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IAU: Building a worldwide higher education community |
E-Bulletin
Sharing information on IAU activities and higher education in the world
Vol. 6, No 7, September 2009
IAU Activities
Join higher education institutions from all over the world as well as national, regional and international organisations at the IAU 2009 International Conference to share your point of view on The Role of Higher Education in Fostering a Culture of Inter-Cultural Dialogue and Understanding. The Conference that will take place at Notre-Dame University, Louaize, Lebanon, from November 4 to 6, 2009 is also a great networking opportunity. Only two weeks remain to take advantage of the early bird registration!
LEADHER: New competition!
The fourth LEADHER
competition is now open. IAU Members in good standing (no arrears
in their membership fee payments) are invited to submit a project
proposal and may be awarded a grant of up to 10,000 Euros.
Collaboration must involve at least one institution located in a
developing country. Detailed information on the programme, the eligible
reform areas and guidelines for submitting a proposal are available
online. Deadline: 30 November 2009. Contact: Isabelle Devylder at devylder.iau@unesco.org
The competition which ended in May 2009 yielded various proposals from IAU Member institutions. The Selection Committee approved five international collaboration projects; learning visits will take institutional representatives to their partner institutions over the coming weeks and months.
Update on IAU projects
The IAU project Strengthening Linkages
for Improved Education: Higher Education and Research working for EFA
and related MDGs, aims at involving higher education
institutions more closely and giving more visibility to their
contributions to Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). The first outcome of the project is an information tool, a brochure entitled Why and How Can Higher Education Contribute to All Levels and Types of Education? It is available in English, French, both in print and online. IAU Members have received a print copy and it was widely disseminated at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education 2009.
Please send your comments to Nadja Kymlicka at iau3@unesco.org.
A few key
findings from the 2009 IAU Global
Survey on
Internationalization of Higher Education are now available,
though the analysis and full report will be published in early 2010.
IAU thanks all those who have participated in the Survey by completing
the questionnaire. The analysis will be based on 745 institutional
responses from 115 countries, a substantially larger sample than in
2005. Just released:
HEP 22.3, Africa
and InternationalizationThe newly-released edition of HEP looks at the effects of internationalization in Africa and how these effects may differ from elsewhere in the world. Articles reflect on cooperative policies and African international students, the implications of the digital divide and African academic partnerships. IAU Members receive a copy of HEP free of charge.
International Handbook of Universities
2010, 21st editionBuying the first-ever printed, always well-updated and still most comprehensive directory on higher education worldwide (14,000 entries in 183 countries) will allow you to consult the data included in print or online formats depending on your needs, at the same price. IAU Members are entitled to a 50% discount on all their purchases.
IAU Horizons 15.2, IAU Members Shaping Higher Education for
the FutureThis issue of IAU Horizons was prepared for large dissemination at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE) 2009. It consequently served to showcase some of the ways in which IAU Members addressed the main themes of the Conference. IAU Members receive a print copy of IAU Horizons; otherwise, the Newsletter is available online in pdf format.
The next issue of IAU Horizons will be on Learning Outcomes. Please feel free to contribute by sending an email to Ross Hudson (hudson.iau@unesco.org).
IAU Representation
Goolam Mohamedbhai,
Immediate Past-President of IAU and Secretary-General of the
Association of African Universities (AAU), has received the Symons
Award of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) which
rewards those who have made contributions to Commonwealth universities.
http://www.aau.org/announce/detail.htm?ai=225Reminder of Important IAU Dates
- November 4-6, 2009: IAU 2009 International Conference, on The Role of Higher Education in Fostering a Culture of Inter-Cultural Dialogue and Understanding, Notre-Dame University, Lebanon
- November 30, 2009: Deadline for LEADHER applications
- June 25-26, 2010: IAU 2010 International Conference on Ethics and Values in Higher Education in the Era of Globalisation: What Role for the Disciplines? Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
- 2011: IAU 2011 International Conference. Kenyatta University, Kenya
- 2011: 4th Global Meeting of Associations, Indian Association of Universities, India
- November 12-17, 2012: IAU General Conference, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, USA
IAU Partnership Events
- Global Forum on Cross-Border Higher Education on Global Connections – Local Impacts: Best Practices, Models and Policies for Cross-Border Higher Education, Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE), October 21-24, 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://www.obhe.ac.uk/the_obhe_global_forum__malaysia/welcome
- World Universities Congress on What Should Be the New Aims and Responsibilities of Universities within the Framework of Global Issues?, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, October 20-24, 2010, Çanakkale, Turkey, http://www.comu.edu.tr/unicongress2010/english/index.php
For detailed information on these
activities, contact us at: iau@unesco.org
News/Opportunities from around the World
UNESCO
UNESCO: World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE) - OutcomesThe Conference Communiqué addresses social responsibility in higher education; access, equity and quality; internationalisation, regionalisation and globalisation; learning, research and innovation; higher education in Africa and also includes a call for action for Member States and UNESCO.
http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/ED/pdf/WCHE_2009/FINAL%20COMMUNIQUE%20WCHE%202009.pdf
For more information on the Conference (press releases, global reports, conference documents, special events, etc.) see:
http://www.unesco.org/en/wche2009/
UNESCO: COFINTEA VI – New Dates
The sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI) will take place from December 1 to 4, 2009, in Belém, Brazil. The Conference was originally to be held in May 2009 but was postponed due to the H1N1 outbreak.
