Australia
Vocational Sector Sees Big Growth in International Enrollments
Australia’s international education market has been buoyed by recent data showing that vocational education and training programs enjoyed growth of 44 percent over the previous year, according to July 2008 statistics released by the government in September.
Universities still enroll a majority of the foreign students who come to Australia to study, however, almost one-third — or 142,000 — are enrolled in vocational education, up from 25 percent in 2007. As of July, 459,692 foreign students were enrolled in Australian educational institutions, making education the third-largest export in the country.
– The Australian [1]
September 24, 2008
Australian Universities Adopting International Curriculum Standards
With the University of Melbourne [2] leading the charge, six of Australia’s leading universities have announced plans to overhaul their academic programs, in an effort to bring them in line with international norms, while also ensuring they remain attractive to prospective international students.
Moving away from the British model, the University of Melbourne in April adopted a curriculum much closer to the U.S. model. The university has overturned the traditional Australian emphasis on specialized undergraduate degrees as it rolls out new professional graduate schools, which are scheduled to be fully up and running by 2011. The “Melbourne model” mirrors the recent conversion of some European universities to a similar structure: a general undergraduate program, offered across six broad fields followed by professional graduate courses in fields such as law, teaching and medicine. The Australian degree will remain three years in length, as is the case with a majority of the new European degrees.
At the University of Western Australia [3], in Perth, which expects to complete its curriculum overhaul by 2012, all undergraduate students will be required to take courses in both the arts and the sciences and learn how to conduct research and communicate effectively, in addition to fulfilling a community-service requirement.
These moves are being made with a view to increasing the employability of Australian graduates, and also with an eye to the competitiveness of the institutions themselves, which rely heavily on international enrollments as a source of revenue. The new curriculums, it is hoped, will appeal to internationally mobile students, especially those from Asia.
The other universities that have announced reforms to their undergraduate and graduate curriculums are Macquarie [4], Monash [5], and Victoria [6] Universities and the University of South Australia [7].
– The Chronicle of Higher Education [8]
September 30, 2008
China
Regulator Calls for Corruption Crackdown
An increase in the number of scandals involving bribery and other forms of corruption at Chinese universities has prompted a government watchdog to demand tougher anti-corruption action in the sector. Xinhua, the state-run news agency, reported that a meeting of 300 university leaders heard that one in four scandals in the education sector happened at universities, with corruption most likely to be found in the areas of admissions, finance and infrastructure construction. Xiong Bingqi, a professor of higher education reform at Shanghai Jiao Tong University [9], said: “Power without restriction and supervision leads to corruption.” However, others fear the demands of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection could be a threat to universities’ independence.
– Xinhua News Agency [10]
September 24, 2008
Number of Students Abroad Continues to Grow
First time enrollments of Chinese students at universities abroad is estimated to reach a record 200,000 this year compared with 144,500 who went abroad in 2007, a more than 30 percent increase, or a 170-fold increase compared to 860 students studying overseas 30 years ago. Since then, more than 1.2 million students have left China to study abroad although only 320,000 have returned home after completing their studies.
According to Liu Xuyan of the agency Beijing Chivast Education International, easing of US visa rules meant the visa pass rate reached a record 80 percent in 2007. Liu said US embassies and consulates in China had issued more than 52,000 student visas between 2006 and 2007. She also said a new Australia Scholarships program to strengthen education ties in the Asia Pacific region had led to a doubling of students from the region last year.
– China Daily [11]
January 17, 2008
– People’s Daily [12]
October 10, 2008
China, Cambridge U. Strengthen 120-Year History of Collaborations
Cambridge University [13]’s Vice-Chancellor, Alison Richard, completed a four-day trip to China in October during which she cemented research agreements with top Chinese research centers in the latest set of collaborative agreements between the top-ranking British university and China. The relationship dates back to 1888 when Cambridge became the first British university to appoint a professor of Chinese.
There are currently more than 130 official academic, industrial and government partnerships between China and Cambridge, spanning many disciplines such as language teaching, architecture, mathematics, materials sciences, the economy, political science and nanotechnology.
Richard’s delegation signed a memorandum of understanding for future collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences [14] and another with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences [15]. Both agreements focus on areas of common global challenges especially relating to climate change, sustainable development, good governance, renewable energy and infectious and degenerative disease. A collaborative research agreement was also reached with Tsinghua University [16] on low carbon emissions.
The 719 Chinese students at Cambridge currently constitute the largest group of international students (13 percent). The number has doubled over the past five years. A large proportion of them are financially supported by scholarships from the Cambridge Overseas Trust [17], Gates Cambridge Scholarships [18] and other awards.
– Xinuha [19]
October 13, 2008
India
Universities Understaffed by 50%
New data from the federal government reveal that faculty shortages in the higher education sector are as high as 50 percent, even as the country proceeds with plans to open hundreds of new institutions of higher education.
According to the findings of a report from the pay-review committee of the University Grants Commission [20], the university regulator, approximately 50 percent of positions at federal and state-financed universities are vacant, while earlier unofficial estimates had pegged the vacancy rate at about 35 percent.
