Australia

New Survey Ranks International Standing of Nation’s Universities

A national survey has for the first time ranked the country’s universities in terms of their international standing. The “Group of Eight” oldest and most research-intensive institutions top the list of 39.

The Australian National University and the University of Melbourne placed in joint first place, followed by Sydney, Queensland, New South Wales, Monash, Western Australia and Adelaide universities.

The rankings used six criteria: the international standing of staff, quality of graduate programs, academic standard of new undergraduates, quality of undergraduate programs, university resource levels, and a survey of Australian deans and overseas university executives. The survey garnered responses from 40 institutions worldwide and from 80 Australian deans. They were asked to rate each Australian university in comparison with foreign universities and then to rank the six categories. All respondents rated quality of staff as most important.

The ranking is available HERE

— The Times Higher Education Supplement
Dec. 17, 2004

IDP Downsizes in Response to Falling Overseas Demand

IDP Education Australia, the country’s main foreign student recruitment agency, is closing offices in non-profitable markets to consolidate activities in its main source countries after three consecutive years of financial loss.

Offices have been closed in countries deemed to have high operating costs, “low brand awareness” of Australia and where projections indicate significantly slower growth in student numbers. Offices were recently closed in Britain, Brazil, Brunei, Columbia, Mexico, South Africa and Sweden. It closed American operations in October and about 30 staff in Australia have been made redundant. In December, the IDP board described a strategy to shift from market diversification to consolidation in core and profitable markets, such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, which combined account for 75 percent of IDP’s recruitment business.

IDP is jointly owned and funded by 38 member universities. The agency maintains that it still has their backing despite rumors that many of the larger universities are looking to increase their own recruiting activities. The downturn is attributed to a sharp and unexpected drop in demand from international students wanting to study in Australia, the stronger Australian dollar and increased tuition fees (see Nov/Dec issue of WENR).

In related news, the government of Botswana announced in February that it would not be renewing its contract with IDP, ending one of the agency’s most lucrative contracts. The Botswana High Commission will take over the US$15 million student fellowship scheme under which 500 of its students are placed and supported in Australian universities. The contract was worth $1.25 million a year in administrative charges for IDP.

— The Australian
Dec.9, 2004, Feb.2, 2005

China

Surrogate Test Takers Proliferate in English Exams

An increasing number of college students in China, frustrated with the rigors of learning a foreign language, are hiring surrogates to take English-language examinations for them. The Shanghai Star reported recently that the business of hiring a “gunman”, as they are commonly known, is growing at an unprecedented rate on campuses around the country.

In order to graduate from a bachelor’s program, all students in China are required to pass English proficiency exams know as the College English Test Level 4 (CET-4), regardless of their major. In January every year students sit for the CET-4, and in the months leading up to the exam campuses around the country are plastered with the notices of those looking for a test-taker, or test-takers advertising their services. Fees for a pass in the CET-4 are reportedly in the vicinity of US$120. Many of the ads are apparently placed by agencies, which have proliferated with the central government’s sanction to improve English language skills in the country. Many of the agencies are even brazen enough to advertise their services openly on the Internet. Their services extend beyond the CET-4 to tests such as TOEFL and IELTS, for which agencies charge as much as $1,500 for a pass.

Compared with the growing business of fraud in exam taking, effective measures to curb the practice have been slow in coming. According to the police it is not a crime to act as a “gunman” and take a test for somebody else. It is up to education authorities to catch and punish the perpetrators, but according to the Shanghai Star gunmen are rarely caught. As for agency websites, they are the responsibility of the information authorities, who also have been slow to crack down on the business.

— The Shanghai Star
Jan. 11, 2004

Durham Wins Contract to Assess Chinese Exams

The University of Durham has won a contract with the Chinese government to help assess and evaluate a planned widespread reform of national curriculum-based assessments in China’s schools.

A high-level delegation, which included a mix of central government officials and academics headed by the Deputy Director General of the Basic Education Department, visited the University of Durham’s Curriculum Evaluation Management (CEM) Center and signed a US$865,000 deal. The three-year project requires CEM to set up two monitoring projects, which are expected to run for the foreseeable future.