http://www.unesco.org/en/confinteavi/
UNESCO: UNESCO in Africa Journal
UNESCO has launched a new bilingual (English-French) journal called UNESCO in Africa to offer greater visibility to its activities in the region. Entitled Cooperation in the field of higher education in Africa, the first issue comprises articles on the new dynamics for higher education in Africa, cooperation and access - some of which were already presented at the Regional Conference on Higher Education which was held in Dakar in November 2008.
http://www.unesco.org/en/education/dynamic-content-single-view/news/unesco_launches_journal_on_education_in_africa/back/9195/
UNESCO: Arab Knowledge Society
On the occasion of his late-June visit to Egypt, the Director General of UNESCO launched a series of initiatives aimed at promoting knowledge societies in the Arab world entitled Capacity Building Initiatives for Students, Teachers and Knowledge Citizens: Towards an Arab Knowledge Society, namely the second phase of UNESCO’s ICT Competency Framework for Teachers, the first Arab e-courseware digital library, and the scaling-up of IT Literacy in the Arab States.
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46043&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge: End of Activity
The UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge ceased activity at the end of the World Higher Conference on Higher Education. Its website will be maintained so that all archived papers and presentations produced between 2002 and 2009 remain available for consultation.
http://portal.unesco.org/education/admin/ev.php?URL_ID=59381&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1248961504
The latest publications of the Forum include:
- the research report Higher Education, Research and Innovation: Changing Dynamics. It summarises the outcomes reached by the Forum over the past decade and addresses the main challenges faced by research systems in a globalised world and emerging trends.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001830/183071E.pdf
- the final report of the Special Initiative, a sub-project of the Forum that aimed at creating a methodology for mapping and analysing national research systems in middle and low income countries.
http://academic.sun.ac.za/crest/unesco
UNESCO Bangkok: Education for Sustainable Development - Conference
The Regional Workshop on the Thematic Issues in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) under the Mobile Training Team (MTT) Project held at the National Institute for the Development of Teachers and Education Personnel (NIDTEP) in Nakon Prathom, Thailand, from June 1-5, 2009, aimed at advancing ESD among teaching practices. It featured, amongst other presentations, a series of reports presenting initiatives taken by higher education institutions in China, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
http://www.unescobkk.org/education/apeid/modalities/mobile-training-team-mtt/mtt-workshop-2009
UNESCO Bamako Cluster Office: Building Research Capacity in Africa and Development and Use of Virtual Facilities for Quality Teaching and Research – Call for Proposals
This twin event features the First International Conference on Building Research Capacity in Africa (ICBRECA) on Promoting Research in African Universities through Regional and International Research and Knowledge Networks and the Use of ICTs, in Bamako, Mali, from November 9 to 11, 2009 and a Training Workshop on Development and Use of Virtual Facilities for Quality Teaching and Research, in Segou, Mali, from November 13 to 14, 2009. Deadline: September 1, 2009
https://www.jyu.fi/hallinto/unipid/en/events/unesco-conference-mali-nov-2009
UNESCO-European Centre for Higher Education (CEPES): Quality Assurance in Eastern Europe - Publication
The UNESCO-CEPES has released online the report 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 quality assurance mechanisms in Latvia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.
http://www.cepes.ro/publications/pdf/Implementation_online.pdf
UNESCO Instituto Internacional para la Educación Superior en América Latina y el Caribe (IESALC): Interculturalism and Cultural Diversity in Higher Education - Podcast
The latest edition of puntoEdu, the monthly pod-cast of the Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, is devoted to the conclusions of the First regional workshop for interculturalism and cultural diversity in higher education in Latin America (Taller Regional para la Interculturalidad y Diversidad Cultural en la Educación Superior en América Latina). Held from August 6 to 7, 2009, the workshop discussed the creation of a forum for the promotion of interculturalism in higher education.
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 Statistics (UIS): Global Education Digest 2009 and Fact Sheets on Higher Education and Higher Education in Africa - Publication
The 2009 Global Education Digest features indicators for the 2007 academic year of some 200 countries as well as analyses on topics such as global trends in tertiary education; levels of participation; impact of secondary education graduates; distribution by field of studies and type of institution; student mobility; financing.
http://www.uis.unesco.org/template/pdf/ged/2009/GED_2009_EN.pdf
Trends in Tertiary Education: sub-Saharan Africa provides indicators on enrolment and public expenditure per student; measures current participation and foreseeable trends; introduces issues induced by exploding demand and resource constraints and their impact on public expenditures for students; and discusses gender equality, mobility and the international destinations favoured by students from the region.
http://www.uis.unesco.org/template/pdf/ged/2009/Fact_Sheet_2009_SSA.pdf
A fact sheet on higher education can be found on the UNESCO website. It features data on global participation in tertiary education, choice of subjects, gender, student mobility, research and qualifications, distance education, growth of private higher education, and financing of higher education.
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46047&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Other international initiatives
Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF): Rectors’ ConferencesThe 3rd meeting of the Middle-East Rectors’ Conference (CONFREMO) – a Rectors’ Conference of AUF Members in the Middle-East Region – took place in Alexandria, Egypt, from June 27 to 28, 2009. It elected its new President Prof. Hind Hanafy, President of the University of Alexandria, discussed the professionalization of higher education and issued a Declaration on the reinforcement of the university/industry interface.
http://www.confremo.org/spip.php?article22 (in French)
The General Assembly of the Francophone African Rectors’ Conference (CRUFAOCI) – a Rectors’s Conference of AUF Members in Francophone Africa – took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on July 15, 2009. It discussed institutional governance.
http://www.auf.org/regions/afrique-centrale/agenda-regional/assemblee-generale-de-la-crufaoci.html?var_recherche=yaound%C3%A9 (in French)
AUF is a Member Organisation of IAU.
