Poland’s fight for EU funding

WARSAW (pulshr) -- Poland’s science minister, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, is continuing in her tireless efforts for increased EU funding. Speaking at a rectors’ conference following the 70th anniversary of Lodz Technical University she said there are “too many universities in the country.” In the struggle for more funding universities should join together in order to stand more of a chance … read more 23.05.2015

Albanian student protests continue

TIRANA (balkaninsight) -- Albania’s “For the University” movement has held a string of anti-government rallies. They are protesting against new legislation proposed by the centre-left government that would see a reform of the education system. They argue that it would make university unaffordable for the poor … read more 18.05.2015

Portugal’s dirty secret

PORTO (sapo) -- An “extremely high” level of cheating occurs in Portuguese university examinations. According to a recent study carried out by the University of Porto, 60.7 percent of students admit to copying in their exams. More worryingly, of those who admitted to having cheated, only 2.5 percent had been caught … read more 25.05.2015

UK students start to look abroad

LONDON (guardian) -- A recent study by the British Council has shown a marked increase in the number of UK students considering studying abroad. British students are traditionally relatively shy to study abroad, but the surge in interest has been fuelled by increasing opportunities and a new appreciation of the value of international experience … read more | see the study 28.5.15

EU 2016 draft budget released

BRUSSELS (eu news) -- The draft EU 2016 budget was announced this week, with a strong focus on growth, employment and Europe’s competitiveness on the international scene. The Erasmus+ scheme will see a 30 percent increase to its budget, set to receive 1.8 billion euros in the next year. The research community waits with bated breath as the draft, at the heart of the bitter Horizon 2020 funding debate, is passed to parliament and member states … read more 27.05.2015

France prioritises student work experience

PARIS (intellego) -- In France, the realisation of work placement is an “essential stage” of education, according to a communiqué by the ministry for higher education. A new “Practical Guide for Student Work Placements”, announced this week, will henceforth operate as a base for all work placements across France … read more | and here 26.05.2015

Fees for international students in Finland?

HELSINKI (shanghai daily) -- Students from outside the EU will start paying tuition fees in Finland, should the government’s plans go ahead. Despite wide support, concerns have been raised about this forcing students to neighbouring countries, having knock-on effects on Finland’s economy, which is traditionally reliant on immigration … read more 16.05.2015

The Italian brain drain

MILANO (corriere) -- Young Italians are “fleeing” to the North of the country or abroad in order to study or work. An annual report by AlmaLaurea has shown that only 66 percent find work in the place where they studied, and the disadvantages of poorer families are growing … read more 15.05.2015

After Yerevan - What’s next for Europe?

YEREVAN (inside highered) -- In the wake of the 9th Bologna Process Ministerial Conference in Yerevan, educational journalists, Manja Klemenčič and Paul Ashwin, ask “What’s next for Europe?” With a general feeling of disenchantment with the process, this year’s conference needed to embody a new feeling of purpose and motivation, looked out for trends and found online learning. The conference closed with promises of more graduate “employability”, “inclusiveness” for non-European talents, and “widened access” for life-long learners … read more 26.05.2015

Strong potential for European cooperation

BERLIN (idw) -- A study published by the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities and the organisation All European Academies has analysed data on research projects and evaluated the potential for international cooperation. It showed both potential and readiness to be high among European academies … read more 26.05.2015

Corruption rampant in Kosovo’s universities

PRIŠTINA (standard) -- Belachew Gebrewold, of Management Centre Innsbruck, has described Kosovo as “the problem child that Europe left behind”. The Balkan state’s universities are young and underfunded, and it is not uncommon for students to pay for higher marks. Gebrewold’s institution is currently cooperating with the University of Pristina to develop a new master’s degree programme … read more 21.05.2015

Switzerland’s fraud crackdown

ZURICH (swissinfo) -- The Swiss have started taking a tough approach against a serious worldwide problem. In April, the prestigious Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich announced it was investigating one of its professors following accusations of publication fraud. They formed a new investigative committee to evaluate allegations against a Biology professor who was said to have manipulated images … read more 20.05.2015

University websites put student data at risk

BEIJING (scmp) -- A Chinese study found thousands of loopholes on more than 1,000 university websites, the majority of which are high-risk vulnerabilities. The number of detected cyber attacks rose 48 per cent in 2014. This rise is expected to continue in 2015, with more than 100,000 attacks taking place every day … read more 20.5.15

Exams hindered Irish push for equality

DUBLIN (nzz) -- The same-sex marriage referendum in Ireland fell right in the middle of the exam period for the country’s university students. Many students complained that this prevented them from campaigning and voting. This did not stop the bill being passed and gay marriage is now legal in the Republic … read more 21.05.2015

