IAU: Building a worldwide higher education community

E-Bulletin

Sharing information on IAU activities and higher education in the world

Vol. 6, No 6, July-August 2009 

IAU Activities

  Registration is Open:
The IAU 2009 International Conference which focuses on The Role of Higher Education in Fostering the Culture of Dialogue and Understanding will take place at Notre-Dame University, Louaize, Lebanon, on November 4 and 6, 2009.
 
  IAU, as Chair of the NGO Working Group on EFA, organised the introductory workshop of the UNESCO-NGO Joint Committee on Youth Day on Non-Formal Education. It was held at UNESCO, Paris on June 5. Panellists represented NGOs; Youth groups; higher education institutions; UNESCO and the media, respectively.
http://www.unesco.org/ngo/comite/jpc-youth.htm

  On June 9-12, IAU took an active part in the international conference organized by Suleyman Demirel University (SDU), and IAU Member, in Isparta, Turkey. The conference addressed the theme Future Trends in Higher Education in the Balkans and included a special panel on Mobility as a Key to Access and Success. The event was an important milestone for the Balkan Universities Network, an initiative of SDU in collaboration with Trakya University, Turkey. IAU's Membership Development Committee, chaired by the President of SDU, took the opportunity to meet on the margin of the conference.
http://sempozyum.sdu.edu.tr/balkansmeeting/index.html

  IAU Horizons Vol. 15, no.2 is now available online. In focus this time is the World Conference on Higher Education + 10, to take place in Paris on 5-8 July. This issue is almost entirely devoted to present initiatives undertaken by IAU Members from around the globe in the different areas featured during the Conference. Georges Haddad, Director of the Division of Higher Education, UNESCO contributed a paper on "The World Conference on Higher Education and Research - 10 Years On". A major goal of IAU Horizons is to profile the IAU Members' projects and activities. To share news and information, please contact vantland.iau@unesco.org.

IAU Representation
  Juan Ramon de la Fuente, President of IAU, has become a member of the Talloires Network Steering Committee. The Talloires Network is an association of institutions committed to strengthening the civic roles and social responsibilities of higher education.
http://www.tufts.edu/talloiresnetwork/?pid=224

  NAFSA 2009 International Conference and Expo, Los Angeles, USA, May 24-29
IAU Director, Information and Communication Services presented a session to discuss with the participants the need for typologies in their everyday work based on examples taken from reference publications (IAU); credential evaluation (World Education Services); and student mobility (Institute for International Education).
http://www.nafsa.org/annual_conference
On May 29-30, she also attended a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Atlas Project, an Institute for International Education project on student mobility, where she accepted to chair the task force on communication tools linked to the project.
http://atlas.iienetwork.org/

  Universities as Actors of Intercultural Dialogue in a Wider Society, Moscow, Russia, June 2-3
IAU Director, Membership and Programme Development acted as the general rapporteur of the conference organized by the Council of Europe on the role of higher education in promoting intercultural dialogue outside the boundaries of the institution (see also under Europe).
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/highereducation/moscow%202-3%20june%202009/default_EN.asp

  Brainpower Forum, La Baule, France, June 4
IAU attended the 1st Brainpower Forum organized as part of the World Investment Conference by Europe + to investigate potential partnership with the organizers, should the Forum be reiterated.
http://www.labaulewic.org/-Brainpower-Forum-.html

  ENIC-NARIC Meeting: Larnaka, Cyprus, June 15-17
Several items on this year's agenda of the ENIC-NARIC Meeting (recognition advisers from countries that have signed the Council of Europe/UNESCO Lisbon Convention on recognition of credentials) were of specific interest to IAU. These included: presentations of the higher education systems of Cyprus and Tunisia; discussion of possible cooperation with other EU networks; follow-up to the Bologna Process Ministerial meeting held in Leuven in May 2009, including recognition matters in a global context. IAU is an observer at these meetings, as well as in the Working Group on the global dimension of recognition, which held its meeting just after the ENIC-NARIC.
http://www.enic-naric.org./index.php?id=19

  IAU will be well-represented and active during the UNESCO WCHE 2009. Paris, France, July 5-8
The IAU President, several Board Members, the Secretary General and senior staff of IAU will all be participating actively in this important World Conference. As UNESCO continues to finalize documents and the conference programme for this invitational event, we suggest that readers to visit the WCHE 2009 website for most up-to-date information.
http://www.unesco.org/en/wche2009

Reminder of Important IAU Dates

• November 4-6, 2009: IAU 2009 International Conference, on The Role of Higher Education in Fostering the Culture of Dialogue and Understanding, Notre-Dame University, Lebanon
• June 25-26, 2010: IAU 2010 International Conference on Ethics and Values in Higher Education in the Era of Globalization: What Role for the Disciplines? Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania.