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU): Access to Digital Resources in Universities in Africa
ACU has published a report on Digital resources for research: a review of access and use in African universities that analyses the obstacles to accessing and using digital scholarly information in universities in Africa.
http://www.scidev.net/uploads/File/Digital-resources-for-research-in-African-universities-issues-paper-for-Arcadia.pdf
ACU is a Member Organisation of IAU.
Commonwealth Secretariat: Scholarship Fund
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October 2010 and the Commonwealth Secretary-General has announced that it has already received pledges of £1.4 million.
http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/190663/163077/207732/160609scholarship_fund.htm
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE): Higher Education at a Time of Crisis
The presentations made during the Conference on Higher Education at a Time of Crisis - Challenges and Opportunities, Copenhagen, 28-30 June 2009, analyse – through case studies and proposed strategies - the impact of the economic crisis on higher education policy and institutions.
http://www.oecd.org/document/10/0,3343,en_2649_35961291_43253066_1_1_1_1,00.html
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Education Policy Committee (EDPC): Special Needs Higher Education
The group of national experts on special needs education has released two country reports in the context of the EDPC project on Pathways for Disabled Students to Tertiary Education and Employment which addresses themes such as government policy, legislation, funding, provision and support services.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/41/18/43412766.pdf (Norway)
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/41/19/43412731.pdf (Denmark)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/World Bank: Tertiary Education in Chile
The OECD/World Bank joint publication on Reviews of National Policies for Education: Tertiary Education in Chile (Revisión de Políticas Nacionales de Educación: La Educación Superior en Chile) - commissioned by the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of Chile - proposes an overview of the higher education system in Chile over the last twenty years. It also presents potential policy reforms and key recommendations for its improvement.
http://www.divesup.cl/images/archivos/la-es-en-chile.pdf (in Spanish)
Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (OEI): Postgraduate Education in the Ibero-American Region
The international workshop on the results and impact induced by support to postgraduate education in the Ibero-American region (Resultados e impactos de los programas de apoyo a la formación de posgrado en Iberoamérica), organized in Lima, Peru, from July 20 to 21 by the OEI and partners analysed the current situation and discussed the creation of a collaborative network between countries and agencies for postgraduate education.
http://www.oei.es/cienciayuniversidad/spip.php?article518 (in Spanish)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): African Women Professionals – Call for Submissions
To increase the number of appointments of African women to high office, the UNFPA is creating a compendium to profile the professional competencies, credentials, work experience and core values of 200 African women holding at minima a Master’s degree and having been employed in top management that includes head of academic institutions. Deadline: September 30, 2009.
http://www.unfpa.org/employment/docs/curriculum_vitae.pdf
World Bank: Support to Higher Education (Vietnam)
The World Bank has approved a US$50 million credit for Vietnam’s Higher Education Development Policy Program. This first Development Policy Loan aims at improving the quality and relevance of Vietnamese higher education.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:22249559~menuPK:51062076~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
World Bank: New Tertiary Education Project (West Bank and Gaza)
The World Bank has approved the West Bank and Gaza Tertiary Education Project which aims to strengthen the policy making role of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education: increase the internal and external efficiency of higher education institutions; and support quality improvement.
http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P116758
Regional initiatives
AfricaAfrican and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES): Annual Meeting
The major allocutions and the programme of the 31st meeting of CAMES Comités consultatifs interafricains (CCI), held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from July 13-18, 2009 are available online. The meeting discussed various issues, including the election of the new Bureau; the presentation of the CAMES e-library; the harmonisation of the curriculum for medical studies; etc.
http://www.cames.bf.refer.org/spip.php?page=imprimer&id_article=83 (in French)
African Association of Universities (AAU): Mobilizing Regional Capacity Initiative – Call for Proposals
The 3rd round of grants of the Mobilizing Regional Capacity Initiative (MRCI) whose aim is to support the contribution of African higher education institutions to reach the Millennium Development Goals has been launched. Deadline: October 16, 2009.
http://www.aau.org/mrci/docs/mrci_call_220709.pdf
AAU is a Member Organisation of IAU.
African Development Bank (AFB): Higher Education and Vocational Training Support Project - Gabon
Gabon has received a loan from the AFB to support a project which aims to enhance the effectiveness of public resources granted to the education sector and reduce scholarships for studies abroad though the training of higher education senior-level personnel; increased admission capacity; and improved quality and relevance of programmes.
