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International Association of Universities

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IAU: For a worldwide higher education community

Sharing information on IAU activities and higher education in the world
Vol. 5, No.4, May 2008 
IAU Activities - Other News and Opportunities

13th General Conference of IAU

Higher Education and Research Addressing Local and Global Needs
15-18 July, 2008, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
This General Conference will bring together senior representatives of some of the most important international, inter-governmental organizations that are influencing current international developments in higher education: UNESCO; OECD; World Bank.
Join us and take part in the debate with Higher Education leaders which questions how well universities and research are addressing the crucial issues facing humanity today.  Bring colleagues from your institution and take advantage of the group rate offered to 3 or more participants from a single institution.

PROGRAMME
In addition to the Opening Dialogue focusing on the University as Local and Global Actor, plenary sessions will be organized around the following themes: Higher Education – Planning and Shaping Society; Higher Education and Innovation - The Good, the Bad and the Unknown; Institutional Reform in Higher Education to Meet New Goals.
More than a dozen Workshops will be  organized, some with partners that include: the European University Association (EUA); Institute of International Education (IIE); Magna Charta Observatory;  Observatory on Borderless Higher Education; OECD Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE);  UNESCO-World Bank ; United Nations University/Institute for Advanced Studies (UNU/IAS).
The hot topic of Comparing, Classifying and Ranking HEIs will be addressed in a Special Forum featuring the most active actors and thinkers in the field.

IAU ELECTIONS
Calls for Nominations for the new IAU President and Administrative Board have now been sent to all IAU Members. Both the Rules of Procedure for Elections and the Nomination Forms are available online and the deadline for submission of Candidacies or Nominations is May 30, 2008.

IAU gratefully acknowledges financial and in-kind support from Utrecht University, the Dutch Ministry of Education, The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education  (NUFFIC), the City of Utrecht, the Province of Utrecht, Palgrave MacMillan Ltd, the KF Hein Foundation, SAREC of the Swedish International Development Agency.

Other IAU activities


Leadership Development for Higher Education Reform – LEADHER Programme
IAU Members in good standing may once again submit proposals in the framework of the LEADHER Programme which offers opportunities to senior HEI managers to learn from each other.  This second competition for LEADHER grants will allow the Selection Committee to allocate funds in support of some 10 inter-institutional international projects in key areas of higher education reform. 
The LEADHER programme promotes South–South or North-South cooperation.  Detailed information on the programme, reform areas that are covered and Guidelines for submitting a proposal are available online. For clarification or assistance, please contact Isabelle Devylder.
The deadline for the 2008 Competition is September 30.

IAU Representation
The President of IAU, Goolam Mohamedbhai, intervened on the role of higher education for human and social development in Sub-Saharan Africa at the Fourth International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education organised by the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) from March 31 to April 2. He was also joined by the rector of UNU in the Closing Session of the conference where he focused on the contribution of higher education to meeting the Millennium Development Goals – the theme of the 2008 edition of the IAU/Palgrave Research Essay Prize.  IAU Vice President, Deepak Nayyar also spoke at the conference, addressing the impact of globalization and the Market on higher education. The meeting aimed at examining the role and contribution of higher education in human and social development in a globalised world from the angle of emerging challenges.
http://www.guni-rmies.net/k2008/workshops.php?lang=2&id=35&lin_t=1 (Paper Abstracts)
http://www.upc.edu/english/news/D-GUNI2008_eng.pdf (Report)

IAU was represented by Jose Ferreira Gomes (University of Porto), a Deputy Member of the IAU Board at the OECD Conference on Tertiary Education for the Knowledge Society, held in Lisbon, Portugal from 3 to 4 April 2008. The synthesis report of the OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education was presented on that occasion. As Chair of the IAU Task Force on Access and Success in Higher Education, Prof. Gomes was able to intervene most specifically on issues related to equitable access, which is addressed more particularly in Volume 2 of the Synthesis Report.  
http://oecd-conference-teks.iscte.pt/index.html

