Subject: University World News Global Edition - 2 April 2017
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| 2 April 2017 | Issue 453 | Register to receive our free e-newspaper by email each week | Advanced Search |
NEWSLETTER Confusion and anarchy reign in the realm of knowledge communication
Academic Freedom comes under the spotlight this week. From Egypt, Ashraf Khaled says a new report concludes that state authorities have crushed a burgeoning democratic movement at universities by committing more than 2,300 human rights violations against students. In the United Arab Emirates, a prominent economist and academic, Nasser Bin Ghaith, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for tweeting criticism of the human rights record of the UAE and Egypt, despite a coalition of human rights organisations calling for his release. Also, Georgiana Mihut and Daniela Craciun contend that the targeting of the Central European University by the Hungarian government is an alarming action against academic freedom, and is part of an emerging trend of seeing universities as a threat. And Marit Egner describes how Scholars At Risk and other programmes have shown her that academic freedom should not be taken for granted. In Commentary, Ranjit Goswami says universities have an uphill task dealing with the post-truth era in an information-overloaded world under pressure to provide quality higher education for all, but deal with it they must. Eric Fredua-Kwarteng defends the Nigerian government's plan to teach science and mathematics in indigenous languages at primary schools and cautions the academics who are opposed to the plan. Wesley Teter asks if the value of national qualifications frameworks has been overrated and what can be done about this given the importance of strengthening the evidence base for quality assurance mechanisms. In Features, Jan Petter Myklebust reports on the Norwegian government's white paper which calls for a strengthened role for the humanities. The 2017 Worldviews Lecture on Media and Higher Education entitled "Populism and the Academy: On the 'wrong side' of history" will be presented this Wednesday 5 April by Peter Scott. And you are invited to register for the free webinar on the following Wednesday, 12 April, on "International Student Mobility Trends: Shifting recruitment priorities and strategies", which is being hosted by University World News in partnership with DrEducation and StudyPortals. Brendan O'Malley – Managing Editor NEWS: Our correspondents worldwide reportHUNGARYInternational university 'in danger', Ignatieff warnsBrendan O'MalleyA leading international university could be forced to shut down or leave the country after the government tabled a proposal to force foreign-funded universities to meet tough new conditions, including having campuses and offering a similar course in their home country. The Central European University is "in danger" of ceasing operations, according to the rector Michael Ignatieff. INDIAUproar over violent mob attack on African studentsYojana SharmaAn attack on African students in India last week has caused an uproar among students in the country and has sparked an investigation by India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who called the attack "deplorable", while students said if the authorities failed to curb attacks, India's aim to be an international higher education destination would be affected. AUSTRALIA-CHINASydney professor barred from leaving ChinaYojana SharmaThe barring of China scholar Feng Chongyi from travelling back from China to Australia where he holds a position at the University of Technology Sydney has unsettled academia and could have an impact on China research and collaborations between Australian and Chinese universities generally, academics fear. GLOBALNew data creates world's largest university rankingBrendan O'MalleyU-Multirank has published a new release of data drawn from 1,500 universities, creating the world's largest university ranking, and throwing a spotlight on high-performing universities that might not be picked up by traditional international university rankings. AFGHANISTANAmerican University reopens, defying threats of attackShadi Khan SaifDefying threats of another deadly attack, the American University of Afghanistan has reopened in Kabul with upgraded security. Classes restarted on Tuesday, seven months after militants stormed its compound, leaving 13 dead, including seven students and one lecturer, which forced the university to close down. SOUTH AFRICAUniversities pay tribute to struggle icon Ahmed KathradaMunyaradzi MakoniSouth African veteran activist Ahmed Kathrada, who died on Tuesday aged 87, has been hailed by universities for selflessly dedicating his life to fighting for freedom, justice, non-racialism and democracy. GERMANY-KENYAStipend delays cause hardship for Kenyan studentsMaina WaruruKenyan students studying in Germany on government of Kenya scholarships are facing serious difficulties – including losing their accommodation – because of the failure of the Kenyan government to pay its share of their scholarship stipends on time. TAIWANMinistry tackles research integrity after NTU scandalMimi Leung and Yojana SharmaTaiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology has said it will set up an Office of Research Integrity to hold researchers to ethical academic standards in the wake of a major academic fraud scandal at the country's top institution, National Taiwan University or NTU, which has severely damaged its research reputation. UNITED STATESUniversities fear Trump indirect research payment cutsPaul Basken, The Chronicle of Higher EducationThe Trump administration's plan to cut billions of dollars in research spending by eliminating indirect cost reimbursements – costs reflecting the legitimate expenses of providing scientists with labs and of complying with a host of essential services – would devastate university science, especially at public institutions, experts warned. AFRICAUN fellowships realigned to building Africa's capacityChristabel LigamiThe United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has relaunched its fellowship programme in line with Africa's transformative agenda to provide a platform for young African graduates to gain professional on-the-job experience in a range of development-related fields. GERMANYControversial German professor 'hounded by commissars'Michael GardnerThe University of Bremen's student union has the right to call Berlin Professor of History Jörg Baberowski a 'right-wing radical', according to a ruling by Cologne District Court, but not to take his controversial statements about refugees out of context. COMMENTARYGLOBALThe role of universities in the post-truth eraRanjit GoswamiUniversities face a huge challenge in confronting post-truth. It is the challenge of expanding higher education, while providing high-quality teaching at a time when people are required to deal with a tsunami of data and information – verified or unverified – emerging from all quarters. NIGERIALanguage politics and the denial of cultural identityEric Fredua-KwartengA government plan to teach science and mathematics in indigenous languages at primary schools has been opposed by some academics. They need to ensure their views are based on evidence rather than a desire to protect the status quo. ASIADo national qualifications frameworks work?Wesley TeterThere is limited evidence that national qualifications frameworks do their job, whether improving learning and recognition outcomes or supporting the mobility of students. To build trust in qualifications we need to strengthen the evidence base for quality assurance mechanisms. AUSTRALIATeaching-only roles could end your academic careerDawn Bennett, Lynne Roberts and Subramaniam AnanthramTeaching academic roles in Australian universities have tripled over the past decade, making up around 5% of the academic workforce – and further roll outs are expected. But new research suggests that these roles can be a negative career move for academics. WEBINARGLOBALSeeking globally mobile students in a world in turmoilThe United Kingdom and United States are set on a path to creating more barriers to attracting and retaining international students. The two largest source countries of international students – China and India – have experienced economic changes that have decelerated the ambitions and ability of students to go abroad. What strategic options are higher education institutions considering in response to this turbulence? WORLD BLOGGLOBALAnarchy and exploitation in scientific communicationPhilip G AltbachThe world of science communication is in turmoil as a result of a perfect storm of complex issues. As fake journals proliferate and academics face pressure to publish, what can be done to bring some order to the chaos? ACADEMIC FREEDOMEGYPTThe strangling of a democratic student movementAshraf KhaledThere have been more than 2,300 human rights violations against students since the army's overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The ensuing state-led crackdown on universities, including measures to silence students and other critical actors in society, signals an imminent crisis for higher education, according to a new report. UNITED ARAB EMIRATESAcademic jailed for 10 years for human rights tweetsDr Nasser Bin Ghaith, a prominent economist, academic and human rights defender, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for tweeting criticism of the human rights record of both Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Before the verdict was given, a coalition of 10 human rights organisations had urged the United Arab Emirates authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him. HUNGARYIndependent thinking under attack from nationalistsGeorgiana Mihut and Daniela CraciunAmendments to higher education law proposed by the Hungarian government target one international university in particular – the Central European University, which played a central role in rebuilding democracy across the region – and are aimed at forcing it to shut down. It is part of an emerging trend of seeing universities as a threat. NORWAYAcademia needs to be ready to defend its freedomMarit EgnerAcademic freedom is about the right to freely think, question and share ideas. Now more than ever there is a great need to join forces to promote the academic freedom of university staff, students