The University of Durham has long-established links with China through research, exchanges, consultancy and partnerships in a number of academic departments. A number of Chinese language variants of the Center’s projects are already run in Hong Kong. Projects include those that measure value-added, pupils’ attitudes, safety in schools, relationships, and learning and teaching processes. The analyzed data assists schools in self-evaluation and management processes.

— BBC
February 2, 2005

Quinghua University Signs Deal With Macquarie University

Qinghua University has announced that it will offer Macquarie University’s Master of Applied Finance (in English) at its Beijing campus beginning in March.

Macquarie academics will teach the program, which will be virtually the same as that taught at the Sydney-based campus with slight tailoring in areas such as law, for the Chinese market. The program is targeted at prospective students in professions like banking, treasury operations, private equity, investment banking and corporate finance.

Macquarie’s Master of Applied Finance is currently taught in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore and Tokyo. The Australian university also has a partnership with Nanjing Normal University as well as cooperative programs with Suzhou University and Shandong University. The later two agreements are awaiting ministry approval.

— Chinanews
February 1, 2005

Shanghai Business School Tops FT’s Regional Rankings

The China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) was ranked as the 22nd best business school in the world and the top school in the Asia-Pacific region by the latest Financial Times survey of the world’s top 100 business schools.

This is the highest ranking an Asian business school has ever achieved in an international business school ranking, and it is a big improvement for the Shanghai business school which ranked 53rd overall in last years’ ranking.

The British newspaper considers 20 factors in composing its list including graduates’ income growth rate and career prospects. Statistics from top business schools and the views of multinational corporations, business school graduates and Financial Times experts were also taken into account. According to the findings, CEIBS ranked highest overall for the percentage of graduates finding employment within three months of graduation, beating out top business schools Harvard, Wharton and Columbia.

CEIBS was jointly founded by the Chinese government and the European Union in 1994.

— People’s Daily Online
January 28, 2005

Large Increase in the Number of Foreign Students

China has seen a year-on-year increase of 30 percent in the number of foreign students coming to the country in recent years according to Vice Education Minister Zhang Xinsheng. The news follows the release of other recent figures showing that Chinese universities recruited a total of 4.2 million students in 2004, double the figure from 1998.

Almost 78,000 international students from over 170 countries studied at Chinese institutions of education from September 2003 to August 2004, with a 20 percent increase in the number of students pursuing master’s- and doctoral-level degrees. A large number are also coming to study Chinese as a foreign language.

— People’s Daily Online
Dec. 6, 2004

Scottish Authorities Suspend HND Program After Student Fraud Accusations

Plans by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to export its examinations system to China have been put on hold following charges of fraud and “systematic cheating” by students looking to gain entry to Britain on study visas.

The SQA had extended a scheme across sixteen Chinese universities that offered the Scottish Higher National Diploma (HND) qualification in tourism, hospitality, computing, finance and business studies. Sea Rich, a Sino-British college in the north-east port of Dalian was granted permission to confer HNDs, validated by the SQA under a contract with the Northeast Normal University in Changchun. However, staff at Sea Rich raised concerns that many students were in fact not studying, but had been promised by the university a two-year-year HND for payments of US$2,200. In addition, these students had purportedly been promised assistance by the university to get UK entry clearance, including bank certificates certifying that their sponsors had funds deposited in the bank. The university strenuously denies the allegations and has said that it terminated the contract with Sea Rich because the college had refused to teach the students or to refund fees.

Staff at the college also claim that attempts to inform Northeast Normal University were frustrated by local operators of the course and some were even threatened with violence. An investigation has since been launched and officials from the SQA will visit the area as part of their inquiries.

— The Scotsman
Jan. 30, 2005

India

Supreme Court Overturns Private University Law

The Supreme Court of India has ruled unconstitutional a three-year-old law allowing for the establishment of private universities in the state of Chhattisgarh. As a result the licenses of all 112 private universities in the state, enrolling approximately 30,000 students, have been revoked. The institutions have been declared illegal and ordered to cease operating as they do not have the approval of the University Grants Commission.

Chattisgarh has only two public universities serving a population of 21 million, and is therefore in great need of more universities. But, the Private Sector Universities Act of 2002 was hastily written and made it legal for virtually any outfit to obtain a university license, regardless of the overall number of universities in the state. Within the law there were next to no provisions for oversight of the new institutions and no monitoring body was ever established. As a result there was a proliferation of mainly substandard storefront entities mixed in with a handful of reputable and well-intentioned institutions such as Rai University, Amity University, Ansal Institute of Technology and Aptech University.