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-events/article/gabon-cfaf-71-5-billion-for-higher-education-and-vocational-training-4923/
African Union (AU): Pan-African University – Decision 491
The AU Executive Council requested that the AU Commission pursue the establishment of the Pan-African University, including the distribution of the thematic institutions by country, at its 15th meeting which took place in Sirte, Libya, from June 24 to 30, 2009.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Conferences/2009/july/summit/decisions/EX%20C%20LDEC%20489%20-%20520%20(XV)%20REV%201%20_E.PDF
African Union: African Union Scientific Award – Call for Proposals
The African Union Scientific Award rewards the most outstanding African scientists in life and earth sciences and in basic science, technology and innovation. Deadline: September 9, 2009.
http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/conferences/2009/june/hrst/award.html
Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)/African Development Bank (BAD): Education and Global Economic Crisis - Conference
The Conference for African Ministers of Finance and Education on Sustaining the Education and Economic Momentum in Africa amidst the Current Global Financial Crisis, which was held in Tunis, Tunisia, from July 15-17, 2009 discussed how to sustain Africa’s achievements in education, including the new efforts that had been made to develop secondary and higher education, despite the economic crisis.
http://www.adeanet.org/adeaPortal/programs/en_MinConf-EducationFinance-July-2009.jsp
Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA): Journal of Educational Research in Africa – Launching and Call for Papers
The Journal of Educational Research in Africa (JERA) was launched in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in July 2009 by ERNWACA. It will promote quality research that is relevant to African contexts and help teachers, educational administrators and policymakers gain in-depth understanding of contemporary educational issues. The third call for papers of this bi-annual journal is open until October 31, 2009.
http://www.ernwaca.org/web/spip.php?article334&id_rubrique=2 (Launch)
http://www.ernwaca.org/web/spip.php?article338&id_rubrique=2 (Call for Papers)
Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA): Vice-Chancellors’ Points of View on Higher Education Issues – New Series
The first issue of the SARUA Leadership Dialogue Series has been released. The aim of the series is to inform on key higher education issues that impact on the Southern African region using data collected in debates and discussions with Vice-Chancellors.
http://www.sarua.org/?q=content/volume-1-number-1-2009-leadership-challenges-higher-education-southern-african
Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA): Public Higher Education Institutions – Facts and Figures
The SARUA Handbook 2009 provides facts and figures, including for example the number of enrolments or the number of academic and research staff, for all public universities of the Southern African region.
http://www.sarua.org/?q=content/sarua-handbook-2009-guide-public-universities-southern-africa
SARUA is a Member organisation of IAU.
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA): African Digital Libraries and Archives – Conference
The first International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives (ICADLA) took place in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, from July 1 to 3, 2009. It tackled issues of knowledge governance; access to knowledge: challenges and innovation; capacity building in context; and institutional repositories.
http://www.uneca.org/icadla1/
Asia
Australia/Malaysia: Quality Assurance Cooperation Agreement
The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation that took effect in July. It will raise awareness on both countries’ respective quality systems and intensify cooperation in areas such as the auditing of overseas branches of higher education institutions; staff mobility and training; and the transfer of good practices.
http://www.auqa.edu.au/aboutauqa/news/articles/article.php?id=45
South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), Regional Training Centre (RETRAC): Branding in Higher Education - Conference
The International Conference on Branding in Higher Education: Practices and Lessons Learned from Global Perspectives, which took place in Nha Trang, Vietnam, from August 10 to 13, 2009, was meant as a global forum for sharing information and experience on the subject. Topics discussed comprised the implications of branding in higher education; quality assurance and accreditation in higher education; lessons and practices learned from global perspectives.
http://www.vnseameo.org/InternationalConference/resource.php
Europe
European Commission: Mobility of Young People - Consultation
The European Commission published a Green Paper on Promoting the Learning Mobility of Young People in July. With this paper, the Commission launched a public consultation to comment on such issues as to how to convince more young people to spend time abroad; what obstacles must be overcome?; and how can all players involved join forces? Deadline: December 15, 2009.
http://ec.europa.eu/education/focus/focus363_en.htm
European Commission: Key Data on Education 2009 - Publication
The EURYDICE Key Data on Education in Europe 2009 shows that the number of students in higher education has risen continuously since 1998. A third of all 20-22-year-olds now participates in a higher education course. Women’s participation is higher than men's overall, but significant imbalances depending on the field of study remain.
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/key_data_en.php
European Commission: Future of the European Research Area - Conference
The presentations and outcomes of the seminar on How can forward looking activities support the European Research Area (ERA), which was held in Brussels in June 2009, discussed the major societal challenges to be addressed by ERA, joint programming, the planning of framework programmes and the international dimension of ERA.
http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/events-01_en.html
European Foundation for Quality in eLearning (EFQUEL): Use of ICT in Higher Education – Quality Label
The UNIQUe Quality Label for the innovative and creative use of ICT in higher education was launched on June 12th during the EDEN Conference in Gdansk. The UNIQUe Quality Label was developed to be in line with the European Commission’s standards in the matter. Once awarded, the UNIQUe accreditation is valid for a three-year period.
http://www.qualityfoundation.org/unique-certification/index.php?view=article&id=4
European Union: Priorities for Future European Research - Conference
The Conference New Worlds, New Solutions, held in Sweden in July under the Swedish Presidency of the European Union, discussed how European research should develop. The current Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) ends in 2013. The priorities for future activities should be more cross-faculty and cross-borders. The Conference led to the Lund Declaration.
http://www.vr.se/mainmenu/pressandnews/newsarchive/news2009/
declarationfromresearchconferenceeuropeanresearchshouldfocusonmajorchallenges.5.2dc104631220c7154e180002460.html
Higher Education Development Association (Hedda): Higher Education Podcast
Hedda has launched the International Higher Education Podcast. Its aim is to presents news, interviews and discussions on topics in the field of higher education in a different way.
http://uv-blog.uio.no/mt/flexlearn/international-higher-education
Switzerland/European Union: Cooperation Agreement
Switzerland and the European Union signed an agreement on education, vocational training and youth in August. It offers Switzerland a legal basis to participate in mobility activities and cooperation projects in these matters with almost equal rights to those of the European partners as from 2011.