German students found online-uni for asylum seekers

BERLIN (mopo) -- A group students and professors have started to work together in Berlin to combat the unfortunate state of events faced by Germany’s thousands of asylum seekers, creating the online-based ‘Wings University’. Founder, Markus Kreßler, said he hoped the project could be a ‘door-opener’, willing universities to engage asylum seekers into society, rather than leaving them on the sidelines … read more 20.05.2015

UK university rankings unsurprising

LONDON (guardian) -- The Guardian has released its 2016 ranking of all UK universities. Refusing to budge from their top-spots, Cambridge, Oxford and Scottish St. Andrews claimed the first three positions … read more 25.05.2015

Frontiers fires dissidents

LAUSANNE (science) -- In a heated conflict over editorial independence, Swiss open-access publishing company, Frontiers, has dismissed virtually the entire leadership of two of its medical journals. 31 editors were fired after they disputed the way the organisation was run. In a 13-page ‘Manifesto of Editorial Independence’, they claimed that the company’s profit-oriented goals were in contra to their core values of sharing medical knowledge … read more 20.5.15

Bologna progresses in structures, quality and inclusion

BRUSSELS (uwn) -- A report for last week’s Bologna Conference in Yerevan provides strong evidence that quality assurance continues to be an area of dynamic evolution in Europe. The report found that at least 16 countries have made substantial progress in implementing national qualifications frameworks. At the other end of the scale, 10 countries have yet to start ... read more

Kremlin denounces science foundation

MUNICH (nature) -- Moscow’s Dynasty Foundation, owned by oligarch-turned-philanthropist Dmitry Zimin, has fallen foul of a controversial law. As a non-governmental organisation that receives foreign funding and is involved in what the government has defined as “political activities”, it has been labelled a “foreign agent”, leaving its future in doubt … read more 20.05.2015

Internationalisation baromenter

AMSTERDAM (uwn) -- The member organisation EAIE has analysed the state of internationalisation in the European Higher Education Area from practitioners’ perspectives ... read more | the study 23.05.2015

EUROSTUDENT V study published in full

VIENNA (dzhw) -- The results of the EUROSTUDENT V study have just been published online for public access. Researchers, politicians and the wider public can now get country-specific and comparative information on the social and economic situation of Europe’s student body. Alongside the data launch, videos on the themes are available … read more | videos 21.05.2015

Diploma recognition between Estonia and China

TALLINN (min) -- Estonian education minister Jürgen Ligi and Chinese vice minister of education Li Weihong signed an agreement on mutual recognition of higher education qualifications ... read more 28.04.2015

Bulgaria to cooperate with Greece, Albania, Kosovo in education, science and culture

SOFIA (novinite) -- The Bulgarian government approved the drafts of three bilateral documents for cooperation in the areas of education, science and culture with Greece, Albania and Kosovo. Among the other priorities in the agreement are the protection of authors’ rights and preventing the illegal export, import and transfer of cultural valuables ... read more 20.05.2015

LERU goes global

LEUVEN (leru) -- The League of European Research Universities (LERU) reinforced its international positioning by setting up a close cooperation with the United Nations. With this initiative, LERU stresses the global nature of research, innovation and education. As a part of it, LERU and its members have signed up to the UN Academic Impact Principles (UNAI) ... read more 16.05.2015

EU urges R&D investment

BRUSSELS (ec) -- The European Commission today adopted country-specific economic policy recommendations for 2015 and 2016. Key points of the recommendations are: boosting investment; structural reforms in product, service and labour markets; pursuing responsible fiscal policies; and improving employment policy and social protection ... read more 13.05.2015

Europe drops out

INTERNATIONAL (edsurge) -- “Poor advice” is causing dropout rates among European students to soar to worrying levels, hitting as high as 31 percent in the Netherlands. With borders ever more porous and fees falling, students across Europe are increasingly finding themselves at universities where they don’t fit in. A cohort of tech startups is emerging to streamline the college preparation process for the digital generation; it remains to be seen whether this will address the problem … read more | see the study 19.05.2015

The struggle to foster a startup culture

NEW YORK (nasdaq) -- Policymakers are concerned about Europe’s failure to produce rivals for American digital giants such as Google. European culture has long been unfriendly to entrepreneurs, preferring conservative prudence over risk-taking. They propose to tackle this with grand plans of combining the 28 national ecosystems into a vast market to breed the Web leaders of the future … read more 21.05.2015