Attending the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation’s conference, organized in collaboration with the European Access network and entitled “Neither a Moment nor a Mind to Loose”, (Toronto, April 6- 8, 2008), IAU Senior Research and Policy Analyst presented the recent work of the IAU’s Task Force on Access and Success in Higher Education.  She also attended the Policy Summit which followed the conference and involved institution heads and senior government decision-makers from across Canada. In bringing together institutional decision makers and government policy makers, academics, researchers and practitioners, the objectives of this international conference were to compare policies and services and showcase best practices in place in a variety of countries to improve participation from under-represented groups.
Further information can be obtained at:
http://www.neitheramoment.com

The IAU took part in the 2nd conference on Classifying European Institutions of Higher Education, hosted by University of Cantabria on April 24.  The conference and a stakeholders’ meeting which followed, provided an opportunity to learn more about progress being made to establish a typology of higher education institutions in Europe and to comment on achievements to date by the University of Twente-based project team.
In light of IAU’s experience with the World Higher Education Database, the Association has been part of the Stakeholders’ Group since the beginning of this project which aims to create a multidimensional classification scheme of HEIs.  Collaboration with the Carnegie Classification Scheme is part of this initiative.  The conference and the Stakeholders’ meeting, where a test-run of the data collection process was discussed with some of the institutions which completed the questionnaire, confirmed the complexity of the exercise.  A third conference is foreseen for July in Berlin, Germany.

Important dates:
News from the Secretariat
After five productive years as Program Officer at IAU, Mr. Sylvain Charpentier has accepted a new and exciting position and will thus leave the Secretariat on May 16.  While we will miss his contribution as a professional colleague, we do congratulate Sylvain and wish him much success.

IAU seeks a bilingual program officer
The International Association of Universities is currently seeking a bilingual (English and French) programme officer for a full time position at their Secretariat, based in Paris.  An excellent understanding of higher education issues and experience in a social science or public policy research domain are essential.  Excellent writing and communication skills, as well as a command of computer skills, are also required.  The candidate should ideally hold a Master’s degree and have four years’ work experience. CVs and references should be sent by email to: Christiane Oberlin (oberlin.iau@unesco.org) by 15 May 2008.

For detailed information on these activities, contact us at: iau@unesco.org

Other News and Opportunities


UNESCO

UNESCO: World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development
UNESCO has announced that the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development - Moving into the Second Half of the UN Decade, will be held in Bonn, Germany, from 31 March to 2 April 2009. The Meeting will take stock of achievements, as well as initiatives to be taken to further foster education for sustainable development at the global level. Registrations will open in November 2008.
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=55176&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

UNESCO: Implementation of the WSIS Action Lines
The Multistakeholder Consultation Meetings for the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Lines will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19 to 23 May 2008. UNESCO is organizing the facilitation meetings on: C3: Access to information and knowledge; C7: E-science and E-learning; C8: Cultural diversity; C9: Media; C10: Ethical dimensions of the information society.
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/en/forum-wsis (discussion forum)
http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/cluster2008.html (registration)

UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge: Workshop Report on Technology, Innovation and Development
UNESCO has issued a report that synthesizes the discussions and outcomes of the Experts' Workshop on Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, held in Manchester from February 27 to 29, 2008. The International Workshop supported by the Department for Research Cooperation of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida/SAREC) investigated the role of science, technology and innovation – including the role of universities - in development, with a particular focus on international development.
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/files/56229/12069750485Final_Report_Manchester.pdf/Final_Report_Manchester.pdf

UNESCO – International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IELSAC): CRES 2008
The website of the Regional Conference of Higher Education (CRES) 2008 on Local and global challenges - a strategic agenda for higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean comprises documents on all the preparatory meetings and the programme of CRES 2008. Registration is now open.
http://www.cres2008.org/en/index.php

UNESCO New Delhi: Open Access in South Asia
The UNESCO Office in New Delhi has made available online a publication called Open Access to Knowledge and Information: Scholarly Literature and Digital Library Initiatives – the South Asian Scenario. It offers reference resources on open access development in South Asia through the comprehensive description of the various digital library and open access initiatives conducted in the region.
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/26393/12075628443open_access_book_en.pdf/open_access_book_en.pdf