http://www.news.admin.ch/dokumentation/00002/00015/index.html?lang=fr&msg-id=28319 (in French)
Inter-Regional Cooperation
Europe/Africa: Scientific Partnerships – Call for Proposals
The European Union/African Union call for proposals for scientific partnerships in projects for better health or water and food security in Africa has been launched. Deadline: January, 14, 2010
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1205&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Europe/Africa: International Research Cooperation in ICTs – Calls for Proposals
Several research funding opportunities are available from the IST-Africa Programme, a multi-stakeholder initiative to reduce the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa which is supported by the European Commission. These are: the FTP-ICT Call 5 which closes on October 26, 2009; the FP7-Infrastructures-2010-2 which closes on November 24, 2009; and the FP7-Africa-2010 which closes on January 14, 2010.
http://ist-africa.org/home/
http://www.ist-africa.org/home/files/IST-Africa_ResearchFundingOpportunities_2009-10.pdf
Europe/Asia: EU-Asia Higher Education Platform - Conferences
The European Union sponsored the second EU-Asia Higher Education Platform (EAHEP) Round Table which took place in Brussels in July 2009. The Round Table analysed international dialogue generated from the Bologna process, the European higher education reform process and shared the European experience of regionalisation, whist reflecting on parallel developments in Asia.
http://www.eahep.org/web/index.php/events/roundtables/bologna-and-asia.html
The outcome report of EAHEP Second Workshop on Student Mobility, Joint Degree Programmes and Institutional Development, held from February 16 to 17, 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is also available.
http://www.eahep.org/web/images/Malaysia/second%20eahep%20workshop%20final%20outcome%20report%202.pdf
Europe/Egypt: Quality Assurance in e-Learning
The European Foundation for Quality in e-Learning (EFQUEL) and the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Education of Egypt (NAQAAE) signed a double agreement in June:
- an alliance to allow NAQAAE to adapt the UNIQUe Quality Label (see under Europe for more information on UNIQUe) to e-learning provision in Egypt;
- a Memorandum of Understanding between EFQUEL, NAQAAE and the Arab University Association to establish an Arab Network of Higher Education for Quality and Innovation in e-Learning.
http://efquel.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88%3Aefquel-signs-
double-agreement-with-naqaae&catid=55%3Acategory-news&Itemid=50&lang=en
India/Africa: Virtual University
The regional Virtual University of Central Africa was inaugurated at the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon, on August 3, 2009. The Virtual University of Central Africa is one element of the India-African Union virtual network project.
http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=2382 (in French)
Latin America/Europe: Inter-Regional Cooperation
The Unión de Universidades de América Latina y el Caribe (UDUAL) and the Santander Group – European Universities Network signed a co-operation agreement in June to improve collaboration, academic mobility and research between Latin America and Europe.
http://www.udual.org/Anuncios/09/Jun/ConvenioUDUALGS.htm (in Spanish)
http://www.udual.org/Anuncios/09/Jun/AcuerdoCooperaUDUALGS.pdf (in Spanish)
Spain/Africa: Cooperation
A Conference between Canarian and African rectors took place at the Universidad de La Laguna in June. It discussed the creation of specialised research networks which will enable the universities to compete in the international area. The conference ended with the Declaration of La Laguna.
http://www.crue.org/boletines/BOLETIN_N37/Boletin37.html#AsuntosUniversitarios5 (in Spanish)
USA/Africa: African Diaspora Scientists and the Development of Africa
The African Scientific Institute (ASI) – an US-based non-profit organisation - held a Conference at UNESCO, Paris, France, from June 29 to July 1, 2009 on The African Diaspora Scientific Committee Mobilization for Africa Initiative. It brought together African Diaspora scientists to discuss how to support the development of infrastructures in Africa. A summary of all the presentations and the Declaration issued at the end of the Conference are available online.
http://www.asi-org.net/Paris%20Conference/Paris%20Conference.htm
USA/Africa: WCHE and Africa - Analysis
The August editorial by the Director of the International Network for Higher Education in Africa of the Boston College, USA is entitled Higher education in Africa post-WCHE: Liberation, affirmation and consolidation. It explores the major achievements and the gaps of the World Higher Education Conference, which took place in Paris, France in July 2009, for Africa.
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/inhea/editorial/Editorial04_Teferra.htm
National and institutional initiatives
Algeria: Measures to Retain ResearchersThe Government will increase the salary of researchers and create a bonus system to reward excellence in research in order to fight the brain drain.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/07/27/feature-01
Australia: Higher Education Reform and Mission-Based Compacts
The Department of Education has released the following publications:
Transforming Australia’s Higher Education System which describes the ten-year reform agenda for higher education and research that relies on a massive boost in investment and an action plan focusing on attainment, access and engagement, diversity, quality, sustainability, assistance to students, regional development, increased sectors interconnectivity and pacified relations.
http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Documents/PDF/Additional%20Report%20-%20Transforming%20Aus%20Higher%20ED_webaw.pdf
Mission-based compacts for universities: A framework for discussion provides an overview of the compacts and their components and raises a number of issues for discussion. The compacts will define the relations between the government and the higher education institution and determine the latter’s mission and how to carry it out in compliance with public policy objectives.