Graduate deluge for Turkish labour market

ANKARA (uwn) -- This year at least 900,000 new students will join Turkey’s 170 universities, continuing the country’s dramatic increase in student numbers. The total figure increased over 90 percent since 2008, when some 9 percent of the population, or 7 million people, were students. In the coming years the job market will flood and graduates are expected to have to fight over low-skilled jobs or accept unemployment … read more 15.05.2015

British universities shy to bare all

LONDON (nature) -- Only a fraction of higher education establishments in the UK have published their investigations into research misconduct. Universities in the country, which has no official body regulating research, are called upon to publish their own annual reports in order to receive funding … read more | comment 14.05.2015

Denmark: following the money

COPENHAGEN (uwn) -- The Danish student community has slammed the government’s decision to publish graduate salary figures online. Yasmin Davali, chair of the national students’ union (SR), fears future students could base their choices on “where the money is”, and Ralf Hemmingsen, chair of the Danish Rectors’ Conference, remarked: “Neither the students nor the universities have asked for such a comparative instrument, and it is unclear with the public what the instrument is targeting” … read more 15.05.2015

Language laws repress many universities in Europe

DUBLIN (daynews) -- The rector of Maastricht University, Luc Soete claims that universities in Europe are being choked by the laws that compel them to use their native language to teach instead of English ... read more 14.05.2015

Indian ‘virtual university’ on European model soon

KOLKATA (webindia) -- Four Indian varsities will launch pilot open online courses by the beginning of next year to spearhead a major ‘virtual university’ concept funded by the European Union. The EU project is called EQUAL and will offer a blended learning platform for undergraduate students in India. The four Indian universities are working in collaboration with King’s College London and the University of Bologna, Italy ... read more 15.05.2015

UK reaping rewards of internationalisation

LONDON (guardian) -- A joint report published by London First and PwC has shown just how valuable international students are to the UK. The report found that, far from being a burden, they contribute net gains of £2.3 billion to the British economy … read more | read the report 18.05.2015

Closed Access for Russia

MOSCOW (moscow times) -- Science departments in Russia face a crisis of information, as the multinational publishing house Springer has blocked the country’s access to its journals. A weak ruble has rendered the State Foundation for Basic Research unable to foot the bill. Matthias Aicher, head of Springer in Russia, confirmed that access was shut off this month following the failure to pay the million-dollar subscription for 2014 … read more 12.05.2015

Benelux countries agree on degree recognition

THE HAGUE (nieuwsbank) -- The education ministers of Luxemburg, The Netherlands and the three communities of Belgium have agreed on an automatic mutual recognition of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The move saves red tape and expenses for the students, the ministers said, and is a step towards common standards in a European Higher Education Area ... read more 18.5.15

Swedish higher education still socially unequal

STOCKHOLM (uwn) -- A study by a Swedish trade union on the quality of higher education and the future income of students has found some worrying results. While the quality of higher education correlates strongly with future earnings, access to the top universities still heavily favours students from families with a higher level of education … read more | read the study 15.05.2015

Reality check for Dutch education

THE HAGUE (dutchnews) -- According to the Dutch employers’ organisations, VNO-NCW and MKB, the quality of graduates has lowered over the past years. They urge education minister Jet Bussemaker to enact labour market oriented reforms and more performance-based funding … read more 07.05.2015

Fossil fuels fury in Scotland

EDINBURGH (een) -- Students in Edinburgh have pledged to continue their campus occupation until the University of Edinburgh agrees to stop “funding climate change”. The university made the decision last Tuesday to continue investing in climate-polluting industries. Student campaigner Kirsty Haigh said: “Saying there may be divestment in the future from certain companies if they fail to meet criteria around their carbon emissions is no real commitment and shows the university is refusing to acknowledge 
its role in devastating 
climate change” … read more 14.05.2015

Belarus’ Bologna admission is EU ‘flirting’

MINSK (charter 97) -- Stanislav Shushkevich, prominent scientist and former leader of Belarus, has said that Belarus’ acceptance into the Bologna Process will have no effect on the democratisation of higher education in the country. It is only a result of political ‘flirting’ between Brussels and Minsk, that will not stop the crackdown by the state on the views of students and professors … read more 15.05.2015

Bologna still lacking

LEUVEN (veto) -- The Bologna Process is still too unequal and urgently needs adjustment, Flemish student associations say. The difference between the 47 countries in the process is huge, and more effort is needed to bring the ‘tail group’ up to speed with the leaders … read more 17.5.15