IAU Partnership Events

• IAU is co-sponsoring the World Universities Congress organized by Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University on the theme: What Should Be the New Aims and Responsibilities of Universities within the Framework of Global Issues?, October 20-24, 2010, Çanakkale, Turkey - http://www.comu.edu.tr/unicongress2010/english/index.php
• IAU is co-sponsoring the 2009 Global Forum on Cross-Border Higher Education, organized by the Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE) on the theme Global Connections - Local Impacts: Best Practices, Models and Policies for Cross-Border Higher Education, October 21-24, 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The preliminary programme is now available. http://www.obhe.ac.uk/the_obhe_global_forum__malaysia/welcome

News/Opportunities from around the World

UNESCO

UNESCO: World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE) - Regional Conferences and IIEP Initiative
The Arab Regional Conference on Higher Education (ARCHE+10), entitled Towards an Arab Higher Education Space: International Challenges and Societal Responsibilities, was held in Cairo, Egypt, from May 31 to June 2, 2009. The meeting aimed at assessing achievements, defining new challenges, and exploring future prospects for higher education cooperation among Arab States and ended with the adoption of the Cairo Declaration on Higher Education for quality education and innovation.
http://www.arche10.org/main.php
The documents and the Bucharest Message of the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in the Europe Region: Access, Values, Quality and Competitiveness held in Bucharest, Romania, from May 21 to 24, 2009 are available. They include papers on higher education developments and trends in Europe and on the internationalisation of and access to higher education.
http://www.cepes.ro/forum/welcome.htm
The International Institute for Education Planning (IIEP) will focus on higher education until the end of August 2009. This focus includes a Policy Forum on Tertiary Education in Small States which will take place just prior to the WCHE.
http://www.iiep.unesco.org/focus-on-higher-education/research-and-
development-in-higher-education.html
 
UNESCO: Research Fellowships Programme
The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme was celebrated at UNESCO on June 8. The programme has been offering, since 2001, an annual 20 fellowships to young researchers from developing countries and countries in transition in order to allow them to conduct research in developed countries, thus helping to stimulate knowledge exchange and transfer.
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=45707&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

UNESCO: Research Network
The interview of the Chief of UNESCO's Section for Reform, Innovation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education on UNESCO-Hewlett Packard partnership to use computing technology to connect universities in Africa and the Middle East to global research networks is podcasted on Hewlett Packard's website.
http://h41131.www4.hp.com/be/fr/podcasts/UNESCO.html

UNESCO: Education Support Strategy for Jordan
The UNESCO Education Support Strategy Document (UNESS) for Jordan, an analytical tool  developed in cooperation with and support from all national education stakeholders to help UNESCO define its cooperation strategy for the country, has been released. It analyses the socio-economic background, the education development issues and challenges, the government's education strategies and action plans, the priorities and interventions of the main partners, and UNESCO's past and on-going education development programmes. Il also defines the future priority areas of intervention, including the strengthening of the higher education quality assurance and accreditation system.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001824/182452e.pdf

UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Knowledge and Research: Research Systems
The final report and proceedings of the Conference of the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education on Sharing Research Agendas on Knowledge Systems are now available. Held in Paris, France, from November 28-29, 2008, the Conference was attended by researchers from some 50 Member States and aimed at reflecting on methodologies for studying research systems, their applicability at the global level and their specific dimensions.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/ulis/cgi-bin/ulis.pl?catno=181836&set=4A26361C_0_316&database=
new1&gp=0&mode=e&ll=1

UNESCO Bangkok: ICTs in Education - Call for Papers
A call for papers has been launched for the forthcoming UNESCO-Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID) conference on ICTs in Education that is to take place in Hangzhou, China, from November 15 to 17, 2009. Improving Quality and Efficiency of Higher Education through ICT and Enhancing innovations in Open and Distance Learning are two of the proposed themes of reflection. Deadline: August 1, 2009.
http://www.unescobkk.org/education/apeid/apeid-international-conference/13-th-apeid-international-conference
http://cms.unescobkk.org/ocs/index.php/apeid/china/login?requiresPresenter=
1&source=%2Focs%2Findex.php%2Fapeid%2Fchina%2Fpresenter%2Fsubmit%3FrequiresPresenter%3D1 (online submission tool)

UNESCO Beirut: Higher Education and HIV Prevention
UNESCO Beirut organised a regional consultation in Cairo, Egypt, on June 2, to examine the role of  higher education institutions in HIV prevention in the Arab States. On this occasion, participants were also introduced to EDUCAIDS, UNESCO's global initiative that seeks to promote, develop and support comprehensive responses to HIV and AIDS by the education sector.
http://www.unesco.org/en/beirut/single-view/news/regional_consultation_
the_role_of_higher_education_institutions_in_the_arab_region_in_hiv_preventi/back/9437/

UNESCO European Centre for Higher Education (CEPES): Quality Assurance Standards in Eastern Europe
UNESCO-CEPES has issued Implementation of Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education of Central and East-European Countries - Agenda Ahead that aggregates five experts' analyses on the quality assurance mechanisms of Latvia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.
http://www.cepes.ro/publications/pdf/Implementation_online.pdf

UNESCO Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC): ENLACES
The 3rd Meeting of University Networks and Councils of Chancellors of Higher Education was held from June 1 to 2, in Lima to officially launch the Latin American and Caribbean Area for Higher Education (ENLACES), a platform for academic cooperation and integration; and discussion on  higher education quality, equity and relevance issues of the region.
http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=
456%3Aagenda&catid=7%3Aredes&Itemid=397&lang=es (in Spanish)
The Lima Declaration which was adopted at the end of the Meeting defines the main principles and missions of ENLACES.
http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/dmdocuments/declaracion_lima_2009_EN.pdf
A video clip on ENLACES is also available on Youtube.
http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=451&Itemid=
397&lang=es (in Spanish)
Two of the latest issues of "PuntoEDU" - UNESCO-IESALC's bi-weekly podcast on higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean report on the topic.
http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=
blog&id=24&Itemid=323&lang=es (in Spanish)

UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE): ICTs in Higher Education in CIS, Baltic and Central Asian States
IITE released the resolution adopted by the participants of the expert meeting and round table on ICTs in Higher Education in CIS, Baltic and Central Asian States: State-of-the-art, Challenges and Prospects for Development, which was held as part of the International Forum on Information-Communication Technologies and Higher education - Priorities of Modern Society Development - from May 26 to 30, 2009. The document lists actions to be taken to foster national policies on ICTs education and usage, as well as issues to be addressed at the forthcoming World Conference on Higher Education.
http://iite.ru/img/upload/Resolution.pdf

UNESCO Virtual Institute for Higher Education in Africa (VIHEAF): Online Training on HIV Prevention
Almost simultaneously to the consultation organized by UNESCO Beirut, VIHEAF launched a free online training on Accelerating Eradication of HIV and AIDS through Education in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). Addressing teachers, parents, policy-makers, medical practitioners and caregivers, the course, which began on June 15, presents the latest information on HIV/AIDS and explains how the education sector, from basic to higher education levels, can effectively respond to the epidemic.
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=45731&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
http://unesco-bamako.org/viheaf

UNESCO/Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) : Degree Mills
UNESCO and CHEA have issued a statement on effective practice to discourage degree mills in higher education.
http://www.chea.org/pdf/degree_mills_effective_practice.pdf

Other international initiatives

Commonwealth Secretariat: Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM)
The 17th CCEM took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 15 to 19. The theme of the Conference was: Education in the Commonwealth: Towards and Beyond Global Goals and Targets. Ministers discussed progress with regard to the Millennium Development Goals in Education, Education for All and issues and challenges facing education beyond the scope and timeline of these global targets. Ministers received statements from different parallel forums, including the Vice-Chancellors'.
http://www.17ccem.com/01_home.html

Global Development Network: African Policy Research
Draft papers prepared by the five institutions selected for The Institutional Capacity Strengthening of African Public Policy Institutes to Support Inclusive Growth and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)' Project, a project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), were presented at the Kuwait and Cape Town Workshops in February and May 2009. The institutions are located in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia. The concluding Workshop will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2009.
http://www.gdnet.org/cms.php?id=undp_aerc_feature

International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)/European Association of  Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU): Open Education
The M-2009 Conference took place in June at the Open Universiteit Nederland. Its theme was Flexible Education for All: Open - Global - Innovative. It studied such topics as Open educational Resources, Quality assurance, Technology-enhanced learning, Employability and cultural diversity and led to a Statement on open educational resources.
http://www.ou.nl/eCache/DEF/80/137.html
http://www.ou.nl/eCache/DEF/2/11/014.html (Statement)

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Education and Research - Iceland
The report on Education, Research and Innovation Policy: A New Direction for Iceland underlines the importance of education, research and innovation for Iceland, and proposes recommendations to boost Iceland's economy.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/60/42/42846300.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE): Quality Teaching
The first phase of Supporting Quality Teaching in Higher Education, a project based on a survey of 29 higher education institutions from 20 countries, analyses practices supporting quality teaching and study initiatives in this field at the leadership and academic levels. The final report will be available in the summer of 2009.
http://www.oecd.org/document/54/0,3343,en_2649_35961291_42771318_1_1_1_1,00.html
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE): Assessment of Learning Outcomes
The brochure on Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) presents the structure, work and aims of the AHELO initiative. The AHELO feasibility study phase will be completed in 2011.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/3/13/42803845.pdf

Qatar Foundation: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Awards
For its inaugural year, the Qatar Foundation will offer prizes to six individuals or teams of individuals working in the education sector in the fields of Pluralism, Sustainability and Innovation, which are the three key themes for the first World Innovation Summit for Education to be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 16 to 18, 2009. Deadline: July 15, 2009.
http://www.wise-qatar.org/en/awards

United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technology and Development (UN-GAID): Tuition-Free Online University
UN-GAID has inaugurated a tuition-free online university, where enrolled students will have to pay admission and examination fees only, to fight the financial and geographical barriers to access to higher education. Small classes of 20 students will follow online course based on open-source, open course materials, e-learning methods and peer-to-peer teaching; and take online tests. Admissions opened in early May.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30848&Cr=ict&Cr1=

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Quality of Engineering Programmes - Arab States
The regional overview report on Quality Assessment of Engineering Programmes in Arab Universities, released by the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), presents the final outcomes of a survey lead in 19 Arab universities. It covers four engineering disciplines - electrical and electronic, civil, mechanical and chemical engineering - in 10 Arab countries. Three complementary reports on the status of higher education in the fields of education, computer science and business administration have already been produced in the context of this project.
http://www.undp-equaip.org/Reports%20and%20Documents/publications/Engineering%20OV%20report%20Eng.pdf

Universitas 21 (U21): Joint PhDs
The U21 Annual Meeting, which took place in Seoul, Korea, on May 21, adopted the Joint PhD Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU focuses on students' needs while enhancing international collaboration between universities at PhD level.
http://www.universitas21.com/DDOGS.html

World Bank: Higher Education Projects - Armenia and Jordan
Armenia: The Second Education Quality and Relevance Project has two main components: Enhancing the Quality of General Education, and Supporting Tertiary Education Reforms to Help Achieve Standards Similar to Education Systems in Europe.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/0,,contentMDK:22178169~
menuPK:2246556~pagePK:2865106~piPK:2865128~theSitePK:258599,00.html?cid=ISG_E_WBWeeklyUpdate_NL
Jordan: The Higher Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy Project will support policy reforms to improve access to higher education.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:22185681~pagePK:34370~
piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html?cid=ISG_E_WBWeeklyUpdate_NL

