The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 19 October 2012.
UAE universities showcase use of iPad apps
UAE universities have been demonstrating their use of iPad apps at this year’s NAJAH educational exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Gulf News reports. UAE University highlighted the use of a reading app to download course materials, meaning students need fewer paper handouts and textbooks, while Ayla Aviation Academy showcased the PadPilot program.
Call for closer tracking of international students in US
A US Senator has called for an investigation into procedures for granting student visas, and for keeping track of international students, New York Daily News reports. Chuck Schumer’s comments followed the arrest of student visa holder Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, who faces terrorism charges.
Research funding slump in Canada
Canadian universities are experiencing a slump in research funding, reports IT Business. Funding for research increased by 2.2% between 2010 and 2011 – the smallest gain in a decade.
Only 11% of US university students sleep well
Tiredness and sleep deprivation seem to be regular parts of student life in the US, reports USA Today. In a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, only 11% of students reported sleeping well, while 40% said that most weeks they felt well-rested on only two days.
London Metropolitan University loses international students
Of the international students eligible to stay on at the UK’s London Metropolitan University, more than half have opted to move to another institution or to end their studies, The Guardian reports. In August, the university’s license to sponsor student visas was revoked. A temporary reprieve has since been granted, but of the 1,365 students eligible to stay, only 626 have chosen to do so.