Bologna ignores vocational training

AMSTERDAM (science guide) -- Sebastiaan den Bak, European parliamentary candidate for the Dutch Christian Democrats and Neth-ER deputy director, has attacked the Bologna Process. His two main criticisms were that progress and enthusiasm have stagnated and that Bologna is failing work-based training. Recent Communiqués, including this one, have ignored vocational training … read more 13.5.15

Commission wants universities more output-oriented

YEREVAN (esna) -- On May 14 and 15, ministerial representatives from the European Higher Education Area met with rectors, student representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the progress of the Bologna Process over the past three years and its future activities. Silvia Costa, Chair of the committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament, said at the opening of the conference, more emphasis must be laid on student-centred and output-oriented education … read more 15.05.2015

Inclusivity on the agenda in Yerevan

YEREVAN (div) -- Following the commitment in the Yerevan Communiqué to “make our higher education more socially inclusive,” German education union GEW has stressed the importance of boosting inclusivity in universities and urged them to take the pledge seriously. They claim social mobility is severely lacking, and call for equal opportunities for disabled students. The Rector of Oslo University, Ole Petter Ottersen, also blogged from the conference that equal access should not be taken for granted in Europe, and that there still remains a lot of work to achieve them … read more | and here 15.05.2015

Higher education needs modern technology

YEREVAN (panorama) -- This year’s Bologna Conference addressed the need to introduce more technology into higher education. Adam Tyson, Head of Higher Education at the EC’s education directorate, stressed the importance of this at the conference, saying it strengthens ties between institutions. The unanimously adopted Yerevan Communiqué made concrete the commitment to “exploiting the potential benefits of digital technologies for learning” … read more | read the comminiqué 15.05.2015

Germany pushes for employment-oriented education

FRANKFURT (fnp) -- In the aftermath of the Bologna Conference, the focus in Germany has been placed on employability and the importance of university education supplying the needs of the labour market. In Yerevan, ministers agreed that universities should cooperate more with companies, to promote the employability of graduates. Only 47 percent of German firms are satisfied with the quality of graduates … read more 15.05.2015

Bologna embraces Belarus

MINSK (belta) -- Belarus’ struggle for acceptance into the Bologna Process was successful. At the Bologna Conference in Yerevan, a meeting of EHEA ministers discussed the step before agreeing that the Belarusian education system merited the accession, praising its recent improvement. The country’s application was rejected in 2012, and it was barred from applying again until this year, due to not observing the principle of academic freedom that is central to the Process … read more 14.05.2015

Tough hurdles for Turkish students to go abroad

ANKARA (pie news) -- The Higher Education Council of Turkey has put new regulations in place for Turks wishing to study abroad (YÖK). In order to do so, they must now either go to a top-500 ranked university or take the domestic higher education entrance exam … read more 04.05.2015

Anne Glover replaced by expert science panel

BRUSSELS (science) -- Six months after Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Adviser of the European commission, was dismissed from her role, the Commission has unveiled a new panel of expert scientists to advice policymakers. The role of CSA and Glover’s dismissal caused considerable controversy last year, with many scientists claiming the failure to immediately replace Ms Glover showed commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker’s, disregard for science. Others claimed the role of CSA lacked transparency, was vulnerable to corporate influence and therefore a new system was needed. The new panel, dubbed the “Science Advice Mechanism” will be made up of seven expert scientists, not employed directly by the Commission and should be up and running after Summer … read more 13.05.2015

Violence overshadows Greek student elections

THESSALONIKI (greek reporter) -- Student elections in Athens University of Economics were marred by violence. Unknown individuals invaded the building and burned three ballot boxes. Such incidents are usual during student elections. The process is considered highly politicised, as each Greek political party has its own student wing in the universities … read more 03.05.2015

Russia-Indian co-operation stronger than ever

MOSCOW (economic times) -- The university communities of India and Russia last week signed a Memorandum of Interest. A new foundation, the Russian-Indian Association of Institutions for Higher Education, was established to provide a “unique forum to cooperate” … read more 09.04.2015

Hungarian academics and students in the resistance

BUDAPEST (népszava) -- A rainy afternoon on Thursday in Budapest bore witness to a protest in front of the national parliament building. Students and teachers gathered there to voice their anger at the government’s new Higher Education Act. The bill proposes to significantly restrict the autonomy of educational institutions … read more 15.05.2015

Student loan interest ‘punishes’ Norwegian students

OSLO (lofotposten) -- Interest rates on student loans are unnecessarily high in Norway, academics criticised earlier this week. The government charges a premium on top of the interest on the money lent by the state educational fund, effectively doubling the rate, and weighing unduly on students … read more 13.05.2015

Jo Johnson new UK universities and science minister

LONDON (guardian) -- The pro-European younger brother of Boris Johnson has replaced Greg Clark following the government’s cabinet reshuffle. Johnson is seen as being on the left of the Conservative party, and in 2012 co-authored an article in the Financial Times calling for overseas students to be taken out of the government’s net migration figures ... read more 14.05.2015

What does UK Conservative landslide mean for science?