Other international initiatives

International Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO): Education in the Arab World and Globalization
The Fifth Arab Education Forum, co-organized by the Arab Thought Foundation, ISESCO, UNESCO, The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FIUW) and the Association of Arab Universities (AarU), took place in Rabat, Morocco, at the beginning of April. It examined the impact of globalization on education in the Arab world.
http://www.isesco.org.ma/english/news/news.php?id=319
http://www.lematin.ma/Actualite/Journal/Article.asp?idr=110&id=88502 (in French)
International Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) - Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FIUW): Development and Innovation of Higher Education
At the Opening session of the 13th FUIW Executive Council, which took place in Malaysia from March 27 to 28, 2008, the Director-General of ISESCO stressed the necessity to develop the higher education sector in the Islamic world. The Council discussed three projects: the Islamic Virtual University, the Islamic Universities Business Network, and the Draft Islamic University Action Programme.
http://www.isesco.org.ma/english/news/news.php?id=311
During this session, a researcher from Universiti Putra Malaysia – an IAU Member - was awarded the FIUW Prize by Professor Jassbi, President of the Executive Council of the FIUW and a Member of the IAU Board.
http://www.upm.edu.my/?l=e&kat=1&aktvt=berita&kod=20080328088093531172165447

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Review of Tertiary Education Systems
The OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education: Synthesis Report on Tertiary Education for the Knowledge Society was released for the OECD conference on the topic which was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from April 3 to 4, 2008.
http://oecd-conference-teks.iscte.pt/index.html (Conference)
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/20/4/40345176.pdf (Report)

UN initiative - Alliance of Civilisations: High Representative
The Alliance was established in 2005, at the initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations to improve understanding and cooperative relations among nations and peoples across cultures and religions and, in the process, to help counter the forces that fuel polarization and extremism. In April 2007, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal, as High Representative for the Alliance. The AoC is supported by a Group of Friends – a community of over 85 member countries and international organizations.
http://www.unaoc.org/

World Bank: University Governance
The Education Working Paper on Global Trends in University Governance describes the current trends in the management of higher education systems worldwide with an emphasis on Commonwealth countries.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1099079877269/547664-1099079956815/
Global_Trends_University_Governance_webversion.pdf
World Bank: Tanzania - Higher Education Programme
The aim of the Tanzania - First Phase of Science and Technology Higher Education Program is to improve the quality of higher education, focusing on science and technology, considered as priority sectors for economic growth.
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=
523679&menuPK=64154159&searchMenuPK=64258545&theSitePK=523679&entityID=000076092_20080318162854&searchMenuPK
=64258545&theSitePK=523679

Regional initiatives

Africa
African Union: Bureau of the Conference of Ministers of Education
The first session of the Bureau of the Conference of Ministers of Education took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from March 31 to April 2, 2008. The Bureau was informed of the progress made in the Education Management Information Systems (EMIS); the scholarship scheme for higher education; quality rating and harmonization in higher education; gender and culture; teacher development and educational publishing.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2008/march/HRST/addis/documents.htm
African Union: Quality Rating Mechanism and Harmonization Strategy
Prior to the Meeting of the Bureau, the African Union, in collaboration with the Association of African Universities, held a Validation Meeting for African Quality Rating Mechanism and Harmonization Strategy for Higher Education in Accra, Ghana, from March 25 to 27, 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and adopt the proposed strategies for both initiatives and agree on roles and responsibilities.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2008/march/HRST/ACCRA/documents.htm

Association of African Universities (AAU): Call for Proposals - MRCI
The AAU has launched the call for proposal of its new programme: Mobilizing Regional Capacity Initiatives (MRCI). Its aim is to build regional capacity to support higher education institutions in promoting sustainable development and poverty eradication in Africa. Projects should focus on: ICTs; leadership development; quality promotion and assurance; HIV/AIDS; pedagogy and curriculum development; gender and culture in higher education; public, private and community partnerships. Deadline: 30 May 2008.
http://www.aau.org/mrci/proposal.htm

eLearning Africa: Interviews on ICTs and OERs
eLearning Africa has posted on its website the interviews of the Director of MERLOT Africa Network, a network of African Higher Education Institutions, and of the Rector of the African Virtual Universities. Both address the role of ICTs and open educational resources for Africa.
http://www.elearning-africa.com/newsportal/english/news118.php
http://www.elearning-africa.com/newsportal/english/news114.php

