Regional

EU May Offer Citizenship to Attract Top Talent

International doctoral students in Europe may be offered citizenship upon completion of their degree programs in an effort by the European Union (EU) to attract the world’s best brains. The idea was first circulated at the October “globalization” summit of European leaders in London by Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed the idea as part of the liberal reform agenda he has pushed during his six-month term as EU president.

If initiated, the policy would be a key aspect of the continent’s plans to promote its universities as centers for cutting-edge research and development in order to increase economic competitiveness and create jobs. European universities have long targeted non-EU students because of the extra funding they bring. Barroso’s suggestion would distinguish Europe from competitors such as the United States and Australia, which do not automatically offer citizenship to those gaining doctorates.

— The Financial Times
Nov. 14, 2005

7 U.S. Institutions in Top 10 of THES World Rankings

According to this year’s Times Higher Education Supplement world rankings, the top 10 universities across the globe are: Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, University of California-Berkeley, Yale, California Institute of Technology, Princeton and France’s Ecole Polytechnique. The top non-U.S., non-European universities in the top 25 are: Beijing (15), Tokyo (16), Melbourne (19), National University of Singapore (22) and Australian National University (23).

Full results, including subject-specific rankings, can be found at http://www.thes.co.uk/worldrankings/.

— The Times Higher Education Supplement
Oct. 28, 2005

EU Mandates Streamlining Visa Process for Overseas Researchers

Member states of the European Union (EU) will be required to establish a system designed to speed up and simplify the visa process for researchers, according to a bundle of new measures recently adopted by the European Council. The goal of the program is to make Europe a more attractive destination for overseas scientists to work, officials said.

The package is the latest in a series of steps aimed at boosting the EU’s position in world research, spurred by fears that it is losing ground to the United States and Asia. Other measures have included establishing a new European Research Council to stimulate basic research, and a proposal to double the budget for EU-funded science.

The first part of the package is a directive — an EU law that member states are obligated to translate into national law by October 2007— which establishes a fast-track procedure for the admission of non-EU researchers, who will be issued a residence permit by the host country. The directive also makes life easier for non-EU scientists already working within member states — they will no longer be required to return home to apply for resident permits. Along with the directive, the EU also issued “recommendations” for member countries, which are not legally binding. The first suggests that EU countries anticipate the implementation of the directive by providing “immediately favorable conditions for the admission of third-country nationals for research purposes.” The second recommendation encourages countries to streamline the issuing of short-term visas and multiple-entry visas for researchers.

— The Scientist
Oct. 25, 2005

Erasmus Mundus Exchange Program Broadens Reach

The European Union’s third-country exchange program, Erasmus Mundus, is enjoying a period of rapid expansion in this, its second year of operation. According to a recent news release, there are already 190 institutions involved in the program across 21 European countries, offering a total of 57 master’s programs.

The number of participating students from outside the EU has increased from 140 students from 52 countries in 2004, to 808 students from 90 countries this year. Additionally, the program has expanded to 38 universities in 17 non-EU countries. These partnerships aim to facilitate the outward mobility of EU students to third countries.

— European Commission news release
Oct. 29, 2005

4 Agencies Unite to Promote European Education in Asia

A consortium of European agencies led by EduFrance and including DAAD, Nuffic and the British Council was awarded a US$3 million contract by the European Commission in September to promote study opportunities in Europe. Under the terms of the three-year agreement, the consortium will organize seven European higher education fairs and Asia-Link Forums in Asia (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam). The tender aims to increase the attractiveness of Europe as a study destination and to strengthen cooperation in higher education between the European Union and South and Southeast Asia and China.

The PEER Consortium, composed of EduFrance, DAAD and Nuffic, organized the first European Commission‑funded European higher education fair in Bangkok in November 2004.

— EduFrance
October 2005

Majority of U.S. Universities Say 3-Year Degree is OK

U.S. graduate schools are beginning to look more favorably on European three-year bachelor degrees, which are being introduced as part of the Bologna Process, according to a survey conducted by U.S.-based Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).