and higher education institutions around the globe. FEATURESNORWAYAn action plan to address the crisis facing humanitiesJan Petter MyklebustThe government has drawn up a white paper calling for more researchers in the humanities and for them to be recognised as a main producer of knowledge, not just a 'helper' to other sciences. Some experts think it should go further, arguing that Norway could establish a 'European cultural brain centre'. WORLDVIEWS LECTUREGLOBALPopulism – Is the academy on the wrong side of history?How universities come to terms with the rising tide of populism highlighted by the election of Donald Trump in the United States and the United Kingdom's Brexit vote is the subject of the 2017 Worldviews Lecture on Media and Higher Education, "Populism and the Academy: On the 'wrong side' of history", for which University World News is a media partner. University World News has a popular Facebook group. If you are not a member, do consider joining to see our regular updates, post on our wall and communicate with us and other University World News fans. You can also follow University World News on Twitter @uniworldnews WORLD ROUND-UPRUSSIATop university shuttered after conservative assaultGenerally, prestigious private universities with hundreds of students don't get shut down over fairly minor, six-month-old technical issues that have since been resolved. But that is precisely the predicament facing the European University at Saint Petersburg, a bastion of Western liberal arts, which has been ordered closed by a district court after a furious conservative assault against it, writes Fred Weir for The Christian Science Monitor. UNITED STATES-IRANIranian graduate students wait in limboHundreds of Iranian students already accepted into United States graduate programmes may not be able to come next autumn because of the uncertainty around President Donald Trump's proposed travel ban, potentially derailing research projects and leaving some science programmes scrambling to find new students, writes Collin Binkley for Associated Press. UNITED STATESThe Trump administration's war on scienceAgainst lofty promises, President Donald Trump's first budget blueprint is a cramped document that sacrifices American innovation to small-bore politics, short-changing basic scientific research across the government – from NASA to the Department of Energy to the National Institutes of Health – in ways that can only stifle invention and undercut the nation's competitiveness, writes the Editorial Board of The New York Times. INDIAUniversities must uphold liberal values – Vice-presidentIndian Vice-President Hamid Ansari said last weekend universities must uphold liberal values and respect dissent, a month after violent protests erupted at a university in the capital Delhi over a speech by a student accused of sedition, reports Reuters. UNITED KINGDOMFree tuition for EU students in Scottish universitiesScotland's Education Secretary John Swinney has announced that students from the European Union enrolling in Scotland next year will have free tuition throughout their courses, writes Andrew Denholm for The Herald. CZECH REPUBLIC-GERMANYEU subsidy for Czech-German research centreThe Czech Technical University in Prague and the Brno University of Technology along with two partners from Germany have received a €400,000 (US$427,000) European Union subsidy for the development of a Czech-German research centre, reports CTK. NIGERIAMoves to regulate visiting lectureships in universitiesThe House of Representatives has called on the National Universities Commission to regulate the role of visiting lecturers in Nigerian universities, writes Nasir Ayitogo for Premium Times. THE NETHERLANDSForeign university student total doubles in 10 yearsThe number of foreign students at Dutch universities and HBO or higher professional education colleges has doubled to 81,000 over the past 10 years, according to a report by Nuffic, the Dutch institute for the internationalisation of education, reports Dutch News. TAIWANLow birth rate challenges higher education – MinistryThe higher education system in Taiwan could face challenges due to the shrinking birth rate, the Ministry of Education said last week, predicting that student populations of universities and colleges will drop by 40% between 2013 and 2028, write Hsu Chi-wei and Lee Hsin-Yin for Focus Taiwan. INDIAStudents protest cut in research seatsFor most of the week ending 25 March, students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi were on strike to protest against the University Grants Commission's new policy that has drastically reduced the number of MPhil and PhD seats available for the coming 2017-18 academic year from 1,000 to 194, writes Shreya Roy Chowdhury for Scroll. IRELANDBrexit is an opportunity for Irish universitiesA global education firm which is setting up in Ireland to recruit international students to Irish universities says Brexit represents a major growth opportunity, writes Carl O'Brien for The Irish Times. Subscribe / Unsubscribe / Update / Sent to: emeagwali@ccsu.edu Terms and Conditions / ISSN 1756-297X / © University World News 2007-2017 | |
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