http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Documents/PDF/Compacts%20framework%20discussion%20paper%20July%202009.pdf
Brazil: Regional University
The creation of the Instituto Mercosul de Estudos Avançados (Imea) whose objective is the establishment of the Universidade Federal da Integreção Latino-Americana (Unila) – a university opened to students and academics from all Latin-America – has been approved by the Universidade Federal do Paraná, Unila’s tutor.
http://www.crub.org.br/noticia_detalhar.php?id_noticias=570 (in Portuguese)
Canada: Community-Based Research (CBR)
The research report entitled The Funding and Development of Community University Research Partnerships in Canada: Evidence-Based Investment in Knowledge, Engaged Scholarship, Innovation and Action for Canada’s Future, prepared by the Office of Community-Based Research, University of Victoria, Canada, analyses the funding and the current state of development of the CBR and suggests proposals for its improvement.
http://communityresearchcanada.ca/documents/CBRFunding052009.pdf
Canada: Copyright Reform
In the view of a possible new copyright act, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) is advocating that the use of Internet resources for educational and research purposes should not be considered as copyright infringement.
http://www.aucc.ca/publications/media/2009/copyright_reform_07_30_e.html
Canada: Higher Education Funding
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada emphasises the need for Canada’s Government to increase investments in university education and research in its Pre-budget Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance of August 14, 2009 on Universities Matter: How Canada’s universities contribute to economic recovery and long-term prosperity.
http://www.aucc.ca/_pdf/english/reports/2009/prebudget_08_14_e.pdf
Canada: International Professors/Researchers in Quebec
The École nationale d’Administration publique (ENAP), Laboratoire d'Etude sur les Politiques publiques et la Mondialisation has released its 8th report on the impact of globalisation on education in Quebec (Analyse des impacts de la mondialisation sur l’éducation au Québec: Rapport 8). It focuses on the attractiveness of Quebec universities as a lever for the knowledge economy (L’attraction des professeurs-chercheurs dans les universités québécoises: un levier pour l’économie du savoir) and examines why and how Quebec higher education institutions attract foreign professors/researchers and the possible ways to retain them.
http://www.leppm.enap.ca/LEPPM/docs/Rapports_education/Rapport_8_education.pdf (in French)
Chile: Funding of Higher Education
On July 30, the Consejo de Rectores de las Universidades Chilenas (CRUCH) expressed its concern about future possible budgetary restrictions in the fields of higher education, science and technology in a public statement on behalf of all CRUCH Member institutions.
http://www.cruch.cl/documentos/DecPub05082009.pdf (in Spanish)
Chile: Duration of Studies
The Sistema Nacional de Información de la Educación Superior (SIES), Ministerio de Educación de Chile has released a study on the real length of degree courses and/or programmes (Informe sobre Duración Real de las Carreras y/o Programmas: Titulados 2007). This study, based on a survey led in 166 Chilean institutions (universities, professional institutes and technical training centres), proposes a comparative statistical analysis of the real length of studies according to criteria such as degree level, fields of study and institution type (public/private).
http://www.divesup.cl/images/archivos/SIES/duracion_carrera/duracion%20de%20la%20carrera_titulados%202007.pdf (in Spanish)
China: Online Registration Portal
The second version of the CHIWEST portal for online higher education registration introduces new functions to better identify programmes and institutions and place students directly in contact with the institution they are interested in. At present, 95 universities have joined the Chiwest online application system.
http://www.edu.cn/Internationaledu_1499/20090709/t20090709_390256.shtml
Colombia: Higher Education Assessment
The Law 1324 passed on July 13 defines the principles and criteria of higher education assessment and modifies the statute of the Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior (ICFES).
http://web.icfes.gov.co/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=320&Itemid=310 (in Spanish)
Colombia: Science and Technology Indicators
For its tenth anniversary, the Observatorio Colombiano de Ciencia y Tecnología (OcyT) has released a new edition of its science and technology indicators (Indicadores de ciencia y tecnología, Colombia 2008) which provides detailed statistical data on investments and new developments in the science and technology sector.
http://www.ocyt.org.co/COLOMBIA2008.pdf (in Spanish)
Finland: Internationalisation
The Centre for International Mobility (CIMO) has published Across the Borders: Internationalisation of Finnish Education. It analyses strategies of internationalisation, the students’ views on internationalisation, and the future of internationalisation.
http://www.cimo.fi/dman/Document.phx/~public/Julkaisut+ja+tilastot/english/across-web.pdf
France: ICT in Higher Education
16 million Euros will be devoted to the Wi-Fi coverage of the campuses and the setting up of the necessary equipment to disseminate podcast courses. The funds will also help to generalise the use of digital tools in universities.
http://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/cid28954/16-millions-d-euros-pour-developper-le-numerique-a-l-universite.html (in French)
France: Student Life
The Observatoire national de la Vie Etudiante in partnership with the Conférence des Présidents d’Université, has published Politiques de Vie étudiante des Universités which studies the way that institutions conceive, implement and evaluate the services offered to students.
http://www.cpu.fr/Actualites.240.0.html?&no_cache=1&actu_id=192 (in French)
Germany: Questions to Political Parties
The Senate of the German Rectors’ Conference has formulated twelve questions for the political parties in the run-up to the Bundestag elections. They concern the continuing development of the higher education sector, possible concepts on the future financing of institutions and cooperation between the Federal Government and the Federal States in the field of higher education policy.