“The house of higher education is not in good shape, at the moment,” says the report, which also warns that the faculty shortage may prevent the government from meeting its goal of setting up 80 new universities, engineering schools, management schools, and research institutes, along with more than 350 undergraduate colleges. The committee recommended a 70 to 90 percent salary increase for professors.
– The Statesman [21]
October 4, 2008
Report: Rigid Visa Regulations, Poor Marketing Deter International Students from Enrolling at Indian Universities
India is failing to attract foreign students to it institutions of higher education because of a rigid visa system and poor marketing, a recent report from Ernst and Young concludes.
Unlike its neighbor China, which has seen rapid growth in international enrollments in the last decade, India continues to fail in attracting foreign students, despite the attractiveness of learning in an emerging economy the size of India’s, and English as the predominant language of instruction. In addition, the cost of education and other expenses are reasonable in India, the Ernst & Young-EDGE 2008 report [22] on ‘Globalising Higher Education in India’ said.
Despite these apparent attractions, the number of inbound students pursuing studies in India has remained abysmal, it said. The report calls for an improvement in current student visa regulations to allow students to transfer between institutions, if desired, and to allow for greater flexibility in granting multiple entry requests at the visa interview.
– The Hindu [23]
October 5, 2008
Minister Opens 2 New Federal Institutions
Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister, Arjun Singh laid the foundation stones for a new School of Planning & Architecture (SPA) and a new Indian Institute of Science Education and Research [24] (IISER), both to be located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
The two new federal institutions will conduct research in addition to regular teaching. The SPA at Bhopal will offer bachelor’s and master’s programs as well as doctoral and post-doctoral programs in the fields of architecture and planning. The new SPA campus, along with SPA Vijayawada, which is also under construction, aims to live up to the prestigious name of SPA Delhi [25].
The IISER will be the fourth such institution in the country; the other three are located in Pune [26], Kolkata [27] and Mohali [28]. A fifth IISER is being established in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The IISERs are considered ‘institutes of national importance,’ and have been established by the Government of India to promote education and research in the sciences. An inaugural class of students started a Master of Science program at IISER Bhopal in August at a transitional campus at the Industrial Training Institute of Gas Rahat. A permanent campus will be established in Bhaunri on the outskirts of Bhopal.
– Indiaedunews [29]
October 8, 2008
Government Starts Selection Process for 12 New Central Universities
Since approving the creation of 12 new Central Universities in early October, the Indian government has taken its next step by initiating the site-selection process. Several government committees have started visiting sites offered by state governments to assess their “suitability.” One major suitability requirement will be a state donation of 500 acres of land for the site.
“One committee has visited the site offered by Punjab. Very soon two committees will visit the proposed sites in Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh,” a senior ministry official, quoted by the Hindu newspaper, said. The committees would mainly study the availability of required land, transport infrastructure and other facilities at the locations.
– The Hindu [30]
October 9, 2008
Knowledge Commission Gets Extension and New Mandate
Recommended changes to the ailing Indian higher-education system made by the government-appointed National Knowledge Commission [31] are not being implemented by the Indian Education Ministry [32], according to the commission chairman.
Sam Pitroda was appointed as chairman of the commission by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 to design a reform package for Indian higher education. The commission’s mandate was set to expire in October, but has been given an extension through March 2009. Addressing the media in October, Pitroda said the prime minister had asked the commission to focus on carrying out its many suggestions for educational reform. The chairman blamed the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which is in charge of higher education, for the lackluster progress.
The main reason for the slow progress, according to an October article in the Mail Today, has been the commission’s suggestion that India set up an independent regulatory authority for higher education to replace the current web of regulators, many of which have been accused of corruption and incompetence.
– Mail Today [33]
October 15, 2008
Singapore
Indian Students Find a Second Home
Indian students were originally attracted to Singapore as a study destination by low tuition fees at about one-third of that in the United States or the United Kingdom. Now, according to a recent Times of India article, Indian students are finding that the city-state offers much more.
Based on interviews with Indian students currently studying in Singapore, India Times surmises that additional advantages include safety, proximity to India, easy-to-find accommodations, generous loan terms, hassle-free visa procedures and cultural compatibility. Indians currently constitute the second largest source of foreign students, behind those from China.
– The Times of India [34]
September 22, 2008
150,000 Foreign Students by 2015
Government officials in Singapore announced an ambitious plan to attract 150,000 students to its shores by 2015. There are currently 90,000 foreign students from 120 countries studying at the city-state’s institutions of education. “We want to take this number to 150,000 by 2015,” Eileen Cher Jialin, an official of Singapore Tourism Board (STB) told reporters.
“Our vision is to develop Singapore as a compelling global hub for business, investment and talent,” Jonathan Lim, Head Education of Economic Development Board (EDB) said.
The EDB and STB together in 2003 launched Singapore Education [35], a multi-government initiative to highlight the unique educational experience that foreign students can access in Singapore. Foreign students in Singapore currently account for 75 percent of total enrollments.