The court ruling follows recent amendments to the law which required all existing private institutions to create a US$450,000 endowment from which students would be compensated if the institution turned out to be of no educational value. The amendment also called for universities to purchase a certain acreage of land on which to build physical facilities. Thirty-seven of the 112 universities met the amended requirements by the specified deadline, but have nonetheless been ordered to abide by the recent Supreme Court decision to cease operating. Those institutions have stated that they will appeal the ruling. In the mean time, the court has directed the institutions to seek affiliations with the two public universities in the state – Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University and Guru Ghasidas University so students can complete their courses.

— The Hindu
Feb 12, 2005

Japan

Number of Foreign Students Increases but Rate Slows

The number of foreign students studying in Japan as of May 2004 increased to just over 117,000, an increase of 7.1% on the previous year. However, the overall rate of growth has slowed significantly as Japan has implemented measures designed to guarantee the quality of students entering the country. The move follows a report from the Central Education Council in December 2003 that highlighted the number of students working illegally in the country (see Jan/Feb 2004 issue of WENR).

Of the total international student body, 62,000 were attending universities and junior and technical colleges; 29,000 were attending graduate schools; and just under 29,000 were attending advanced vocational schools. More than 93,000 students came from Asian countries, most notably China, South Korea and Taiwan.

— Kyodo News
Dec. 3, 2004

Flag, Anthem and Patriotism Causing Concern

After meeting in Tokyo in late December to review future education policy, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided to revise the country’s basic law on education to introduce a series of education reforms, including a draft plan to make students more patriotic. Because similar “reforms” in late 19 th century imperial Japan heralded a radicalization of politics and a descent into militarism, the draft plans have given people great cause for apprehension.

The thrust of the report, and the area of primary concern, is the recommendation that schools nurture a sense of aikokushin. Literally translated the term means ‘love of country’. Many in Japan argue however, that it goes beyond this to encompass a particular idea of Japan as a “uniquely entitled nation supported by hard-working but unquestioning citizens”. Such reforms run the risk of deepening tensions with Japan’s neighbors, and re-igniting domestic rifts, argues the Economist. Many teachers have made no secret of their displeasure at developments. Furthermore, many teachers in the capital are infuriated by recent regulations set by Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara that push devotion to the flag and national anthem in school.

— The Economist
January 22, 2005

Malaysia

Private Institutions Suffer Stagnating Overseas Enrollments

Officials from key institutions in the private higher education industry have acknowledged that there has been an industry-wide leveling off in the number of international students enrolled within the sector, according to a report in the Star newspaper. Last year the Education Ministry (whose portfolio then included higher education) was upbeat about achieving its target of attracting 50,000 foreign students to study in Malaysia by the end of 2005. At the time, an estimated 40,000 foreign students were studying in the country.

Figures supplied by the Higher Education Ministry show that as of January 2005 the number of international students enrolled at Malaysian institutions of education was 40,686. This figure includes 25,939 students in private higher education institutions, 6,315 students in public higher education institutions, 3,376 in public high schools and 5,056 in private high schools. In January 2003, there were approximately 25,158 foreign students from 150 countries studying at private institutions of higher. Most of the students came from China (10,239) and Indonesia (7,503), followed by India (1,409), Thailand (1,369) and Singapore (1,296).

Much of Malaysia’s appeal as a study destination is the low cost and availability of programs twinned with foreign providers. However, quality control issues have hit the country hard over the last few years with a number of fly-by-night operators tarnishing the image of the industry as a whole.

The recent relaxation of regulations on the foreign provision of education in China is another contributing factor that has been raised by the ministry as to why international student numbers have plateaued. Incoming students from China – Malaysia’s largest source country – actually dropped from 10,239 in 2003 to 9,075 in 2004. Students in China seeking twinned or franchised foreign programs now have options domestically rather having to look to Malaysia or Singapore for affordable programs.

— The Star Online
January 23/February 20, 2005

Student Visas Scheme Altered to Allow Part-time Employment

The Malaysian government has altered its visa regulations for foreign students allowing them to work off campus on a part-time basis. The change is intended to combat the problem of students enrolled at private institutions for purposes of employment rather than study. The new regulations require that all foreign students are issued with identification cards against which the government will be able to check their employment and academic status. Those found to be breaking regulations will have their visa revoked.