Idlelo: Conference on Open Source Software and the Digital Commons
The 3rd African Conference on Free and Open Source Software and the Digital Commons which was held at the Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal, from March 16 to 20, 2008 focused on Making the Knowledge Economy Work for Africa.
http://www.aiti-kace.com.gh/idlelo/

Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA): Higher Education Support Project
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) received a subvention from the African Development Fund to fund its Higher Education Support Project. The project will last 5 years and aims at improving higher education systems and facilitate higher education integration in the region.
http://www.afdb.org/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/ADB_ADMIN_PG/DOCUMENTS/PROJECT-RELATED-
PROCUREMENT/GPNUEMOA%205-08_0.DOC (in French)

Americas
Canada/United States of America: Grants
The Grant Guidelines Canadian Studies Grants 2008-2009: Building Knowledge and Understanding about Canada and Canada-U.S. Relations lists grant opportunities in the fields of Canadian or Canadian-U.S. relations studies. Programmes are intended for individuals and institutions. Deadline: varies according to programme.
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/washington/studies/grantguide-en.pdf

Red de los Administradores de Universidades Latinoamericanas: University funding
All presentations of the fifth Seminar of the Red de los Administradores de Universidades Latinoamericanas (Latin American university administrators’ network) on Financiación de las Universidades: Asumir los Desafios de una Gestión Innovadora en la Enseñanza Universitaria (University funding: taking up the challenges of university teaching innovative management) are available.
http://www.raui2008.ul.pt/espages/index_es.html (in Spanish)
http://www.raui2008.ul.pt/espages/topmenu/documentos_es.html (presentations, in Spanish)

Red de Macrouniversidades de América Latina y el Caribe: University autonomy
The fourth Asamblea General de Rectores de la Red de Macrouniversidades de América Latina y el Caribe (General assembly of Rectors of Latin American and Caribbean Macro universities) took place in Costa Rica in March 2008. The theme of the opening session was El Rol de las Universidades en la Integración de América Latina en el Siglo XXI (The Role of universities in Latin American integration in the 21st century). During the meeting participants signed the Declaración de Costa Rica on Regional integration and university autonomy.
http://www.35aniversario.una.ac.cr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=2 (in Spanish)

Red Kipus/OREALC/IESALC: Latin American Doctorate in Education
A workshop, co-organized by the Red Kipus (Kipus network); UNESCO – Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (OREALC) and International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) has defined the outlines of the Doctorado Latinoamericano en Educación (Latin American Doctorate in Education) project, launched in October 2007.
http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/noticias/doctoradolatino.htm (in Spanish)

Arab States
League of Arab States: Regional Higher Education Strategy
One year after signing a ten-year science development plan in 2007, Arab leaders have recently approved a ten-year higher education strategy, funded by Member states of the League of Arab States, to improve the quality of higher education and research in Arab countries.
http://web.scidev.net/en/middle-east-and-north-africa/news/arab-leaders-approve-ten-year-higher-education-str.html

