redesigning public services and strengthening ties between local communities and higher education institutions, writes John Elmes for Times Higher Education. Read more...
Education body reminds universities of flag’s importance
After central universities and Kendriya Vidyalaya schools, the University Grants Commission has now reminded all other universities of the importance of the national flag, writes A Ragu Raman for the Deccan Chronicle. Read more...
Over-recruitment of Chinese students threatens quality
Local universities' reckless drive to recruit Chinese students has cast a shadow over their efforts to globalise their campuses through admitting more international students, writes Chung Hyun-chae for The Korea Times. Read more...
Universities to launch trial apprenticeship schemes
The much-vaunted German and Swiss system of apprenticeship – where students take on jobs and study for degrees concurrently – will be tried out at universities in Singapore, writes Sandra Davie for The Straits Times. Read more...
Helsinki University to offer degree in Somali language
A Somali language degree programme will be launched by the University of Helsinki in autumn 2017, while a briefer, 15-study point package is already set to begin at the beginning of the autumn semester this year, reports YLE. Read more...
‘Russian-style university’ to open its doors
The official breaking-of-ground ceremony of a joint Russian-Chinese University took place in the city of Shenzhen in China. The new university will be established on the basis of the Moscow State University and the Beijing Institute of Technology, reports Sputnik News. Read more...
More students choosing vocational education
Going to university is no longer ‘a must’ for many Vietnamese students, who would rather go to vocational schools and work at factories than attend university and remain unemployed, reports VietNamNet Bridge. Read more...
Ministry to rank 73 agricultural universities
Taking its cue from the human resource development ministry's recent move of issuing rankings of Indian universities and the country's engineering, management and pharmaceutical institutes, the agriculture ministry has decided to exclusively rank 73 agricultural universities, writes Vishwa Mohan for TNN. Read more...
Universities’ mad boom represents shaky model
Higher education is in the throes of its biggest building boom since the 1960s. Whether it is wise or not, whether the financial and academic calculations add up, are questions rarely asked, so loud is the self-congratulation of those pioneering the expansion, writes Mary Dejevsky for The Spectator. Read more...