Regional initiatives

Africa
All-African Students Union (AASU): Kwame Nkrumah's Celebration
As from May 2009, the AASU is organising a monthly lecture series to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Kwame Nkrumah and reflect on the impact of the pan-African agenda on the socio-economic development of African countries.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/pressreleases/artikel.php?ID=162443

Association of African Universities (AAU): Excellence Award
Prof. Keto Mshigeni, Vice-Chancellor of Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Tanzania, was awarded the first African Higher Education Excellence Award (AHEEA) for his work on seaweeds, mushrooms and medicinal plants. The competition for the award will be launched once every two years.
http://gc.aau.org/detailmedia.php?id=6

Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa (ENWARCA): Grants - Selected Candidates
ENWARCA Research Grants Programme has selected 92 young researchers in education research, most of them on issues linked to the United Nations' initiatives of Education For All and Millennium Development Goals.
http://www.enwarca.org/web/spip.php?article277

eLearning Africa: 2009 Conference
This year's meeting took place in Dakar, Senegal, from May 27 to 29. The speeches of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the keynote addresses are posted online free of charge.
http://www.elearning-africa.com

Americas
Brazil/Argentina: Scientific Cooperation
The International Relations Department of the Commission for Improvement of Personnel in Higher Education (Diretoria de Relações Internacionais (DRI) da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) of Brazil has initiated a two-year project to enhance scientific cooperation with Argentina, including at the postgraduate level. Deadline: July 30, 2009.
http://www.sic.inep.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=695&Itemid=1 (in Portuguese)

Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL): Indigenous Universities
The June-July 2009 issue of Focal Point includes an article by the Deputy Minister for Post-Secondary Education and Professional Training on Indigenous Universities: a New Vision of Higher Education in a Plurinational State, announcing the creation of three intercultural indigenous community universities in Bolivia.
http://www.focal.ca/publications/focalpoint/fp0609/?article=article8&lang=e

Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Quality in Distance Higher Education (CALED): Quality in Distance Higher Education
A brochure was realised to explain the main missions of the newly created CALED, which aims to contribute to the improvement and the self-evaluation process of distance higher education programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean.
http://www.utpl.edu.ec/caled/ingles/images/stories/pdfs/Docum%20Interno%20CALED%20(ING).pdf

Arab States
Ma'an Arab University Alliance: Civic Engagement in Higher Education
The Ma'an Arab University Alliance for Civic Engagement, launched at the regional conference on Tadamunn: towards Civic Engagement in Arab Education, held in Cairo, in October 2008, is a network that aims at promoting and implementing universities' civic engagement in Arab countries. It has just opened its new website.
http://www1.aucegypt.edu/maan/index.htm

Asia
EDUCAUSE Australasia: ICTs for the Improvement of Higher Education Learning/Teaching
The papers presented at the EDUCAUSE Australasia Conference 2009 held in Perth, Australia, from May 3 to 6 whose theme was Innovate, Collaborate and Sustain addressed the shaping of a scholarly information strategy for higher education institutions, serious games for higher education, the impact of educational technology on higher education teaching and learning practice, and the corporate-style enterprise architecture work in higher education.
http://www.caudit.edu.au/educauseaustralasia09/program/index.php

Japan/Asian Countries: Database for Research Cooperation
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) has launched the Japan-Asia Research Community Network (JARC-Net), a database where all Asian/Japanese researchers and experts who are willing to participate in research cooperation programmes can register, thus facilitating the process of finding colleagues and research partners; and contributing to foster research networks in the region.
http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-astrategy/jarcnet.html

Europe
Council of the European Union: European Cooperation in Education and Training
The Council Conclusions on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training ("ET 2020") have been published. The strategic objectives include making lifelong learning and mobility a reality; improving the quality and efficiency of education and training; promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship; and enhancing creativity and innovation.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/educ/107622.pdf

Council of Europe: Universities and Intercultural Dialogue
The Council of Europe organised a conference on Universities as Actors of Intercultural Dialogue in a Wider Society in Moscow in June. It analysed such issues as Intercultural dialogue and higher education: the Council of Europe's view; Intercultural Dialogue as an element of the internationalization of higher education; How can the leadership of the universities promote intercultural dialogue? and Intercultural dialogue through the eyes of students, as well as several case studies. The conference recommended that higher education organisations and networks should play a proactive role in making sure that higher education institutions address the themes of intercultural learning and dialogue and offer international platforms for exchange of practices and policies and that students and their representative organisations should participate in intercultural dialogue initiatives; and encourage participation by foreign students and students of minority background.
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/highereducation/moscow%202-3%20june%202009/default_EN.asp

European Association of Institutions of Higher Education (EURASHE): HE, Industry and Region Partnerships
The EURASHE General Assembly and Annual Conference took place in Prague in May. The theme was Higher Education, Enterprises and Regions: Partnerships for Innovation and Development throughout Europe. It analysed such topics as the role of HE in regional development; the interaction of HEI with business and industry; and priorities in the EHEA 2010-2020.
http://www.eurashe.eu/RunScript.asp?page=127&p=ASP\Pg127.asp