LONDON (nature) -- The conservatives made no promises to protect science funding, and now they’re in power, the scientific community fears further austerity measures. More concerning still is the threat of an in-out EU referendum … read more

MOOCs to combat French unemployment

PARIS (the) -- Jobseekers in France are to be given premium access to an online course provider as part of a government partnership announced by president, François Hollande. Through promoting career-oriented courses, the government not only hopes to lower unemployment figures, which were at an all-time high of 11 percent in December, but also the train people to work in sectors facing personnel shortages, such as the digital industry … read more 14.05.2015

Horizon 2020 draft work programmes 2016-2017 available

BRUSSELS (eurida) -- First Horizon 2020 draft work programmes for the period of 2016-2017 are circulating on the internet. As in previous years, the drafts are marked as ‘confidential’ ... read more 14.05.2015

Brand new European higher education bulletin

BERLIN (esna) -- The 166th edition of the flagship European higher education news bulletin from ESNA is available now.
The latest instalment is your key to the higher education scene. This edition includes a special ‘Erasmus Below the Surface’ feature article, as well as the usual cutting-edge news from across the continent, recent studies, new book releases and breaking science policy, not to mention a section focussing on the pertinent issue of quality assurance, 3 pages of calls for proposals, and conferences.

Click here download it and access all the information you need to stay up to date with the industry now!

What does UK Conservative landslide mean for science?

LONDON (nature) -- On Friday Britain woke up to the news of a centre-right Conservative government, completely contradicting the knife-edge results predicted by all opinion polls. But what does this mean for British science? Like Labour, the traditional centre-left rivals, who were heavily defeated in Thursday’s vote, the conservatives made no promises to protect science funding, and now they’re in power, the scientific community fears further austerity measures. More concerning still is the threat of an in-out EU referendum, which according to Kieron Flanagan, science-policy researcher at Manchester Business School would be “terrible for the UK science system” … read more

More Portuguese students could be eligible for scholarships

LISBON (observador) -- Portugal’s system for the allocation of scholarships is to be reformed, and this could result in a greater number of students receiving scholarships. The education ministry will analyse 22 proposals from a specially created commission … read more 06.05.2015

French app to provide free accommodation for students

PARIS (figaro) -- A French start-up has launched an exchange platform costing less than a euro per day, which will make it possible for students to find accommodation for next to nothing. Those signing up to the service must list a vacant room, and find another user with whom to exchange. The app called “Studyenjoy” is available in French, English and Spanish … read more 7.5.15

French education minister under fire

PARIS (jdd) -- Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, French minister of education, higher education and research, has come under attack after alienating most of the political and educational communities with her reforms. She now enjoys little support from the left or the right. She has been called the worst education minister and called upon to leave the capital … read more 10.05.2015

Turkey to double international students

ISTANBUL (daily sabah) -- Turkey wants to increase the number of international students it educates. The country has been attracting more students every year. By 2018, it aims to reach the number to 100,000, from the current 48,000 … read more 07.05.2015

American and European scientists sign cooperation deal

WASHINGTON (ny times) -- Leaders of particle physics initiatives in Europe and the United States have signed an agreement at the White House. The pact, which will pave the way for a “new era of scientific cooperation”, will see the results of research shared between the parties. The deal assures the future of CERN and its Large Hadron Collider, which was built with support from the United States, and Director-General Rolf-Dieter Heuer has said he is “delighted” … read more | and here 08.05.2015

Bologna Process for South East Asia

JAKARTA (jakarta post) -- The EU and ASEAN have partnered up to launch a platform promoting the mutual recognition of accreditation and increasing mobility. The project has been dubbed SHARE or Support to Higher Education in the ASEAN region. The aim is to “draw upon the Bologna process” to “share the EU experience with ASEAN” and improve standards … read more 7.5.15

Portuguese public figure calls for university emancipation

FARO (jornal de negocios) -- Sampaio da Nóvoa, former rector of the University of Lisbon and candidate for the future Portuguese presidency, has called for more autonomy among the country’s universities. During a ceremony where he received an honorary degree from the University of the Algarve, he commented that universities should have the courage to lead from within rather than following the pressures of external criteria, rankings and evaluations … read more

