By Andy Thomason. Georgia’s Board of Regents voted on Tuesday to approve the merger of Albany State University and Darton State College, marking the seventh consolidation of Georgia public colleges in recent years. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the merger is the first in the state to combine a historically black institution with one that is mostly white. More...
New criteria to improve teaching quality
The Council for Higher Education unanimously approved a set of criteria for improving teaching quality, which all academic institutions in Israel will have to abide by, reports The Jerusalem Post. Read more...
Universities unlikely to meet new national standards
The new national standards for universities have been described as being unattainable for the majority of higher education institutions, writes Kim Chi for VietNamNet Bridge. Read more...
Special body to boost software-oriented universities
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning will establish a special committee to foster university-level software education as part of its drive to produce more software specialists, writes Lee Min-hyung for The Korea Times. Read more...
Relaxation in foreign degree recognition norms
Students acquiring degrees from foreign universities in a duration shorter than the one prescribed for such degrees in India will now find it easier to secure equivalence to and recognition of their qualification in the country, writes Vishwas Kothari for TNN. Read more...
Education department beefs up accreditation
The Department of Education unveiled a slate of executive actions it's taking to beef up accountability in the higher education accreditation system, which Education Secretary Arne Duncan said is filled with "watchdogs that don't bite", writes Lauren Camera for US News and World Report. Read more...
Universities dodge new contract rules for lecturers
Dutch universities are getting around changes in the rules on temporary contracts by offering lecturers a fixed contract for one lecture a week plus a short-term contract for the rest of their work, reports Dutch News. Read more...
EC’s independent science advisory group launched
The European Commission’s new Scientific Advice Mechanism, or SAM, was officially launched last week, with the announcement of the seven leading scientists who will form the first High Level Group of scientific advisors. Read more...
Top institutions dominate in fierce ERC grant battle
By Jan Petter Myklebust. After seven years, the European Research Council, or ERC, grant scheme has become a ‘gold standard’ for science in Europe, and the ‘jewel in the crown’ for 4,556 recipients in the Seventh Framework Programme, or FP7 (2007-13). Read more...
The massive refugee crisis demands a proper response
By Hans de Wit. On 18 September 2015 Philip Altbach and I wrote a University World News commentary about the slow reaction by higher education to the refugee crisis in Europe. Since then both the crisis itself and the response by universities and higher education organisations in Europe and beyond have escalated rapidly, the latter a positive sign of the commitment and engagement of the higher education community. Read more...