European Commission: European Research Infrastructures
The European Commission has welcomed the Council's agreement on a legal framework for European research infrastructures. The European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures has established a list of 44 priority infrastructures that would put Europe in the vanguard. The absence of an adequate framework has caused major problems for the Member States.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/856&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
European Commission: Women in Science and Technology
The European Commission has published a report Women in science and technology. Creating sustainable careers which finds that women abandon careers in research because they encounter difficulties in balancing work and their personal life.  Although some firms and universities offer flexible working arrangements, they still tend to see women as less committed to their job.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/document_library/pdf_06/wist2_sustainable-careers-report_en.pdf
European Commission: ECTS Users' Guide
The European Commission has published a new version of the ECTS Users' Guide to give guidance on the implementation of ECTS. It also includes institutions' quality assurance tools.
http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc/ects/guide_en.pdf

European Distance and e-Learning Network (EDEN): Innovation in e-Learning
The EDEN Annual Conference was held in Gdansk in June. It had as its theme Innovation in Learning Communities. What did you invent for tomorrow? Topics addressed included Here and now or wherever and forever; Dilemmas of universalism in a global world; Beyond removing barriers: Developing conditions for creativity and innovation; Professionalisation and innovation: Friends or enemies?; Inventive e-learning methodology: How to manage different learner styles; Institutional innovation: Concept and realisation; and E-learning assessment and evaluation.
http://www.eden-online.org/eden.php?menuId=434&contentId=816

European Research and Higher Education Doctoral Studies (EUREDOCS):
The Sixth International EUREDOCS Conference took place in May in Paris. The theme was Beyond Change. Transformation, Continuity and Inertia in Higher Education and Research. Participants analysed issues such as Characterizing change, continuity and inertia and Measuring change, continuity and inertia.
http://www.euredocs.sciences-po.fr/en/conference/call_2009.rtf

European Science Foundation (ESF): Call for Proposal - Research Conferences
The ESF invites scientists to submit proposals for high-level research conferences to take place in 2011 in the following scientific domains: Molecular Biology at the interface with other science disciplines; Brain, Technology and Cognition (focus on "Action"); Mathematics; Physics/Biophysics and Environmental Sciences; and Social Sciences and Humanities. Deadline: September 15, 2009.
http://www.esf.org/activities/esf-conferences.html

European Union: Research and Sustainable Development
A conference on Sustainable Development. A challenge for European Research, organised in cooperation with the Czech Presidency of the EU, was held in Brussels from May 26 to May 28. It analysed the ways in which European research contributes to global sustainable development.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/sd/conference/2009/index_en.cfm?pg=programme-details&show=ps5#ps5

European University Association (EUA): University Income Diversification
EUA is conducting the European Universities Diversifying Income Streams (EUDIS) to map the status of income diversification in collaboration with HUMANE (the Heads of University Administration Network), the University of Bologna and the Bavarian State Institute for Higher Education Research and Planning. It is co-funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme and seeks to provide the institutional perspective on the topic of funding and examples of best practices.
http://www.eua.be/eudis/
European University Association (EUA): Doctoral Education
The second annual meeting of the EUA Council for Doctoral Education took place at the University of Lausanne in June. It presented the findings of a new EUA study which analysed the relations between doctoral education and career development prospects of doctoral candidates. It also analysed European doctoral education in a global context.
http://www.eua.be/index.php?id=1089

MODERN: Governance
The first MODERN Conference took place in Brussels in June. Its theme was Governance. It broached subjects such as reforming university governance, institutional autonomy, universities and business cooperating and academic leadership. MODERN is a European platform which promotes the modernisation of higher education management.
http://www.highereducationmanagement.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=72

Inter-Regional Cooperation
Denmark/Africa: Initiatives and Recommendations for Effective Development Cooperation with Africa
The Africa Commission, a body composed of experts from different countries and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, has released its recommendations for effective development cooperation with Africa. As far as higher education is concerned, it proposed to support closer links between research, higher education and business in sustainable agriculture and agro-business.
http://www.africacommission.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/5CC07D2B-D374-4929-9E4D-07DAD2FF951A/0/Cph_Statement.pdf

Europe/Africa: ICT Research
A workshop took place in Cotonou, Benin, from May 19 to 20 to discuss the strengths and limitations of ICT research in Africa and present international on-going projects in the field.
http://euroafrica-ict.org/events/benin.php (in French)

European Commission/ Mexico: Joint Declaration
The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth signed a Joint Declaration between the European Commission and the Government of Mexico on education in June. With this Declaration, the European Commission and the Government of Mexico will reinforce their co-operation in the form of a policy dialogue on key issues in education, including the transferability of qualifications; the modernization of higher education, etc .
http://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc/jointmexico_en.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/education/external-relation-programmes/doc/mexicoculture_en.pdf

European Union (EU)/Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states: Cooperation in Higher Education
The Policy Brief on Promoting EU-GCC Cooperation in Higher Education, prepared as part of the EU-GCC Al-Jisr Project on Public Diplomacy and Outreach, presents recommendations in the matter.
http://www.grc.ae/data/contents/uploads/Promoting_EU-GCC_Cooperation_622.pdf

Netherlands/Developing Countries: Netherlands Initiative for Capacity Development in Higher Education (NICHE)
The Dutch bilateral cooperation programme will provide grants to post-secondary institutions,  ministries, national commissions and NGOs in Afghanistan, Benin, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Surinam, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia to strengthen their institutional capacity to provide post-secondary education.
http://www.nuffic.nl/international-organizations/services/capacity-building.htm