Europe
European Commission: Practical Guide to EU Funding
The European Commission has published a draft version of a Practical Guide to EU Funding for Research, Development and Innovation. In addition to practical information, it offers advice for policy-makers and includes an innovative Checklist and Scoreboard. Comments were expected until the end of April. The final version should be issued and translated as from May.
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/consultation_en.html
European Commission: European Researcher Mobility
The European Commission is undertaking a study on European Researcher Mobility to understand the factors that affect this type of mobility and collect data on individual experiences. The survey is online.
http://prest.admbs.mbs.ac.uk/surveylet/survey.asp?rd=0%2E5832483&sqi=&si=
49%2E4C%2E4A%2E50%2E4F&ui=43&page=1&ip=1&qri=
European Commission: Calls for Proposals for Researchers
The European Commission has launched the call for proposals to the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITNs) which aims to make research more attractive to young researchers. The call is open to all, including researchers from third countries. Deadline: September 2008.
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP7_NEWS&ACTION=D&DOC=2&CAT=
NEWS&QUERY=0119376728ec:e2f6:72674f86&RCN=29306
It has also launched 3 other calls: the Intra European Fellowships for advanced researchers; the International Outgoing Fellowships for European researchers and the International Incoming Fellowships for Third countries researchers. Deadline: 19 August 2008.
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP7_NEWS&ACTION=D&DOC=4&CAT=
NEWS&QUERY=0119376728ec:e2f6:72674f86&RCN=29261
European Commission: eContentplus Programme and Call for Proposals
The European Commission has adopted the eContentplus 2008 work programme and call for proposals which is now open. The target areas for 2008 are: geographic information; educational content and digital libraries. Deadline: 12 June 2008.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/econtentplus/calls/proposals/index_en.htm

European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN): Call for Papers
A Call for Papers has been launched for the Fifth EDEN Research Workshop, to be held in Paris on October 20-22, 2008, under the patronage of UNESCO. The theme of the conference will be Researching and promoting access to education and training: the role of distance education and e-learning in technology-enhanced environments. Deadlines: 30 May and 18 August 2008.
http://www.eden-online.org/eden.php?menuId=394

European University Association (EUA): Conference on Governance
EUA held a conference at the University of Barcelona in March. The theme was The Governance of European Universities post 2010 (II): Enhancing Institutional Mission and Profiles. It examined the institutional mission and profile and institutional effectiveness and efficiency and proposed an overview of the European Governance Reform Study commissioned by the European Commission to a network coordinated by CHEPS.
http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=573
European University Association (EUA): Working Group on Open Access
EUA’s Working Group on Open Access has published its recommendations for university leadership; National Rectors’ Conferences; and EUA focusing primarily on the enhancement of open access to peer reviewed published research literature..
http://www.eua.be/fileadmin/user_upload/files/Policy_Positions/Recommendations_
Open_Access_adopted_by_the_EUA_Council_on_26th_of_March_2008_final.pdf

Inter-Regional Cooperation
Africa/India: Africa-India Forum Summit
The Plan of Action and Declaration adopted at the Africa-India Summit, held in New Delhi, India, from April 8 to 9, 2008, aim at reinforcing the relations between Africa and India, including in the fields of science, research and technology.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2008/april/India-Africa/India-Africa.html#

Europe/ACP Countries: 3rd Call for Proposals and Results 1st Call - Edulink
Edulink funds collaborative projects between higher education institutions from the ACP and 15 European countries to foster capacity building; regional integration and promote higher education as a means to reduce poverty. Deadline: 18 June 2008.
In the first call, 11 projects were selected, one of which tackles internationalisation (African Universities International Dimension Streghthening – AUDIS) and is coordinated by the University of Padova, Italy; and another distance education (Staff Improvement in Distance Education for Caribbean, African and Pacific Universities). The latter is coordinated by the Open University, UK.
http://www.acp-edulink.eu/APPLY.html (Call for Proposals)
http://www.acp-edulink.eu/Call1-Projects.html

Europe/India/Kenya: Science, Ethics and Technological Responsibility
Several European Universities and Universities in India and Kenya have signed a contract with the European Commission for a three-year project on the ethics of scientific and technological research in India and Kenya. The aim is to support both countries in developing their own research ethics and engaging in dialogue with international researchers.
http://www.nuffic.nl/home/news-events/news-archive/news-archive-2008/march/
maastricht-university-helps-india-and-kenya-produce-a-manifesto-for-ethical-research

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)/Scotland: Sustainable Development Programmes in Latin America
IDB will collaborate on the IDB’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) with Scottish Enterprise (the Scottish Government’s enterprise, innovation and investment agency) and Strathclyde University (Scotland) to support renewable energy and climate change programmes in Latin American countries.
http://www.iadb.org/news/articledetail.cfm?Language=En&parid=2&artType=PR&artid=4496

