The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 12 June 2013.
Asia: QS University Rankings: Asia out now!
The 2013 QS University Rankings: Asia – a ranking of the top 300 universities in Asia – was released yesterday. This year’s ranking sees the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) retain the top spot, while the National University of Singapore (NUS) moves up one place to share second position with the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Just 22 years old, HKUST also tops the QS Top 50 Under 50 – the world’s highest-ranking universities under 50 years old – which was also released this week.
See the full 2013 QS University Rankings: Asia >
France: More French students choosing to study in the US, despite costs
In the past seven years, the number of French students in the US has increased by almost 17%, reports International Business Times. The US is now the second most popular destination for French students, after the UK, which welcomes about 13,000 French students each year. This seems in part driven by high levels of unemployment among young people in France, motivating students to seek a place at a top US university in order to stand out in the jobs market. However, costs are a major challenge – in France, tuition fees range from about $220 to $460 per year; at an elite US university like Columbia, fees are $48,000 per year.
US: Students prefer real classrooms to online courses
In a recent national survey of US students, 78% said they believed it was easier to learn in a traditional classroom, rather than through an online course, USA Today reports. Just over half (53%) said they believed online courses were just as reputable as traditional ones. Opinion among academics and university leaders has been similarly divided, with a growing number of US universities offering online options, while many staff members voice concerns about the importance of preserving face-to-face interaction.
UK: Plan for 15,000 UK students to study in China by 2016
The British Council is leading a campaign to get 15,000 UK students studying in China by 2016 (compared to 3,500 in 2011), The Telegraph reports. The campaign, called Generation UK, will include a scholarship program, and will help students find places in China for one-year university courses and internships. Over two years, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will invest £400,000 in the scheme, and the British Council £250,000 (a total of about US$1 million). UK minister for universities David Willetts said increasing the number of UK students who study abroad would be “hugely beneficial” for both individuals and the UK economy.