The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 3 May 2013.
Europe: Finalists of Academic Enterprise Awards selected
The shortlist of this year’s Academic Enterprise Awards features teams from universities in Denmark, Switzerland, France, Norway and the UK, Science Business reports. The annual award recognizes European academics who have been successful in creating spin-out ventures based on their research. For the first time France has two shortlisted entries, Switzerland and the UK also have two finalists each, while Denmark and Norway have one apiece. The final four winners will be announced in June.
Hong Kong: Tuition fees increase for non-local students
Tuition fees for non-local students at Hong Kong’s public universities have increased by up to 20% this year, South China Morning Post reports. For example, the University of Hong Kong is now charging non-local undergraduate students HK$135,000 (about US$17,000) per year, an increase of HK$16,000. The increase has been partly attributed to inflation rates. Of the 10,000 non-local students at Hong Kong’s eight public universities, a majority come from mainland China. Fees for local students are being kept the same.
India: Government plans to introduce test similar to SAT
As part of ongoing strategies to attract more international students, India is planning to introduce a new university-level admissions test, similar to the US’s SAT (Scholastic Admissions Test). The proposed test will be used for admissions to the country’s technical institutes, overseen by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), DNA reports. The AICTE also says it intends to reduce tuition fees for foreign students, which are currently about five times the amount paid by local students.
Denmark: Research on effect of increased teaching in English
A group of Nordic researchers will today present the results of their research on the challenges raised by the increased amount of teaching in English at Danish universities, The Copenhagen Post reports. While the group found that most students adapt quickly to being taught in English, they also report that this tends to make students less willing to participate during lessons. Their report will include recommendations for Danish universities on how to continue developing their English-taught programs, while adequately supporting students.
New Zealand: International students at lowest number in 10 years
The number of international students at universities and language schools in New Zealand is at its lowest point in a decade, News Talk ZB reports. Possible causes for the decrease include the Canterbury earthquakes, tuition fee increases and a high New Zealand dollar. Overall international enrolments fell by 6% last year. Canterbury has been especially affected, with foreign students falling by almost a third.