http://www.hrk.de/eng/presse/95_2332.php
India: Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education - Report
India’s Department of Education has released the report of the Committee to Advise on the Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education. It reviews the higher education system by identifying and discussing the challenges to be faced in terms of: Distances and disconnects; Architecture of learning structures; Expansion and access; Governance and autonomy; and the Multiplicity of regulatory systems. The Committee proposed the setting up of a new regulatory framework, the creation of a unique body which would be responsible for conducting reforms and ensuring higher education quality; and a re-structuring of universities.
http://www.education.nic.in/HigherEdu/YPC-Report.pdf
India: Minimum Standards for M.Phil/ Ph.D Degrees - Regulation
The University Grant Commission (UGC) has issued an excerpt of the Gazette of India detailing all aspects of the latest regulations regarding minimum standards and procedure for the award of M.Phil/ Ph.D degrees.
http://www.ugc.ac.in/notices/gazettemphilphd.pdf
Ireland: Students’ Needs and Concerns – Analytical Tool
The Irish Universities Study project has developed a survey system targeting 3rd/4th level students and researchers in Irish universities. It analyses students’ needs and concerns as they progress through the system. The results of the first survey are published in a series of reports: Report on Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Students in Irish Universities; Report on International Students in the Irish Universities, and Report on PhD Students in the Irish Universities.
http://www.iua.ie/iua-activities/studentfeedback.html
Japan: National Guidelines for R&D Evaluation
The Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy has released the English translation of the National Guidelines for Evaluating Government Funded R&D. The document describes the policies applying to research and development-conducting bodies - which include universities – and aims at improving the quality of evaluation and promoting the reform of the evaluation system.
http://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/doc/h20_nationalglfor_eval_gov_funded_rd.pdf
Lithuania: Restructuring of Higher Education and Research
Parliament passed a motion which allows for the restructuring of Lithuania’s higher education and research system. The law seeks to reform collegiate and university educational funding, widen the scope of possible funding sources to include private entities, and redirect national funds to higher-achieving students. It will also ensure social accessibility to higher education, reform institutions’ administrative infrastructures and grant them more autonomy.
http://www.smm.lt/en/news/docs/090430.htm
Mexico: Policies in the Field of Access to Higher Education
The Subsecretario de Educación Superior de la Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) has launched the following three initiatives:
- The common area for technological higher education (Espacio Común de la Educación Superior Tecnológica - ECEST), in June 2009, to improve enrolment numbers, mobility, and access to digital information in this sector;
http://www.sep.gob.mx/wb/sep1/bol1790709 (in Spanish)
- The first national programme in open and distance higher education to increase access to quality higher education programmes at the licenciatura, ingeniero and tecnico levels.
http://www.sep.gob.mx/wb/sep1/bol2010809 (in Spanish)
- New measures to improve gender equity in public higher education institutions.
http://www.ses.sep.gob.mx/wb/ses/03ago09_reunion_univpub (in Spanish)
New Zealand: Future Demand for Tertiary Education
Education Counts has released the report Future demand for tertiary education in New Zealand: 2009 to 2025 and beyond that investigates the demand for tertiary education over the next 16 years and elaborates three scenarios to determine how the evolution of the economy and expected demographic trends could affect participation in tertiary education.
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/46681/Tertiary-demand-FINAL-Updated.pdf
New Zealand: National Degree Registration Process - Consultation
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has launched a consultation to collect feedback on the proposed national degree registration process on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Deadline: September 22, 2009.
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/nationaldegree/process.html
Nicaragua: Research and Postgraduate Policy
The 9th meeting on research and postgraduate studies (IX Encuentro de Investigación y Posgrado) organized by the Consejo Nacional de Universidades (CNU) in July 2009 focused on the current situation and perspectives of development in research and postgraduate policy.
http://www.cnu.edu.ni/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118:novenoencuentro&catid=1:ultimas-noticias&Itemid=27 (in Spanish)
Nigeria: 2&st Century University Education - Conference
The Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) held its annual meeting on 21st Century University Education in Nigeria: Strides, Challenges and Pathways at the University of Ilorin from June 1 to 2 , 2009.
http://www.unilorin.edu.ng/unilorin/index.php/news-and-events/37-latest-news/734-papers-presented-at-the-24th-avcnu-2009-conference
Senegal: African Institute of Mathematical Sciences
An African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) will be created in Dakar as part of the development of the AIMS network in Africa. AIMS promotes the development of science in Africa by offering pre-doctorate courses to selected African students.
http://www.lesoleil.sn/imprimer.php3?id_article=46150 (in French)
http://rivasseau.fr/BrochureAIMS-Senegal.pdf (in French)
South Africa: Higher Education and Training System – Minister’s Speech
The newly-appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training gave a lecture on The Post-School Education and Training Systems: Some Issues of Policy on July 23, 2009 in which he explained his views about an integrated higher education and vocational training system.
http://www.education.gov.za/dynamic/dynamic.aspx?pageid=306&id=8764
South Africa: Access to Higher Education - Publication
The Center for Higher Education Transformation (CHET) has released Responding to the Educational Needs of Post-School Youth that analyses the post-school provision of higher education in South Africa.
http://chet.org.za/papers/responding-educational-needs-post-school-youth
South Africa: Technology Innovation Agency – New Institution
The Minister of Science and Technology has announced the appointment of the Board of the new Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). TIA aims at moving the country towards a knowledge-based economy.
