What Russian youths thinks about the October Revolution
MOSCOW (hse) -- Young Russians judge the revolution of 1917 in Russia in two ways. On the one hand, it represents positive changes, on the other, it is a symbol of the dead-end path. A scientific analysis of social media texts and statements and of historical essays by students on the theme of the October Revolution of 1917 shows that the context of revolutionary events for modern youth is remote and extremely vague while there is a predominance of negative characteristics. However, Lenin continues to be an important figure, and the revolution ranks second (after the Great Patriotic War) as most significant historical event for Russia in the 20th century ... read more
Humanities - a dying art in Latvia
RIGA (baltic course) -- Philologists are sounding the alarm, as the number of students wanting to study Latvian philology falls ever lower. They say that in the near future there will be no teachers, because “they are paid less than a janitor”. Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Latvia, Ilze Rūmniece underlines that “in the field of higher education, a serious imbalance has developed between the humanities and the exact sciences” ... read more 13.10.2017
A lifetime word limit for researchers
LONDON (nature) -- Brian Martinson, health researcher and commentator, has advocated in nature that researchers should be given a ‘lifetime word limit’ in order to reduce the number of what he calls “papers written to gain credit in an academic marketplace”. He goes on to talk about how authorship has become a commodity ... read more 17.9.17
Beating brain-drain in Slovakia
BRATISLAVA (pc revue) -- Eight higher education institutions have joined the so-called ‘Butterfly Effect’ programme, in an effort to encourage talented young Slovakians to keep the fruits of their labour inside the country. The programme was launched by the companies Leaf, Pixel Federation and Sygic to prepare young people for digital business, and keep them from seeking work abroad ... read more 18.10.2017
Knowledge bridges for Greece
ATHENS (neoskosmos) --
Brain drain has long been a problem in Greece, but the government hopes to combat this with its “Knowledge Bridge” programme. The programme aims to connect scientists and Greek professionals who live and work overseas, and introduce and exploit ideas, knowledge and expertise through effective partnerships with scientists, private businesses, universities and research centres
... read more 11.10.2017
Slovaks flock to Czech universities
BUDAPEST (spectator) -- In a recent survey, as many as 21 percent of Czechs said that the Slovaks are their least popular neighbours. This was mostly affected by the Slovak minority that lives and studies in the country. Some Czechs believe that Slovaks deprive them of jobs and places at universities ... read more 11.10.2017
Aluminium, fake data, and paper retractions
(ars technica) -- A recent study linking a component of vaccines to signs of autism in mice is set for retraction after scientists thoroughly demolished the study’s design, methods, and analysis—and then, for good measure, spotted faked data. The original study, led by Christopher Shaw and Lucija Tomljenovic is just the latest in a long line of publications from the researchers who appear unwavering in their effort to reveal supposed neurotoxic effects of aluminum in vaccines even though dozens of studies ... read more | video 11.10.2017
Portuguese science minister sides with researchers
LISBON (dn) -- The Minister of Science, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, has placed himself on the side of scientific researchers who demonstrated for the end of precariousness in their field, committing himself to schedule a meeting with rectors and researchers. In a statement, the minister criticised what he sees as an ‘institutional inertia’, referring to the insufficient hiring of researchers, and condemned the words of University of Lisbon rector, António Serra, who said that “universities do not need researchers, they need teachers” ... read more | and here 11.1 0.2017
Irish infrastructure gets long needed boost
DUBLIN (ut) -- The Irish government has announced a 47.5 million euro increase in funding for higher and further education in the 2018 budget. An additional 310 million euros will be made available by 2021 to deal with infrastructure costs, which many universities blame for their financial difficulties ... read more 10.10.17
Not enough student accommodation in Italy
PIEDMONT (repubblica) -- Growth in student numbers in Italy has meant an increased demand on accommodation. Students who have been told they are entitled to a place to stay will now not receive it due to a simple lack of rooms. The demand is 24 percent higher than previous years, leaving over 1,500 students with nowhere to go ... read more 12.10.2017
No place for international students in Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM (trajectum) -- The housing shortage in Amsterdam is forcing some international students to sleep in cars, campsites and hostels, and many who can’t find accommodation simply head home. The opposition party has submitted a motion for a new student housing plan, but education minister, Jet Bussemaker says that universities need to be honest with prospective international students, that they will have difficulty finding somewhere to stay ... read more 12.19.2017
1,000 Italian professors strike over pay
FIRENZE (repubblica) -- Almost a thousand professors have decided to strike against a pay freeze, cancelling the first exams scheduled for autumn. The protest, which was organised on a national level by “Movement for the Dignity of the University Degree”, involved almost nine thousand professors from 79 Italian universities ... read more 11.10.2017
Jordanian students keen on Erasmus+
AMMAN (menafn) -- Over 2,000 Jordanian students pre-registered to attend the Study in Europe Fair in the Jordanian Capital to find opportunities through around 30 educational institutions from 14 European countries. In the last three years, 1,300 Jordanians, both students and teaching staff, have gone to Europe through Erasmus+ funding ... read more 12.10.2017
Possible Brexit damages for UK science
BRUSSELS/LONDON (guardian) -- The European Commission introduced a note on its research and innovation portal last week, which says that if the UK withdraws from the EU without an agreement with Brussels, British researchers funded under the Horizon 2020 programme will lose access to their grants. UK universities minister, Jo Johnson, however, wants British universities to continue close research collaboration with their European peers ... read more | and here 12.10.2017
Russian industry universities receive extra money
MOSCOW (rg) -- The State Duma Committee on Education and Science has proposed to grant additional financial support to specialised institutions of higher education. The objective is to create basic industrial higher education institutions in the regions with more decisionmaking autonomy ... read more
New accreditation system for Czech universities
PRAGUE (novinky) -- The Charles University in Prague has become the first Czech university to apply for institutional accreditation. The new system was brought in by an updated version of the Higher Education Act, and it allows establishments to independently cancel or modify study programs ... read more 12.10.2017