MOOCs on the rise in Italy

ROME (il fatto quotidiano) -- Massive open online courses, or MOOCs, are spreading like wildfire in Italy, following the pattern of Spain and Portugal. Some universities, such as the Milan Polytechnic and the University of Naples Federico II, already have their own MOOC platforms … read more 10.05.2015

Romanian student occupation forces minister to the table

BUCHAREST (epoch times) -- Romanian education minister, Sorin Cîmpaneau, met with protesting students last week to discuss demands after protesters occupied lecture halls at universities across the country. At a press conference, Minister Cîmpaneau said he welcomed the meetings, but as of yet it remains unclear how far the education ministry will bow to students demands. Romania’s national students’ union (ANOSR) have expressed their outrage with the “disaster in academia”, and are demanding increased student say in elections of rectors and deans, more investment in student services and curricular reform … read more | video 7.5.15

Degree recognition high on Bologna Agenda

YEREVAN (armenia now) -- Days before the Bologna Conference in Yerevan, the European Student Union pointed out the importance of degree recognition across the Bologna countries. Elisabeth Gehrke said on behalf of ESU, although neighbouring states more easily recognise qualifications, recognition should be universal, “regardless of their border distances” … read more 07.05.2015

Minister loses Croatia millions in EU funding

ZAGREB (tportal) -- Croatia’s education sector was left bitterly disappointed recently, after two projects set to receive EU funds were cancelled. The reason is conflict of interest involving science minister, Vedran Mornar. It emerged that the minister was the head of the technology association set to receive the funding. Even after he offered his irrevocable resignation, Croatia was knocked out of the running … read more 06.05.2015

Norwegian girls lead the way

OSLO (vg) -- As well as having the best grades and lowest dropout rates, a new report reveals that Norwegian girls are also leading the field in doctoral education. For the first time ever, women occupied more than 50 percent of PhDs in the year 2014 … read more 05.05.2015

Chrysler US offers free college for employees

DETROIT (dfp) -- Fiat Chrysler US will offer free college courses and degrees at Strayer University to employees who work at its network of franchised auto dealerships. The announcement comes about one month after Starbucks launched a similar programme. Karl McDonnell, CEO of Strayer, predicts more companies will adopt similar programs in the future. “I do think this is a future model for higher education,” Strayer said. “Companies have all sorts of competitive pressures on them and whichever companies can attract and retain the best people – they are going to win” ... read more 04.05.2015

Bureaucracy caused by Bologna Process

BERLIN (tagesspiegel) -- Nearly half of the lecturers and assistants at German universities complain about grown administrative duties since the introduction of Bologna reforms. Additionally, a survey of the German teachers’ trade union GEW shows, pressure has increased to acquire private funding, to administer exams and to train poorly prepared students ... read more 7.5.15

Welsh university teams up with Turkey

CARDIFF (swep) -- The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is expanding its horizons through linking up with colleagues in Turkey. A spokesman said: “The initiative will further boost the nations’ bilateral partnership, promote mutual awareness of excellence in science and innovation, while fostering relationships between academic communities. The initiative will also provide an opportunity to share best practice in science-based policy making, and increase trade and investment links between UK and Turkey” ... read more 06.05.2015

University of Malta wants more autonomy

MALTA (malta independent) -- The University of Malta, in response to questions posed by this newsroom, believes that certain structural changes, such as autonomy, could help the university attain new heights. The introduction of tuition fees are part of the proposal ... read more 09.05.2015

Scientists benefit from open access

TORONTO (fortune) -- A study by academia.edu, a network for scientists, shows that researchers who share their work publicly increase their citations considerably. This social behavior seems to display a kind of “long tail” effect, after one year of being shared on the network, papers have an average of 37 percent more citations that climbs to 58 percent more citations, and hits 83 percent after five years. The study looked at more than 44,000 papers on a wide range of scientific topics ... read more 08.05.2015

University of Burgundy launches free online wine course

DIJON (decanter) -- The University of Burgundy in Dijon is set to launch a free taught course in English and French to help wine lovers understand more about winemaking and also the region’s diverse terroirs ... read more 08.05.2015

Maltese shadow university

MALTA (mt) -- Earlier this week, the Maltese government signed an agreement with a Jordanian investment group for the construction of a private university that will be named ‘The American University of Malta’. The student organisation KSU voiced concern that the government hadn’t consulted stakeholders, including themselves and the University of Malta, before agreeing to the project, and their disappointment that “no adequate study” has been carried out on how the new, private university could affect the operations of the University of Malta ... read more 08.05.2015

