France: Hollande Scales Back Research and Higher Ed Budget Cuts

President François Hollande has agreed to scale back on some budget cuts he proposed in the end of May after meeting with a group of concerned and influential scientists who deemed the cuts “scientific and industrial suicides”. Hollande’s original proposition would have slashed research and higher education budgets by $290 million dollars, raising fears that ongoing research would be halted and students would be discouraged from entering STEM fields. Hollande agreed to hold off on the most controversial cuts (totaling $152 million) to four of the major agencies in France and promised to provide more money science and research in the 2017 annual budget.

Science
May 31, 2016

Germany likely to become top European study destination

Germany is set to surpass the U.K. to become the most popular study destination in Europe.  A report from India-based M.M. Advisory points to changes in Indian student mobility as a key factor in the shift. In part due to low or no tuition fees and a diversity of post-study work opportunities, Indian enrollments at German HEIs increased by 24%, while the number of Indians attending UK universities fell by 10%. The U.S. is still the top destination, but a similar downward trend could occur as Germany gains in popularity among an increasingly price conscious cohort of Indian students.

The PIE News
May 31, 2016

UK: Brexit would cause drop in inbound student mobility

In a recent survey, almost 50 percent of international students globally, and over 80 percent of EU students claimed that a Brexit would make the UK a less desirable place to study. According to student mobility data analyzed by Hobsons, this means over 100,000 students could find the country less attractive. A severe drop in inbound students could have detrimental effects on the national economy and force British universities to seriously overhaul international student recruitment strategies.

Times Higher Education
May 17, 2016

Turkish Universities open doors to thousands of Syrian students

Around 5,600 Syrian students have been enrolled at Turkish institutes of higher education, with nearly 20% on scholarships, according to the head of the country’s Disaster and Management Authority (AFAD) Fuat Oktay. At present, student evaluations are based on test scores, though efforts are being made to develop a more standardized intake process. WES has identified recommended practices to help institutions recognize refugee applicants qualifications when full, official or verifiable documentation is missing

Hurryiet Daily News
May 12, 2016