The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 26 November 2012.
London mayor calls for better communication on visas for foreign students
The mayor of the UK’s capital city, Boris Johnson, has spoken about the importance of making sure visa regulations don’t deter international students from applying to UK universities. As The Telegraph reports, Johnson said the mayor’s office would work with the government to create an Education Exports Commission, with the aim of ensuring that when changes are made to the visa system, the ‘right message’ gets through to prospective students.
Australian universities have more partnerships with China than US
For the first time since monitoring began in 1990, Australian universities have more partnerships with Chinese institutions than with those in the US, reports The Australian. This comes three years after China became Australia’s top trading partner. Almost 900 partnerships exist between Australian and Chinese universities, including staff and student exchanges, and research collaboration.
Cuts and possible closures for Russian universities
Many universities in Russia could face budget cuts, restructuring and even closure, following an audit of the country’s public higher education system, which concluded a quarter of institutions were ‘inefficient’. It’s expected that a list of universities which could face closure will be published early in December, with a final decision made in March 2013, reports Chemistry World.
US international student levels still growing – but could soon peak
The 2012 Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education shows that international student enrolments have continued to increase in the US, but University World News reporter Daniel J Guhr predicts that growth may soon peak. Among the reasons for this, he points out that growth has mainly been driven by students from a relatively small number of countries, especially China.
Cambridge University college defends ‘community service’ punishments
St John’s college, part of the UK’s Cambridge University, has defended a decision to punish students who break rules through ‘community service’, rather than fines, reports The Guardian. The college says it’s fairer to give students tasks to do, as this makes the punishment the same for all students, regardless of how much money they have.