United Kingdom/Africa: New E-Publication
University World News, a e-publication, has launched its African edition with the support of the Ford Foundation. Simultaneously, it collaborated with the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (CHET), South Africa, to release a Special Africa Edition issue on Race and South African Universities.
http://www.universityworldnews.com/index.php?page=Africa_Edition
http://www.universityworldnews.com/index.php?page=Africa

National and institutional initiatives

Australia: Review of the Higher Education System
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education has announced an important review of Australia’s higher education system on March 13, 2008, in a speech entitled A Higher Education Revolution: Creating a Productive, Prosperous, Modern Australia.
http://mediacentre.dewr.gov.au/mediacentre/Gillard/Releases/
AHigherEducationRevolutionCreatingaProductiveProsperousModernAustralia.htm
The terms of reference, a presentation of the Expert Panel in charge of the Review, and a brief series of questions and answers on reasons and calendar can be found on the Ministry’s website.
http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/higher_education/policy_issues_reviews/
reviews/highered_review/default.htm#Media_Release

Burkina Faso: New University
The construction of Ouaga II University has begun. The new university is located in Gonsé, a small town at fifteen kilometres from Ouagadougou. It will comprise three faculties; nine institutes; a central library and administrative buildings.
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/printable/200804040491.html (in French)

Cameroon: Regional School for Engineers
The Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs d’Afrique Centrale (ESIAC) was officially inaugurated on April 3, 2008. The school is located in Douala and offers courses in computer and energy engineering.
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article&id_article=59334 (in French)

Chile: Support to Research in Higher Education
The Consejo Superior de Educación (CSE) has launched a financial assistance programme intended for researchers specialized in higher education. Deadline: 16 May 2008.
http://www.cse.cl/public/Secciones/seccionGeneral/noticias/ppts/Convocatoria2008.pdf (in Spanish)

Colombia: University Funding
The President of Colombia proposes that universities should apply to multilateral banks to obtain credits in order to improve access to higher education. The proposal was made during the signature of an agreement between the World Bank and the Instituto Colombiano de Crédito Educativo y Estudios Técnicos en el Exterior (Icetex).
http://www.mineducacion.gov.co/cvn/1665/article-156178.html (in Spanish)

Fiji: President and Chancellor
The President of the Republic of Fiji has become the first Chancellor of the new University of Fiji. He was granted the institution’s first Honorary Doctorate at a graduation ceremony where he welcomed the setting up of a new campus - dedicated to medicine - in Vanua Levu.
http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_11480.shtml

France: Conference on European Universities
The Conference of University Presidents (CPU) held its annual colloquium for the first time in Brussels, Belgium. The theme was European Universities: new frontiers, new perspectives. It studied the place and role of French universities in Europe and the impact of Europe on their development.
http://www.cpu.fr/Actualites.240.0.html?&no_cache=1 (in French)

Gabon: Professional Bachelor’s Degrees
The Institut des techniques avancées organized a Seminar on the three-tier system focusing more particularly on professional bachelor’s degrees in Libreville from April 7 to 8, 2008.
http://www.africatime.com/gabon/nouvelle.asp?no_nouvelle=392011&no_categorie=2 (in French)

Germany: Private Research and University
A Memorandum of Understanding has been reached between the German Rectors’ Conference and the Max Planck Society, an independent non-profit research organization, to facilitate the integration of young scientists and researchers from the Max Plan Society into the university.
http://www.hrk.de/95_2122.php

Japan: White Paper on Science and Technology
The Ministry of Education, Culture Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has made available online a White Paper on Science and Technology 2007. The document is divided into three parts respectively dealing with Results of Promotion of Science and Technology - Creation, Utilization and Succession of Knowledge; The Current Status of Science and Technology in Japan and Other Nations; and Measures Adopted for Promotion of Science and Technology.
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/news/2008/03/08021921.htm