The CGS study surveyed graduate programs at more than 450 U.S. universities and colleges on how they assess applicants who hold the three-year degrees. Of the 125 that responded, 55 percent are willing to admit students with the three-year degree if they appear ready for graduate work. However, 22 percent said they accept only four-year degrees and automatically deny admission for holders of the Bologna first degree; 9 percent said they require students take additional course work before being accepted into the program. The survey also found that universities are internally divided over the issue. Only 56 percent said they had institution-wide admissions policies on the three-year degrees.

The survey results are at: http://www.cgsnet.org/pdf/CGS2005IntlAdmitIII_Rep.pdf.

— Council of Graduate Schools
November 2005

Albania

New Government Shuts 3 New Universities

The newly elected government of Albania has closed three universities after accusing the previous administration of “opening universities like henhouses,” without sufficient financial resources or staff. The government promised to consider re-opening one — Durres — in 2006 and to create branches of other universities to replace those lost in the towns of Fier and Berat. All three institutions had been scheduled to open in the current academic year and would have increased the number of universities operating in the country to nine.

— Times Higher Education Supplement
Oct. 7, 2005

Cyprus

Laureate Acquires Major Share in College

Laureate Education announced in early December the acquisition of a 45 percent interest in Cyprus College, one of the oldest private colleges in Cyprus. The higher-education company, formerly known as Sylvan Learning system, owns a large number of international universities in 15 countries. Cyprus College offers 29 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, computer science, engineering and social sciences to more than 3,400 students.

— Laureate News Release
Dec. 1, 2005

Czech Republic

Ministry Looking to Double Number of Foreign Students

The number of foreign students attending universities in the Czech Republic has nearly quadrupled since 1999 — from 4,500 in 1999 to 17,500 in 2005 — representing more than 6 percent of the student population, according to figures from the Education Ministry and Eurostat, the statistical arm of the European Commission. Under a new five-year plan launched in September, officials want to see that growth continue: The goal is for foreign student numbers to double by 2010 to 33,000, or 10 percent of the total projected student population.

Despite the recent growth, Czech universities still face many challenges in recruiting foreign students. Primary among those hurdles is the language barrier and a lack of programs offered in English for both short-term exchange programs and long-term master’s programs. To overcome this hurdle, ministry plans call for an increase in the proportion of doctoral programs taught in foreign languages from 30 percent to 60 percent, while master’s programs taught in a foreign language are targeted to reach 50 percent. Additionally, teachers and administrators will be encouraged to master at least one foreign language — primarily English. Other strategies involve making greater use of European mobility, transparency and comparability tools such as the European Credit Transfer System and the Diploma Supplement.

Students studying in Czech typically do not pay for classes, but classes taught in English or other foreign languages are fee-based.

— The Prague Post
Oct. 26, 2005

Finland

Recruitment Drive Hoped to Draw International Researchers

Finnish scientific agencies, with funding from the government, have launched a new program to attract top foreign researchers to their shores. The idea is to aid the nation’s universities and research institutes in recruiting high-level international researchers committed to integrating themselves into the Finnish research community for a fixed period, reports the National Technology Agency.

The project aims to further internationalize Finnish research and develop the talent pool. Any researchers recruited through the new initiative would be required to make a long-term commitment to working in Finland. A call for proposals was expected in December.

— Europa
Sept. 27, 2005

France

Groundbreaking Double Degree Introduced by Top B-Schools in India and France

India’s top business school IIM-Ahmedabad in November signed an agreement with French business School ESSEC to offer a graduate-level double degree program to five students from each school annually.

The two-year MBA program, starting in September 2006, will be conducted at both schools, with students spending a year at each. According to IIM and ESSEC officials, the new program represents the first time that an Indian institution has tied up with a European school to provide a double-degree at the master’s level.

— The Hindu
Nov.11, 2005

Germany

Munich Universities Dominate Top Spots in Rankings

Three southern universities — Technische Universität Munich, Universität Karlsruhe and Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität — were given the Center for Higher Education Development’s (CHE) top three spots in its annual ranking of German universities. Only nine of the 59 universities evaluated showed excellence in research in at least half of the subject areas they offer. The other universities making up the top nine research universities in Germany are: Humboldt Universität Berlin, Universität Freiburg, Universität Bonn, Universität Heidelberg, Universität Frankfurt and the Freie Universität Berlin.