British universities against EU exit

EU visit in Cambodian universities

Phnom Penh (tppp) -- A European Union delegation to Cambodia has arrived to celebrate EU Week. From 4th to 7th May, the ambassadors will pay visits to chosen universities in Phnom Penh and deliver speeches on the EU. Other events include a concert and a bycicle tour ... read more | background: The EU-Cambodian partnership 05.05.2015

Italy protests against misguided reforms

ROME (reuters) -- Italy’s academic community took to the streets this week to protest against prime minister Matteo Renzi’s education reforms. Approved by the cabinet in March, Renzi swears the reforms are “vital to fix the country’s sub-standard schools”, but the opposition claims  they are missing the point and would leave state schools drastically underfunded … read more 5.5.15

Reaching out for Asia

RIGA (uwn) -- EU education priorities seem to be shifting towards Asia, heard the 5th ASEM meeting in Riga last week. EU education commissioner, Tibor Navracsics spoke in favour of expansion, saying “despite a wide variety of languages, cultures and structures in the different countries, Europe’s higher education systems are comparable and compatible. Why shouldn’t we be able to replicate a similar system across Europe and Asia?” … read more 29.4.15

Norway’s slow-moving student body

OSLO (nrk) -- Less than half of students in Norway complete their degree in the ‘standard time’, with 60 percent having to lengthen their time at university. Even education minister, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, admitted in an interview with NRK to having extended his study period, but said that students should do as he says, not as he does. To address the problem, Isaksen revealed plans to financially reward those finishing on time, describing the current situation as a “loss for the individual and for society” … read more 05.5.15

Recognition problems dampen Swedish mobility

UPPSALA (ergo) -- Acquiring an excellent degree is an achievement and even more so when done in a foreign language. However the case of a Swedish student whose Austrian degree was not recognised back home has drawn attention to the continuing difficulties student mobility faces … read more 5.5.15

UK Election: Education and Science hang in the balance

LONDON (guardian) -- Britons go to ballot today to choose their new parliamentary leaders. While Scottish independence and a referendum on EU membership dominate headlines, the science and research communities hold their breath before investment promises. Under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, research council investments have reportedly fallen to a “miserably low level”. Higher education is also high on the political agenda, with the Labour and Green parties trying to lure young voters with a reduction and abolition of university tuition fees respectively … read more 28.4.15

Transparency and democracy: the legacy of the Amsterdam protests

AMSTERDAM (taz) -- The student occupation of the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) Maagdenhuis may be over, but its legacy remains. In answer to students’ demands for greater transparency at decision-making level, two new committees, constituted by students and lecturers, have decision making powers now. Julie McBrien, protester and professor of anthropology at UvA, said decentralisation was the key to a fairer university … read more 6.05.15

Poland: Foreign students apply within

WARSAW (dziennik wschodni) -- As of this month, foreign students studying in Poland can work throughout the year without having to worry about special permits. A relaxing of student visa bureaucracy comes as part of education minister, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska’s, plans to boost Poland’s attractiveness for international students … read more 06.05.2015

University of Cambridge becomes German hub

CAMBRIDGE (cam) -- A million euro research hub at Cambridge University will boost Anglo-German ties for years to come. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) announced over the weekend that from January 2016, funding will be made available for scholarships, workshops, conference and debates in the name of enhancing the outreach of German studies … read more 01.04.2015

League tables undermine access

DUBLIN (irish times) -- Analysts have found that the pressure of league tables is leading universities to chase international talent. This is disadvantageous to local students from poorer backgrounds, and therefore counter-productive to access policies. A meeting of university presidents and experts found that priorities are being skewed, as it is impossible a university to compete without “billionaires at (its) doorstep” … read more 30.04.2015

University mergers a pretext for cutting costs

BRUSSELS (publico) -- A recent report of the European University Association (EUA) has stated that cost savings should not be the primary driver of university mergers … read more 3.5.15

In push to diversify, Google goes to college

WASHINGTON (concord monitor) -- In ongoing efforts to diversify Silicon Valley’s tech sector, Google is embedding engineers at a handful of Historically black colleges and universities where they teach, mentor and advise on curriculum ... read more 04.05.2015

Dutch students robbed by ‘landlord crooks’

AMSTERDAM (lsvb) -- 89 percent in Amsterdam, 90 in Utrecht and 92 in Leiden. That’s the percentage of students in Dutch cities who are paying too much for their accommodation, reveal figures from the national students union. A points system should prevent this extortion, but according to union chair, Tom Hoven, “landlords continue to abuse the weak position of students, these crooks need to be tackled hard” … read more 28.04.2015