Madagascar: Three-Tier System
The Government has approved a decree to reform the higher education system in order to adopt the three-tier system on February 15, 2008.
http://www.primature.gov.mg/webfiles/PV_CG_15-02-08.pdf (in French)

Malaysia: Higher Education Quality through Research
The Ministry of Higher Education organised a seminar on Enhancing the Quality of Higher Education through Research: Shaping Future Policy that brought together some 400 academic staff, students, government officials and corporate sector leaders on February 26, 2008.
http://www.mohe.gov.my/webkpt_v2/seminar_pnp.php

New Zealand: Study Abroad
Education Counts has released a report on the research project International Student Exchanges – Sending our Students Overseas (2008) that investigates the low attractiveness of study abroad programmes among New Zealand higher education students. The study seeks to explain this lack of enthusiasm and to identify a number of elements that could contribute to change the perception of mobility programmes at student and institutional levels. The report comes with Student Exchange Guidelines, designed to help higher education institutions promote student exchanges.
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/international/19688
New Zealand: Quality Assurance System
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has launched an online discussion forum called Evaluate, which aims to collect feedback regarding the switch to a new outcomes-oriented quality assurance system as induced by the reforms currently underway.
http://evaluate.nzqa.govt.nz/login.html

Nicaragua: University Autonomy
As part of the 50 years of university autonomy celebration, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua en León organized a Rectors’ Forum on Mariano Fiallos Gil y la Autonomía which brought together amongst other participants, all former rectors and the current rector of the University.
http://www.cnu.edu.ni/documentos/actualidad/Art%EDculo%20completo.pdf (in Spanish)

Saudi Arabia: New Universities
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education has announced several measures, including the founding of new universities, the introduction of a 25-year development strategy and new cooperation agreements with universities in Asia, Europe and USA.
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=1093191170

Singapore: Clarification on Foreign University Campuses
The Director for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education (MoE) published a forum letter to clarify the situation of foreign campuses in Singapore according to the MoE’s classification of higher education providers into three categories: local universities, foreign universities set up locally as part of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)’s Global Schoolhouse programme, and external degree programmes offered by foreign universities through local institutions.
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/forum/2008/04/forum-letter-on-the-establishm.php

South Africa: Fight against Discrimination in Higher Education
The Minister of Education has established a Ministerial Committee to investigate the nature and extent of all types of discrimination on campuses, with a particular focus on racism. It will also list all actions undertaken by higher education institutions against discriminations and advise the Ministry on policies needed.
Simultaneously, Higher Education South Africa has released the Declaration Ensuring an Environment of Harmonious Diversity in Higher Education.
http://www.education.gov.za/dynamic/dynamic.aspx?pageid=310&id=7504
http://www.hesa.org.za/resources/HESA%20DECLARATION%20%20-%20Ensuring%20an%20
environment%20of%20harmonious%20diversity%20in%20HE%20-%20March%202008.pdf (HESA Declaration)

Sweden: Research Funding
The Swedish Research Council has published a study on how research funding for universities and university colleges has evolved since the mid-1990s. Universities and university colleges have increased their number of undergraduates, admitted more doctoral students and faced higher salary costs. Resources increased until 2002 and then stagnated.
http://www.vr.se/mainmenu/pressandnews/newsarchive/news2008/
universitiesresearchresourcesstagnating.5.61c03dad1180e26cb8780001808.html
Sweden: Research and Innovation Agency
A Commission of Enquiry has proposed the creation of a coordinated funding agency, the Research and Innovation Agency that would comprise four councils on the following topics: nature, engineering and innovation, medicine and health, climate, environment and agricultural sciences, and society and culture.
http://www.vr.se/mainmenu/pressandnews/newsarchive/news2008/inquiryproposes
newcoordinatedresearchfundingagency.5.76ac7139118ccc2078b8000266.html

Switzerland: Research Foundation
The Federal Council has published a report on the creation of a Swiss Research Foundation studying its aim; necessity; general conditions for success; feasibility; and its value-added and financial returns.
http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/dokumentation/publikationen/forschung/forschungsstiftung-ch-f.pdf (in French)
Switzerland: Hautes Ecoles
The Cantons; political parties; associations; education and research authorities have responded to the consultation on the project of the new Federal Law on the help to the hautes écoles and the coordination in the Swiss field of the hautes écoles.
http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/uni/hls_fr.html (in French)