Pakistan/Libya: MoU on Higher Education
On May 2nd, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to reinforce and further develop cooperation in the field of higher education. The MoU lists the areas of cooperation, ranging from the development of scientific relations between institutions to the exchange of information on higher education and systems.
http://www.hec.gov.pk/components/com_bnvcontent/images/whatsnew/584_MOU-Libya.doc

USA/Southern Africa: Natural Resource Management Education
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Higher Education for Development (HED) have awarded a three-year grant to the University of Florida (USA), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Namibia), Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), the University of Botswana (Botswana) and the Southern African College of Wildlife Collaboration (South Africa) to improve community-based natural resource management education.
http://www.hedprogram.org/tabid/225/itemid/196/New-Higher-Education-Partnership-to-Focus-on-Commu.aspx

National and institutional initiatives

Argentina: Higher Education Infrastructures
The rectors representing the National Interuniversity Council (Consejo Interuniversitario National - CIN) and the President of Argentina signed an agreement to support the development of higher education infrastructures (Programa de apoyo para el desarrollo de infraestructura para la educación superior pública) on May 13, 2009.
http://www.cin.edu.ar/novedades.php (in Spanish)

Australia: International Students Safety
Universities Australia has adopted a ten point action plan for student safety based on recommendations made at a Deputy Vice-Chancellors' meeting held from June 4 to 5, in the wake of a series of attacks against international students. The plan prescribes strengthened collaboration with law enforcement authorities, diplomatic action, but it also covers aspects of students' welfare and integration process.
http://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/content.asp?page=/news/media_releases/
2009/uniaus_media_09_09.htm
Australia: Publications on Higher Education Issues
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) has released the two following publications:
- the Final Report of the Institutional Leadership Paradigm (ILP): Transforming practices, structures and conditions in Indigenous Higher Education Project, which aims to build up leadership capacity to launch teaching and learning programmes that would better integrate the indigenous culture thus improving indigenous students and academics' chances of success in higher education.
http://www.altc.edu.au/system/files/news/Final_Report_LE62%5B1%5D.pdf
- Learning and Teaching in Australian Universities: A thematic analysis of Cycle 1 AUQA audits, a report jointly prepared by ALTC and the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA), analyses AUQA's first audit cycle and provides historical background information and guidelines on good practices and key issues in the matter.
http://www.altc.edu.au/june2009-joint-report-learning-teaching-quality

Brazil: Higher Education and Economic Development
The seminar on the development of Brazil and the funcing of Brazilain federal universities (Desenvolvimento do Brasil e o financiamento da Universidade Federal Brasileira) organised by the Associação Nacional dos Dirigentes de Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior - Andifes, focused on the impact of the economic crisis and on the role played by science and technology in the economic development of the country.
http://www.andifes.org.br/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=
1748&Itemid=102 (in Portuguese)

Burkina Faso: Private Higher Education
Representatives from the private higher education sector of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo and Chad met in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to revise their specifications. The limitation of the admission diploma to Baccalaureate only and the publication by the Ministry of Secondary and Higher Education and Scientific Research of Burkina Faso of the list of recognised private higher education institutions were among the decisions of the workshop.
http://www.lefaso.net/spip.php?page=impression&id_article=31938 (in French)

Canada: Access to Postsecondary Education (PSE)
The final report entitled An Examination of Barriers to Pursuing PSE and Potential Solutions presents a qualitative analysis - based on a series of focus groups conducted in six cities - of the major factors and obstacles preventing students from pursuing PSE.
http://www.cmec.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/196/EKOS-
FINAL-16-03-09-An-exam-of-barriers-EN.pdf

China, Taiwan: Ministerial Plan to Improve Employment Qualification
The Ministry of Education has presented the Manpower Value Addition Program for Graduates from Colleges and Higher Level Institutions, a NT$ 1,225 billion plan to help both the employed and the unemployed raise their professional qualifications and to better align university programmes on the demand from the industry.
http://english.moe.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=11082&ctNode=516&mp=1

Estonia: Cross-Border Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region
An international workshop on International Higher Education Cross-Border Cooperation in the Eastern Baltic Sea Region took place in June in Tartu. It discussed themes such as Regional universities and university colleges as drivers for local and regional development in the Nordic countries;   Good practices at the level of universities; Cross-border cooperation of regional universities for the development of non-urbanised areas ; and the New role of rural areas in the post-industrial society.
http://www.ctc.ee/index.php?menu_id=824&lang_id=1

Finland: Internationalisation of HEIs
The Ministry of Education has published Strategy for the Internationalisation of Higher Education Institutions in Finland 2009-2015. It set five main goals: A genuinely international higher education community; Increasing the quality and attractiveness of higher education institutions; Promoting the export of expertise; Supporting a multicultural society; and Promoting global responsibility.
http://www.minedu.fi/export/sites/default/OPM/Koulutus/artikkelit/
korkeakoulujen_kv/liitteet/Strategy_Internationalisation_Higher_Education_Institutions.pdf