The CHE research ranking reviews 13 different disciplines. The criteria for the rankings were: amount of third-party funding, number of patents, dissertations and publications and overall reputation.

Full results can be found at: http://www.das-ranking.de/che6/CHE6.

— CHE news release
Nov. 16, 2005

Ireland

Chinese Numbers Stall

The rapid rise in the number of fee-paying Chinese students enrolling at Irish universities and colleges slowed to a virtual halt in 2005 after an increase of 60 percent in 2004, according to the International Education Board Ireland.

Growth in Chinese enrollments dropped to 7 percent in the current academic year. The global trend has been similar — an increase in educational opportunities in China has led to a fall in the number of Chinese students seeking to study abroad. All told, there are 23,000 overseas students studying at the tertiary level in Ireland, with just over 3,000 from China, 4,436 from the United States and 1,127 from Malaysia.

— Irish Independent
Oct. 26, 2005

Malta

Regional E-University Launched

The University of Malta has launched Mediterranean Virtual University (MVU), a European Union/Euro-Mediterranean Information Society-funded initiative that will bring together 11 universities and institutions from across Europe and the Mediterranean region to provide online courses. MVU partners include institutions from Denmark, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, under the directorship of the University of Strathclyde. Although MVU eventually will offer degree courses in a number of areas, only computer science and some information technology-related courses are being offered during the initial pilot phase.

— The Sunday Times
Oct. 9, 2005

The Netherlands

University Status Awarded to Business School

Nimba’s Graduate School of Management has been awarded university status by the Dutch government, the first institution in the country to be elevated in this manner in 20 years. The Uttrecht-based school also was recently ranked first in the Netherlands by the Economist Intelligence Unit for its full-time master’s in business administration program, and 57th overall in the world.

— The Times Higher Education Supplement
Oct. 10, 2005

Scotland

Number of Scottish Enrollments Drop as English Students Flee Fees

The number of Scots enrolling at university has dropped for the first time in five years, according to data compiled by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). While the drop of 300 to 26,500 is small, some are speculating that it may be the start of a trend resulting from Scotland’s population crisis and increased competition for places from students in the rest of the United Kingdom. The pressure is set to mount in 2006, when students attending universities south of the Scottish border will be charged increased fees of US$5,500 a year. Students at Scottish universities will be exempt from the fees.

There have been warnings that so-called “fee-refugees” will apply in huge numbers to Scottish universities. Already this year, there were record increases in the number of English, Welsh and Northern Irish school leavers applying to universities across the United Kingdom. The number of English students applying for places in Scotland rose 5 percent to 4,266. Added to this was a big increase in students from abroad, with European Union numbers up 20 percent to 1,598 and non-EU numbers up 10 percent to 1,926.

Record numbers of British students failed to get places at university this year as thousands scrambled to enroll before the tripling of tuition fees in 2006. UCAS reports that applicant numbers were up approximately 37,000; 404,670 were accepted into a program, an increase of 7.75 percent over 2004. Over 20 percent of 520,960 applicants did not find a place.

— The Scotsman
Sept. 25, 2005

Sweden

3 Universities Promote Chinese Collaboration

Three Swedish universities have joined forces in an initiative designed to boost undergraduate and graduate exchanges between Sweden and China in the fields of medicine, natural science and technology.

The universities — Karolinska Institutet, Chalmers University of Technology and the Royal Institute of Technology — have established local offices at Beijing University and Fudan University, Shanghai. The offices will serve as a means to promote the universities’ programs and research activities, and for the commercialization of scientific data throughout China and the rest of Asia. The current arrangement builds on years of collaboration among the partner institutions and will culminate in the establishment of joint research centers in China, a prospect on which Swedish industry is said to be keen to capitalize.

— Study in Sweden
Oct. 24, 2005

United Kingdom

International Enrollments Plateau, Chinese Enrollments Plummet

Figures released in October by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) confirmed the findings of an earlier report that the United Kingdom’s influence in the international student market is waning. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s annual report (see October 2005 issue of WENR) showed Britain’s share of the market is declining more quickly than any comparative country, with Australia, New Zealand and a number of European countries increasing the number of international students they are attracting.