Tunisia: Professional Bachelor’s Degrees
Several stakeholders of the Tempus TuLip Project – a project aiming at the creation of professional Bachelor’s Degrees in collaboration with the Tunisian private sector and European universities – met to assess the initiative, which led to the creation of up to 10 new programmes.
http://www.tap.info.tn/fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46074&Itemid=413 (in French)

United Kingdom: Funding
The Voluntary Giving initiative comprises three different public/private funding ratios. Each university will have to opt for one. The initiative is to encourage more private fundraising efforts from universities and stimulate investment in higher education from individuals and private investors.
http://www.dius.gov.uk/press/03-04-08.html
United Kingdom: Higher Education Fees
The Higher Education Policy Institute has published Funding Higher Fees: some implications of a rise in the fee cap which examines some of the implications of the rise in the maximum fee payable by UK and EU undergraduates at English institutions without an increase in commitment of public expenditure by the Government.
http://www.hepi.ac.uk/pubdetail.asp?ID=250&DOC=reports
United Kingdom: Rankings
The Centre for Higher Education Research and Information, Open University, and Hobsons Research have published a report for HEFCE entitled Counting what is measured or measuring what counts? It analyses league tables that provide rankings of universities for newspapers and on the web. It also looks at how universities and colleges in England respond to such rankings.
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2008/08_14/08_14.doc
United Kingdom: Publications
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has published:
- A New University Challenge Unlocking Britain’s Talent, which sets out evidence and case studies on how local higher education unlocks people’s talent and drives economic growth and describes the Government’s ambitions to broaden access to higher education.
http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/documents/university-challenge.pdf
- Innovation Nation which sets out measures to ensure that UK is well placed in the innovation sectors including the publication of Innovation Procurement Plans; the support innovative businesses and research; exchanges of knowledge; the supply of skilled people; etc.
http://www.dius.gov.uk/publications/ScienceInnovation.pdf

United States of America: Demographic Changes
The 7th edition of the report published by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, entitled Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates by State and Race/Ethnicity, 1992 to 2022, examines the impact of demographic changes on the U.S. secondary and postsecondary education system.
http://www.wiche.edu/policy/knocking/1992-2022/knocking_complete_book.pdf
United States of America: Brain Drain
Released in March 2008, the report prepared by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education entitled Stay Rates of Foreign Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities, 2005 analyses the evolution of foreign doctorate recipients stay rates in relation to degree awards.
http://orise.orau.gov/sep/files/stayrate07.pdf
United States of America: Accreditation
The March 24, 2008 issue of Inside Higher Ed includes an article by the President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) entitled The Future of Accreditation?
http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/print/views/2008/03/24/eaton
United States of America: Cost Containment
The report released by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) on Cost Containment: A Survey of Current Practices at America’s State Colleges and Universities is based on data received from over one hundred AASCU Member institutions. It analyses cost containment practices and outcomes.
http://www.aascu.org/media/media_releases/release08apr01.htm
United States of America: Private Loans
The April 2008 issue of AASCU Higher Education Policy Brief on Policy Matters: The Public Realities of Private Student Loans describes the increasing role of private loans in the financing of postsecondary education and proposes measures to control it.
http://www.aascu.org/media/pm/pdf/pmapril08.pdf
United States of America: OECD’s Student Learning Outcomes
The American Council on Education (ACE) comments on the OECD Feasibility Study for World-Wide Learning Outcomes Assessment Instrument.
http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=26273
United States of America: Scholarship and Research in the Former Soviet Union
The Carnegie Review on Strengthening Scholarship and Research in the Former Soviet Union realeased by the Carnegie Corporation presents initiatives taken through the programme on Higher Education in the Former Soviet Union (HEFSU) to support Russian higher education.
http://www.carnegie.org/pdf/carnegie_review_2008_april.pdf

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