France: Globalisation and Universities
A colloquium on Universities in the era of globalisation and competition for excellence took place in at Paris 8 University in May. Topics included globalisation and internationalisation of university activities; the knowledge society; languages and globalisation; autonomy; universities and critical thinking; and evaluation.
http://www.univ-paris8.fr/colloque-mai/ (in French)
France: Comparison and Cooperation in Higher Education
The Centre international d'Etudes pédagogiques (CIEP) organised a conference on higher education systems, international comparisons, university cooperation and attractivity policy (Systèmes d'enseignement supérieur: Comparaisons internationales, coopérations universitaires, politique d'attractivité) in May 2009.
http://www.ciep.fr/conferences/comparaison-des-systemes-d-
enseignement-superieur/presentation-des-interventions.php (in French)
France: French Universities and Sustainable Development
A survey carried out by the French Rectors' Conference (CPU) shows for the first time the commitment of French universities to sustainable development. It reveals that French universities are multiplying their efforts on their campuses. The results were disseminated on 2 June, the first sustainable development day.
http://www.cpu.fr/Actualites.240.0.html?&no_cache=1&actu_id=183 (in French)
http://www.cpu.fr/Actualites.240.0.html?&no_cache=1&actu_id=182 (in French)
France: Methodology for Digital Universities
The French Rectors' Conference (CPU) and the Caisse des Dépôts have published a Guide méthodologique de l'université numérique to better understand the stakes behind the digital university.
http://www.cpu.fr/fileadmin/fichiers/actu/CDC_Guide_universite_numerique_
version_finale.pdf (in French)

India: Foreign Students' Welfare
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a number of documents relating to an inter-ministerial Committee's report on foreign students' welfare in India: a letter to registrars; the minutes of a ministerial meeting held to examine the report, voice issues and suggestions from institutions; and recommendations to the Ministry of Human Resources and to Universities/Educational Institutions.
http://www.ugc.ac.in/more/welfareforeignstudents.pdf

Iraq: International Research Contests
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Iraq invited Iraqi researchers to participate in international scientific contests in a press statement of June 2009.
http://www.mohesr.gov.iq/ScientificCompE.htm

Ireland: Universities and the Economy
A colloquium on Education in Ireland - world class rankings or a world class system? took place at the Dublin Institute of Technology in June. It examined how Irish higher education should be positioned to maximise its contribution to the economy. Topics included: higher education institutions working together; higher education in cities and regions; lessons for Ireland; and characteristics of a world class system.
http://www.dit.ie/cser/events/seminars/

Italy: G8 University Summit
The 2009 G8 University Summit took place in Turin in May. The focus was on the fundamental role that education and research play in informing, promoting and implementing sustainable and responsible development, both at the local and global level. A 4 Es framework - Economics, Ethics, Energy policy and Ecology - was adopted to better analyse and communicate the complexity of the issues involved. Pier Paolo Calzonari, IAU Vice-President and Treasurer, attended the meeting.
http://www.g8university.com/contenuti/file/G8US%202009_FD_VER%203.0_2009%2005%2019_
ultima-firmata.pdf

Mexico: Common Area for Technological Education
More than 300 institutes of technology/polytechnic universities and technological universities signed an agreement with the Secretaria de Educación Pública (SEP) in June 2009 to create the common strategic area for technological education (Estrategia Espacio Común de la Educación Superior Tecnológica - ECEST). ECEST will allow mutual recognition of degrees awarded by the institutions participating in the network. It will also improve international cooperation and relationships between higher education and the economic sector.
http://www.dgest.gob.mx/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=358&Itemid=1 (in Spanish)
Mexico: New Programmes
The Secretaria de Educación Pública (SEP) has announced the creation of 28 courses at the Ingeniera level for students holding a Tecnico Superior Universitario.
http://www.sep.gob.mx/wb/sep1/bol1260509 (in Spanish)

Netherlands (The): Newsletter on Immigration Procedures for Foreign Students
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service and Nuffic started to send out a joint digital newsletter about immigration procedures relating to foreign students to staff of higher education institutions in May.
http://www.nuffic.nl/home/news-events/news-archive/2009/ind-and-nuffic-
launch-joint-newsletter

New Zealand: Domestic Tuition Fee
Education Counts has released Counting the Cost: An Analysis of Domestic Tuition Fees, a report that analyses government policies regarding tuition fees over the last 20 years.
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/44624/
Counting-the-cost---final.pdf
New Zealand: German and French Students
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has announced that, from now on, German and French students enrolled in Master-level programmes in New Zealand will no longer be granted the status of domestic students, and will therefore have to pay international students fees.
http://www.tec.govt.nz/templates/NewsItem.aspx?id=5632

Norway: White Paper on Research
A new White paper on research was presented to the Norwegian Parliament in April. Public research spending will continue to increase and Norwegian research policy will be defined by nine research policy goals. Five concern facing global challenges, further developing the welfare state and providing a strong basis for industry and innovation. Four concern high quality, increased internationalisation, more cooperation and a successful and efficient research sector.
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/kd/press-contacts/Press-releases/
2009/climate-for-research.html?id=557382

Serbia: ICT Research
The Dialogue Forum on ICT Research for the Western Balkan Countries was launched in Belgrade in May. The event enabled the participants to present the general working framework and agree on the mission of the Forum, its role and main actions.
http://www.wbc-inco.net/object/news/51696.html

Singapore: Threefold Initiative to further enhance Tertiary Education Quality
The Ministry for Education has announced the launch of three new initiatives of excellence in the higher education sector: the Singapore Institute of Applied Technology (SIAT) will offer foreign universities degree courses and degrees as from 2011; the New University-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a new research-oriented institution, will be put into place in partnership with the MIT; and a third Medical School will be created.
http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2009/05/new-peaks-of-excellence-in-the.php