Romanian education unions turn 25

BUCHAREST (romaniatv) -- Both Romania’s former education minister Remus Pricopie and the country’s Prime Minister have spoken to congratulate the Federation of Trade Unions in Education on reaching 25 years. Pricopie highlighted many of the positive things they have done, including to establish European standards, improve the status of teachers, and make education a national priority … read more | and here 04.05.2015

#WeAreAllStudents

PADUA (fabrica) -- Eighty-four bodies scattered on the ground of an Italian university pay homage to the 147 Kenyan students murdered last month in Garissa. While the January attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris provoked a worldwide wave of empathy and outrage, international grief for Garissa passed fleetingly. Students at the University of Padua showed their solidarity with those killed, with one student saying “Those guys were like us. But they were torn from their own lives” … read more 30.04.2015

Spanish government’s control tactics

VALENCIA (el mundo) -- Spain’s education minister José Ignacio Wert is introducing a system to punish unruly university teachers. The idea is to penalise those ‘inactive’ teachers who are not involved in enough research. The system, described as a ‘hunt’, has so far been rolled out at the University of Valencia … read more 02.05.2015

Dutch education minister fights fake universities

THE HAGUE (expatica) -- Dutch education minister, Jet Bussemaker is to introduce fines of up to 810,000 euros for educational institutes which wrongly call themselves universities. ‘University’ and ‘University of Applied Science’ – used by hbo colleges in English – will also be protected names in Dutch law. “They charge students money for a diploma which is worthless and that must no longer go unpunished”, she told the Volkskrant ... read more 04.05.2015

Part-time students plummet in UK

LONDON (bbc) -- In the past five years, the participation of part-time students in British universities has seen a fall by more than a third. In his inaugural speech as the new vice-chancellor of the Open University, Peter Horrocks cited the applications decline following the fees increase in 2012 as a “tragedy” for the individual, society and the economy … read more 23.04.2015

Lithuania’s education minister resigns

VILNIUS (delfi) -- Dainius Pavalkis, Lithuania’s science and education minister, last week announced his resignation from the post. The government’s press release quoted the minster’s complaints over PR time-wasting and “negative emotions”. “I do not see any possibilities of continuing what was started, therefore, I have decided to resign” … read more 30.04.2015

Poland investing heavily in its universities

WARSAW (dziennik zachodni) -- Amid financial drought across Europe, Poland appears to be spending more on its universities. The region of Silesia will this year build 295 childcare centres, with money from a government grant. These nurseries and clubs will be for staff and students with children. Many institutions, such as Lublin University, are ploughing money into the renovation of sports facilities, to modernise and to cater for disabled students … read more | and here 29.04.2015

U-Multirank: A few hundred voices short of success

Charles University teams up with a bank

Sweden leaves foreign PhD students out in the cold

STOKHOLM (uwn) -- Applications for Swedish citizenship from foreign doctoral students are facing lengthy delays or rejection. New legislation means that if it was stated on the original visa application that the candidate did not intend to stay in the country, the new application can be rejected. Those now looking to become citizens are being haunted by the original intention of their stay. An unnamed student had their citizenship application rejected, despite having lived in Sweden for 9 years and paid taxes for 7 years. Half of foreign PhD students stay on after graduation … read more 24.04.2015

European science policy news monitor

BERLIN (esna) -- Don’t miss out on the 165th edition of the Higher Education Bulletin from ESNA, your authority on higher education and research in Europe. The Bulletin is out now and available free for a limited time! Keep your finger on the pulse of European higher education policy and news, with ESNA’s trademark astute and hard-hitting coverage of the most important stories from March and April 2015. Your one stop shop with all you need to stay informed and up to date on the latest headlines, opinion, analysis, studies, book publications, conferences, EU calls and more. Click here to read now! (Free test subscription here)

Research organisations vs. science journals monopoly

BRUSSELS (knowledge speak) -- Major research organisations in Europe agree that a radical shake-up of the current system, and of the market dominance of established science journals, is needed. It would bring immediate savings and profits. In mid-April the association Science Europe, comprising 50 major public research organisations in Europe, adopted four new common principles for Open Access Publisher Services; the Max Planck Society additionally proposed concrete measures for an immediate transition … read more | and here 28.04.2015

Red pressure on Scottish universities

International networks dominate research reviews

LONDON (7th space) -- Systematic reviews of research are increasingly recognised as important for informing decisions across policy sectors and for setting priorities for research. The problem: international systematic review networks are dominated by members from high-income countries … read more | research paper 25.04.2015

Concern over student suicides in Romania