http://www.southafrica.info/business/trends/innovations/tia-100709.htm
Spain: Higher Education Policy
The Minister of Education presented the Social and Political Pact for Education proposal to the Council of Universities in July. The Council also studied the creation of a University Grants Observatory and help for unemployed graduates who wish to obtain an official master degree.
http://www.educacion.es/horizontales/prensa/notas/2009/07/consejo-universidades.html (in Spanish)
Spain: Internationalisation of Higher Education
The Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo in partnership with the ANECA organised a conference on The internationalisation of universities: The contribution of evaluation in Spain in July. It analysed such topics as Internationalisation of evaluation practices in Europe, the global dimension of evaluation, the internationalisation of higher education in Spain through the Bologna Process.
http://www.aneca.es/salaprensa/noticias/2008-2009/noticia_090706_uimp09.aspx (in Spanish)
Switzerland: Inequalities in Higher Education
The Cahiers de l’Observatoire has published a document on inequalities in higher education in Europe (Mesurer les inégalités dans l’enseignement supérieur en Europe). It enumerates and compares different sources of indicators going from the international to the national (Switzerland, France, Germany) level for three topics: access to tertiary education, achievement in tertiary education, and integration of graduates in the labour market, according to two types of inequalities: personal characteristics and identity (gender, age, and social origin); and institutional ones (main area of study, type of university, etc).
http://www.unil.ch/webdav/site/osps/shared/20_CahiersOSPS_v5-pdf.pdf (in French)
Tanzania: Research Funding
More money is allocated to research in the 2009-2010 budget of Tanzania. Five priorities were set: training researchers and scientist; improving research infrastructures; facilitating the use of research findings; directing research towards the MDGs; and evaluating science performance.
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200908171041.html
United Kingdom: Doctoral Education and the Economy
Universities UK has published Promoting the UK doctorate: opportunities and challenges which highlights how doctoral level studies could provide the skills needed to drive the economy in a post-recession environment. It also identifies the challenges to the development of postgraduate research education.
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Newsroom/Media-Releases/Pages/UUKDoctorateReport.aspx
United Kingdom: Employment Destinations of Doctoral Graduates
What do researchers do? First destination of doctoral graduates by subject analyses the first employment destinations of doctoral graduates from 2003 to 2007. It provides information on the size, demographics and destinations of doctoral graduates by subject and studies employment rates, sectors and occupations.
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/upload/Vitae-WDRD-by-subject-Jun-09.pdf
United Kingdom: Higher Education Partnerships
Higher Education and Collaboration in Global Context: Building a Global Civil Society provides an account of the origins and purpose of the UK/US Study Group that produced it; assesses the history of UK/US higher education partnership, its strengths and weaknesses, and current context; and foresees developments with which the partnership should engage.
http://www.international.ac.uk/resources/Final%20Report.pdf
United States of America: Higher Education Accreditation
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) of the U.S. Department of Education published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register on 6 August 2009. The proposed regulations on Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, and the Secretary’s Recognition of Accrediting Agencies; Proposed Rules include more than 25 new obligations related to higher education. Deadline for comments: September 8, 2009
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2009-3/080609a.pdf
United States of America: State Higher Education Accountability System
The Education Sector report entitled Ready to Assemble: Grading State Higher Education Accountability Systems marks individual States according to a grading scale made up of 21 categories and rates the effectiveness of every State higher education accountability system.
http://www.educationsector.org/research/research_show.htm?doc_id=934393
United States of America: Mergers
The July 2009 Higher Education Policy Brief on College and University Mergers: Recent Trends, released by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), analyses current trends in mergers and their increasing complexity due to the involvement of all institution types, from state to private for-profit institutions.
http://www.aascu.org/policy/policy_matters/pdf/09julypm.pdf
United States of America: Risk Management at Universities
The report on The State of Enterprise Risk Management at Colleges and Universities Today, released by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and United Educators, presents the key findings of a survey on attitudes, practices and policies regarding enterprise risk management among American colleges and universities.
http://www.agb.org/user-assets/documents/AGBUE_FINAL.pdf
United States of America: State Budgeting for Higher Education
The State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) released a report entitled State Budgeting for Higher Education in the United States (As Reported for Fiscal Year 2007) in June 2009. It analyses the results of a survey - based on the responses from 43 States - on higher education budgeting processes and practices in the U.S. States.
http://www.sheeo.org/finance/Budgeting_For_Higher_Ed.pdf
United States of America: Global Policy Fellows Program - New Publications
The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) has released the final report on Global Policy Fellows Program: Lessons Learned. It summarizes the experiences of 16 participants of IHEP’s Global Policy Fellows Program representing developed and developing countries (Brazil, Mongolia, the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine and USA). The report also provides recommendations for future collaboration.
http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/g-l/(Report)_Global_Policy_Fellows_Program-Lessons_Learned.pdf
The June 2009 Issue Brief on Financing Higher Education: A Myriad of Problems, A Myriad of Solutions analyses the higher education current financial policies contexts in the United States, Mongolia, South Africa, and Ukraine and proposes recommendations.
http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/a-f/(Issue_Brief2)_Financing_Higher_Education-A_Myriad_of_Problems__A_Myriad_of_Solutions.pdf
Venezuela: New Bill on Education
The Comisión Permanente de Educación, Cultura, Deportes y Recreación of Venezuela approved a bill on education (Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de Educación) in July 2009. It broaches all aspects of education, including higher education.
http://www.mes.gov.ve/mes/documentos/boletin/pdf07-08-2009_11:23:33.pdf (in Spanish)
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