Switzerland: Inequalities in Higher Education and Research
The 2nd international RESUP Conference organised in partnership with the Observatoire Science, Politique et Société and the University of Lausanne took place in June. Its theme was Inequalities in Higher Education and Research. Issues such as inequalities in access and success; gender inequalities; inequalities in academic careers; inequalities and knowledge production and inter-institutional inequalities were discussed. 
http://www.unil.ch/webdav/site/osps/shared/RESUP_2009_Programme-3.pdf (in French)

United Arab Emirates: Higher Education Strategy   
The Minister of Education led the meeting of the Arab Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) in Abu Dhabi, June 2009, which brought together higher education and scientific research experts to discuss the development of a strategic plan for higher education in the United Arab Emirates.
http://www.moe.gov.ae/English/Pages/h020609_1.aspx

United Kingdom: New Ministry
The Government has created a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whose main role will be to develop the country's capacities to compete in the global economy. It resulted from the merger of the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
http://www.dius.gov.uk/news_and_speeches/announcements/bis.aspx
United Kingdom: Cultural Attitudes to Science
Five new independent expert groups will engage the science community, media, public, business and policy-makers to help to change cultural attitudes to science in the UK. These groups are: science for all; science and the media; science and learning; science for careers; and science and trust.
http://www.dius.gov.uk/news_and_speeches/press_releases/science_society_expert_groups.aspx
United Kingdom: Funding System
The National Union of Students has published Funding our Future: for an alternative higher education funding system. Recommendations include creating a People's Trust for Higher Education to which former students would make contributions; more flexibility and support for lifelong learning through a major boost of employer funding; and more funding for the higher education sector.
http://www.nus.org.uk/PageFiles/5816/NUS_Blueprint_Summary_report_final.pdf
United Kingdom: Encouraging Enrolment in Higher Education
The first Aimhigher Week took place in June. It aimed to inspire young people to consider higher education as a path to reaching life goals. During Aimhigher Week there were over 100 local events across the country, including: roadshows engaging secondary and college students, Year 9 students visiting local universities, and subject master classes hosted by universities.
http://www.dius.gov.uk/news_and_speeches/press_releases/aimhigher_week.aspx

United States of America: The Future of Graduate Education
The Commission on the Future of Graduate Education in the United States - a 19-member commission of university presidents, deans, research scientists, provosts, measurement experts and industry leaders - was formed in June 2009 with support from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and Educational Testing Service. Its aim is to assess graduate education in the US and study the benefit of enlarging graduate education to all segments of the US population.
http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/N_pr_ETS_Future_0609.pdf
United States of America: Learning Outcomes
The Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Project and Consortium Research Paper released in May 2009 and entitled Decoding Learning Gains: Measuring Outcomes and the Pivotal Role of the Major and Student Backgrounds discusses and compares the use of three different tools for measuring learning outcomes: the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA), the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the University of California's Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES).
http://cshe.berkeley.edu/publications/publications.php?id=338
United States of America: Faculty Layoffs
The American Council on Education (ACE) has released a study entitled Faculty in Times of Financial Distress: Examining Governance, Exigency, Layoffs, and Alternatives. It discusses the layoff of faculty members in higher education institutions in economic difficulty.
http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Papers_Publications&
TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=32703
United States of America: Hispanic Students
The report on Leading in a Changing America: Presidential Perspectives from Hispanic-Serving Institutions, the fourth in a series of five on Hispanic-serving institutions, released by Excelencia in Education with support from the Lumina Foundation for Education, is based on interviews with the leaders of twelve Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in California, Texas and New York. It explains how presidents of HSIs and more generally presidents of institutions enrolling large numbers of non-traditional students adapt to and meet students' needs.
http://www.edexcelencia.org/pdf/publications/hsi/LeadingHSIs04.pdf
United States of America: Ranking Systems
The May 2009 Issue Brief on the Impact of College Rankings on Institutional Decision Making: Four Country Case Studies, released by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), analyses - through four country case studies: Australia, Canada, Germany and Japan - the role played by rankings in institutional policy making and how institutional ranking systems in other countries can inform practices in the U.S.
http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/g-l/ImpactofCollegeRankings.pdf
United States of America: Study Abroad
The Institute of International Education (IIE) has published a new issue in the Meeting America's Global Education Challenge series. This sixth issue, entitled Expanding Study Abroad Capacity at U.S. Colleges and Universities, explores how U.S. higher education institutions can address the needs and solutions to expand the field of international education.
http://www.iie.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Research_and_Evaluation/Study_Abroad_
White_Papers/StudyAbroad_WhitePaper6.pdf
United States of America: Diplomas and Dropouts
The study released by the American Enterprise Institute on Diplomas and Dropouts: Which Colleges Actually Graduate Their Students (and Which Don't) proposes a statistical comparative analysis of graduation rates across a sample of more than 1,300 U.S. colleges and universities.
http://www.aei.org/docLib/Diplomas%20and%20Dropouts%20final.pdf

Vietnam:  Module-Based Courses
Vietnamese higher education institutions are about to switch from a semester-based to a module-based course system in order to improve their compatibility with major other national and international systems and improve the quality of training. The move is expected to be completed by 2020.
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01EDU180509
Vietnam: Demography at Universities
Due to exponential growth in the number of university students and risks of overpopulation at some institutions, the Vietnamese Prime Minister has asked for a zoning plan to achieve a more balanced institutional and demographic distribution of higher education provision by 2025. Criteria for relocations and creations of new university areas will be on the agenda by the end of the year.
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01EDU050609