According to the UCAS report, offering provisional enrollment statistics, the number of undergraduates accepted from outside the European Union rose just 0.9 percent from 2004, while enrollments from China nose-dived 22.5 percent. A report from the British Council suggests that non-European Union students were not put off by the London terrorist bombings in July. Industry professionals cite increased visa charges and the planned scrapping of the visa appeals process as creating a negative environment for recruiting international students. Another widely cited reason is the expanding domestic Chinese higher education sector, which is reducing the pool of students looking overseas.

Chinese officials have said the decline is the result of a number of factors, including the rising cost of studying in the United Kingdom, few opportunities to gain work experience, problems with visas and lax standards at some partner institutions.

— The Guardian
Oct. 19, 2005

Oxford Planning Business School Improvements

Oxford University is attempting to become a world leader in management education by merging all its business school programs under the Said Business School brand. The move is intended to give Oxford a “full service” business school, with undergraduate, graduate, master’s in business administration and non-degree programs. It is hoped the merger will help raise the business school’s international prestige and competitiveness, especially in relation to such top U.S. management schools as Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Chicago.

— The Financial Times
Oct. 10, 2005

State School to Drop A-Levels Entirely

Barton Court Grammar School in Canterbury is the first secondary school in the country to announce that it will completely abandon A-level examinations in favor of the International Baccalaureate (IB). This policy will take effect in 2007. Other schools across England and Wales already offer the international diploma but run it alongside A-levels.

The Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, which represents private secondary schools, said recently that unless reforms are made soon to the secondary school assessment framework, increasing numbers of fee-paying schools will switch to such examinations as the IB. Some regard the IB as more demanding than GCSEs and A-levels and better at differentiating the brightest students. The IB program, which was established 41 years ago, requires that students study English, a foreign language, mathematics and science until they are 18.

In a related development, University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) announced plans in October to create its own baccalaureate-style diploma aimed mainly at schools overseas and at British schools with an international outlook. The new qualification would be an alternative to CIE’s international A-levels and AS-levels — not a replacement, the group stressed. There currently are approximately 1,000 schools in nearly 100 countries that use Cambridge’s international A-levels and AS-levels.

— BBC
Oct. 25, 2005
— Guardian
Oct. 14, 2005

Study: No Research ‘Brain Drain’ in UK

A recent report from United Kingdom-based Higher Education Policy Institute concludes that rather than suffering from a “brain drain” of qualified researchers, the United Kingdom benefits from a substantial net immigration of academics, particularly among young researchers and highly cited professionals. The report is based on a previous study of staff movement in higher education institutions, as well as analysis of the publication records of academics, which can also reveal their movements between different institutions and countries.

The findings suggest that between 1995-96 and 2002-03, there was a substantial net immigration of researchers to Britain — on average, approximately 1.4 academics arrived for every one that left. Staff on researcher grades accounted for roughly two-thirds of migration in both directions, suggesting that overall figures are heavily influenced by a large group of postdoctorates who spend only limited time in the United Kingdom. While migration rates at senior levels are relatively low, the report’s publication and citation analysis suggests that in terms of researchers with publications to their names in recent years, the country loses more than it gains. However, when considering only highly cited researchers, this picture is again reversed, with Britain enjoying a net gain.

The report notes that compared with other countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, overall levels of mobility in the United Kingdom are actually quite modest. “There is also some evidence that researchers from European countries are beginning to treat the UK as UK researchers regard the U.S., coming here to begin their careers and establish their reputations, and then returning to their home countries to continue their careers,” the report concludes.

— Cordis News
Oct. 4, 2005

US Test-Prep Company Increases UK Presence

Kaplan Inc., the American test-preparation company, announced in late November that it had bought its third UK college. The acquisition of Holborn College, a private law and business college in London with 1,900 students, follows agreements to set up joint colleges for international students with Sheffield University and Nottingham Trent University.

In addition Kaplan, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post, is actively seeking to expand its test preparation business in the UK with coaching for the university admissions tests in law and medicine that some of the most competitive institutions have started to demand. Kaplan’s recent purchases include the Dublin School of Business and the Asia Pacific Management Institute, in Singapore (see Jan/Feb 2004 issue of WENR). The company also runs more than 70 campuses and operates online programs through Kaplan University and Concord Law School.

— The Guardian
Dec. 1, 2005