– Press Trust of India [36]
September 21, 2008
South Korea
Cash Incentives for Foreign Academic Talent
South Korean education officials are hoping to attract top international researchers to work at the country’s universities in the latest government-led plan to increase the international diversity of the nation’s system of higher education. A 2007 survey by the ministry of education [37] found that South Korea’s 23 public universities employed just 22 full-time foreign professors.
The US$800 million World Class Universities program has so far drawn in applications from around the world to the tune of 1,000 foreign academics, including more than 400 from the United States, according to the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation [38], the government-affiliated body that administers the program.
The five-year plan, launched at the beginning of this year, finances collaborative projects between overseas and South Korean scholars working to establish academic programs in fields that would support economic growth. Another category invites “distinguished world-class scholars” to teach and conduct research at South Korean universities. All grant recipients are required to spend a few months each year for several years working in South Korea. Among the applicants are 11 Nobel laureates and 18 members of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering [39]. US$130-million has been budgeted for this year, and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation will announce the grant winners in November.
Another aspect of the broader internationalization program is an initiative launched earlier this year to increase the number of foreign students on campus. The initiative seeks to double the number of international students to 100,000 by 2010.
– Korea Herald [40]
October 7, 2008
Thailand
Universities to be Punished for Poor Quality Learning Centers
Universities in Thailand are getting ready for a round of quality assessment visits beginning in 2010, during which universities will be judged on the standards of main campuses as well as those of affiliated learning centers, which have received government criticism in recent months. Universities will not receive a positive accreditation decision if any of their affiliated centers do not meet government standards.
“The 2010 assessment will be tough. If any center fails the assessment, the main campus will not be accredited. The aim is not to pressure them to close the centers, but to stress quality,” said Somwung Pitiyanuwat, director, Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment [41].
In 2006, a survey by the Office of the Higher Education Commission found there were 250 to 300 learning centers nationwide, which serve around 150,000 students. Education Ministry [42] regulations require centers to offer consistent quality, a suitable location, adequate research facilities and at least five full-time lecturers per program.
– Bangkok Post [43]
September 15, 2008
Vietnam
Staff Shortage as University Enrollments Boom
There has been rapid growth in the number of institutions of higher education in Vietnam in recent years, and now there are major concerns with regard to quality and capacity to staff faculties.
Speaking at a conference in Hanoi for newly established private universities and colleges, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan said there was a severe shortage in teaching staff at these schools even as new institutes were being established. In the last 10 years, out of 198 new universities and colleges that have been built and upgraded, the number of private tertiary institutions has quadrupled from 16 to 64.
In an effort to meet human resources demand for rapid economic growth, Vietnam needs to increase the number of tertiary institutes to 386 in 2010, 410 in 2015 and 600 in 2020, including 225 universities and 375 colleges, according to the ministry [44]. As of August this year, the country has 369 tertiary institutes including 160 universities and 209 colleges. The number of tertiary institutes is estimated to triple in the next 15 years to accommodate 4.5 million students, compared with the current 1.6 million students.
– Vietnam News [45]
September 16, 2008
Students Seeking Advantage in Oversaturated Graduate Market Increasingly Look Abroad
Up to 37 percent of Vietnamese university graduates could not find jobs in 2006, according to the Ministry of Education and Training [44]. Increasingly, students are looking abroad for degrees to gain an edge. According to Tran Xuan Nhi, chairman of the Vietnam International Education Consultants Association [46], “some 10,000 Vietnamese people study overseas every year.”
Most Vietnamese students looking to study overseas seek degrees from English-speaking countries. Typically, they are looking to do so on grants and scholarships, but with improving economic conditions in Vietnam, an increasing number of self-financed students are also entering the market. The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom have offered many scholarship programs to attract Vietnamese students under education cooperation agreements. Last year, the number of visas granted to Vietnamese students to study in the U.S. rose by 73 percent, according to statistics from the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.
– Than Hien News [47]
September 26, 2008
British Universities Back Hanoi University
The British University Vietnam [48], founded by a private training organization, was officially launched in Hanoi in early September. The Thanh Nien daily said that the university would offer business and technology degrees accredited by the University of London [49] and Staffordshire University [50]. All programs will be taught in English by overseas lecturers. The university is expected to open a second institution in Ho Chi Minh City in 2011.
– Thanh Nien [51]
September 16, 2008
University Autonomy a Pipe Dream
Universities that were promised autonomy from government control on a trial basis four years ago are complaining that the ministry is having a hard time relinquishing the reins. The trial is supposed to cover a financial self-control scheme, which would allow universities to charge tuition fees as they see fit. However, they complain that government officials have imposed limits on how much they can increase the fees, reports VietNamNet Bridge.
Do Duy Truyen, head of Hanoi University [52], said that he could not find anything good about the scheme – training quality had not yet improved. The University of Foreign Trade [53] said that it does not have real autonomy in planning expenses. Vice-chancellor Hoang Van Chau said money had become scant so the university has had to cut expenses and even staff salaries. Truyen also said that while his institution had been allowed by the ministry to collect high fees, the state inspection agency has forced it to reduce the amount charged by more than half.
– Vietnam Bridge [54]
October 14, 2008