The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 1 August 2013.
Canada: Ongoing strike action could delay visas for international students
International students wanting to study in Ottawa, Canada, may need to have their admission deferred if strike action continues, reports the Calgary Herald. The strike by foreign service workers has exacerbated a pre-existing backlog in visa applications caused by the outsourcing of administrative services and the transference of files from Canada to New York and Los Angeles. The University of Calgary’s registrar, David Johnston, could not give a guarantee that students would start on time.
US: University presidents urge Obama to close ‘innovation deficit’
Leaders of 165 US universities have drafted an open letter to president Barack Obama, calling for him to address the shortfall between research and education requirements and actual investment, reports the Business Standard. The letter addresses the consequences for future generations, speaking of the “burdens of lost leadership in innovation, economic decline and limited job opportunities”. This precedes upcoming critical budget decisions by the US Congress, with university presidents making the point that cutting funding to research and education is inconsistent with long-term deficit reduction.
UK: International Placement Scheme (IPS) fellowships announced for 51 students
The UK’s Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has announced the award of 51 short-term IPS fellowships at overseas institutions. These awards are an extra source of funding for PhD students and Early Career Researchers who already receive AHRC and ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) funding. The awards will send the students to Washington, California and Japan, to pursue research across a diverse range of topics.
UK: Math graduates offered over £20k ($30,000) to study teacher training
In an effort to entice more graduates to pursue a career in teaching English and maths, the UK government is offering a financial carrot worth more than £20,000 (about US$30,000), reports BBC News. Grants will be offered to mathematics graduates who teach numeracy courses at further education colleges, with awards of around £9,000 also available to graduates who teach English or work with students with special educational needs. The Department for Business, Innvotion and Skills Secretary, Vince Cable, spoke of a lack of basic numeracy and literacy skills, saying this bursary will help improve employment prospects for young people.