— New Straits Times
Feb. 2, 2004

New Zealand

New Secondary Qualification Framework Reaches Maturity Amid Controversy

The New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA), a membership organization representing school trustee boards, said recently that the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) has now been fully implemented and is well on the way to reaching its full potential. The NCEA Level I replaced the year 11 School Certificate, which was offered for the final time in 2003, and the NCEA Level II replaced the Sixth Form Certificate, which was offered for the last time in 2004. Results from the NCEA Level III, which replaces the University Bursaries as a requirement for university admission, were released to the first graduating class in January.

The NZSTA statement comes amid rising criticism of the new qualifications framework. The Post Primary Teachers Association, New Zealand’s largest teacher’s union, has said that all levels of the NCEA should be examined as parents and students are losing confidence in the system. Concerns were originally raised because of poor student performances in the NZQA’s scholarship examination compared with previous years under the old qualifications system. As a result many top students have missed out on scholarship opportunities. Criticism has also centered on the wide variations in exam results between subjects, leading to claims that students may have a hard time gaining access to university.

Under the new system students earn credits on the National Qualifications Framework from Level I through to doctoral level 10. The credits are recorded on their Record of Learning that lists all unit standard and achievement standard credits, National Certificates and National Diplomas achieved in the previous year. Students can accumulate credits over a number of years and from many providers until they have completed a qualification. The Record of Learning provides an employer or institution of higher education with a profile of a learner’s achievements. The new qualification framework is designed to encourage learner mobility and lifelong learning, with students able to transfer their credits from one institution to another, or from one vocational training location to another. The Record of Learning does not show whether a student has failed a subject, rather it records a student’s (A) achieved, (M) merit or (E) excellence grade in each subject area.

— New Zealand Qualifications Authority
January 2005
— Fairfax new Zealand Limited
Feb 17, 2005

Singapore

MIT, NUS, NTU Relationship Deepens

After a successful six years of collaboration with the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is expanding its activities on the island nation after an agreement was signed with the two local universities to add a further four disciplines to their joint degree offerings.

The Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA) has already graduated more than 500 students from the three programs in which it offers a range of master’s- and doctoral-level qualifications. Students graduating from SMA programs walk away with double honors from both MIT and one or both of the local institutions. The arrangement plays a key role in Singapore’s strategy to attract and develop top scientific talent.

The newly agreed on expansion of the partnership will run a minimum of five years and programs in an additional four disciplines are on offer from July: advanced materials for micro and nano-systems, computational engineering, manufacturing systems and technology, and computation and system biology. Students spend at least one semester attending classes and undertaking research at MIT. While in Singapore, students continue to attend ‘live classes’ and research meetings in Boston through video conferencing.

— The Straits Times
Jan. 20, 2005

New Film School Opens in June

Singapore will see the opening of a new film school in June 2005. South Seas Film and Television School, based in Auckland, made the announcement in Singapore in December. The school will offer 110 students a full time one-year course in broadcast and film work, including camera operating, lighting, audio recording, editing, production, directing, presentation and script writing.

Last July a co-operative agreement was signed between Singapore and New Zealand, providing the impetus for the initiative.

— New Zealand Press Association
Dec. 3, 2004

South Korea

Looking for More Overseas Students

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources announced in December that it will work with universities and companies to triple the number of foreign students studying in the country by 2010. If successful the project, labeled the “Study Korea Project,” would raise the number of foreign students from the current 16,800 to 50,000.

If there were a student equivalent to a national trade deficit, then South Korea would be deeply in the red. A large number of Korean students travel overseas each year to pursue their studies; however, a much smaller number come to Korea to study. The ministry wants to reverse the trend and has stated that to do so it will focus its efforts on attracting Asian students, who currently comprise 86.5 percent of foreign students studying in Korea. The government has set aside 1.4 billion won (US$1.36 million) in 2005 for universities that provide courses taught in foreign languages and Korean language study programs. According to ministry figures six percent of university courses are currently taught in English and 26 percent of universities are running Korean language study programs.

For further information on study abroad programs in South Korea go HERE

— Korea Herald
Dec. 07, 2004