United Kingdom: International Tuition Payments Cost Universities an Estimated USD $103 Million in Credit Transaction Fees

A Western Union survey of 100 finance and admissions teams at universities across the U.K. found that the charges incurred from payments is the biggest challenge their institution faces when processing international tuition fees. The dollar costs were estimated at USD $100 million. The lost man-hours totaled about 67 working days every year. Nearly one fifth of the U.K. student population is from overseas, accounting for 12.7 percent of the total higher education income received by U.K. institutions, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Most resepondents said their institutions were not equipped to accept payment using alternate electronic systems.

Business Insider
August 1, 2017

United Kingdom: Teacher Ratings Pilot to Introduce Discipline-Based Measures, Teaching Intensity Metric

The U.K. government is piloting a new form of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) which would give ratings to U.K. universities for each of 35 subject groups. While the new level specificity provided by the sub-ratings would seem to be a good thing, many sector leaders fear that the group divisions could misrepresent some programs. This could occur with a subject group like engineering, where each sub-discipline is quite different. The pilot also introduces a new metric called “teaching intensity” would give a score based on hours of contact with students, and then adjust this score to reflect class sizes. Some have criticized the new metric as convoluted and unrepresentative of how some students learn.

Times Higher Education
July 27, 2017

Germany: Tuition Fees for Non-EU Students in the Works

The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has confirmed plans to introduce tuition fees for non-EU students. The fees come as a component of the 2017-2022 coalition agreement between the Christian Democratic Union and the Free Democratic Party. The fees will provide new financial resources to improve the state’s education quality. Some students, like those from developing countries or refugees, will be exempt from the policy.

The Pie News
July 19, 2017

Turkey: Purges Continue; Spur International Outrage

More than 40 academics and university workers were arrested at two Istanbul universities on July 10. Three days later, hundreds of academics were dismissed from their jobs. The actions are part of the ongoing fallout from an attempted coup a year ago. In an open letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, the nonprofit organization Scholars at Risk said that a “staggering” number of academics have faced criminal investigations, detentions, prosecutions, mass dismissal, expulsion and restrictions on travel. The purge, which has affected a broad cross-section of Turkish society, has sparked international outrage. The Scholars at Risk letter demanded a reversal of the measures.

University World News
July 15, 2017

United Kingdom: University Application Numbers Down for First Time Since 2012

The number of applicants for full-time undergraduate courses in the U.K. has fallen four percent. The U.K. has not seen a decline in applicant numbers since 2012, when tuition fees were raised. Another increase in tuition fees will occur for students beginning undergraduate degrees this September. Applicant numbers from countries outside of the EU have had a much less significant drop, with a fall only two percent. In contrast lower-tariff universities (which have the lowest required grades for entry) have seen the sharpest decline, with applicant numbers falling nine percent.

Times Higher Education
July 13, 2017

Russia: New Plan Would Triple Inbound international Enrollments in Eight Years

Russia’s Ministry of Education and Science is seeking to increase the number of foreign students pursuing degrees at Russian institutions from the current 200,000 to 310,000 people by 2019, and up to 710,000 students by 2025. At least half are expected to enroll in as-yet-to-be-unveiled university programs developed specifically to attract them. The program explicitly focuses on foreign students as a source of revenue. A fourfold or greater increase in revenues is expected.

University World News
June 22, 2017