The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 28 May 2013.
Latin America: New QS University Rankings out now!
This year’s QS University Rankings: Latin America was released earlier today, highlighting the region’s top 300 universities. Once again Brazil dominates, with the Universidade de São Paulo retaining the top spot, and an additional 80 Brazilian universities included in the top 300. A total of 19 Latin American nations are represented, with 50 places claimed by Mexico, 42 by Colombia and 30 each by Argentina and Chile.
Read more about the Latin American ranking >
Germany: Recruiting engineering graduates from abroad
The Association of German Engineers is looking beyond national borders in its quest to fill gaps in the country’s engineering sector, The New York Times reports. Already, Germany has recruited thousands of engineering graduates from other European countries where unemployment is high, particularly Spain. However, there are concerns that Germany still faces shortages in these professions; the Cologne Institute for Economic Research has estimated a shortage of 210,000 graduates in MINT subjects (mathematics, engineering, science and IT).
Asia: Growth in short business courses aimed at women
A growing number of Asian universities are offering short courses in business leadership aimed specifically at women, The New York Times reports. The University of Hong Kong, for example, has recently launched its Women’s Directorship Program, while the National University of Singapore will run its first Women in Leadership program later this year. Similar initiatives are under way in China, India and South Korea. According to McKinsey, less than 6% of boardroom seats in Asia are occupied by women – an even lower rate of representation than in other regions; the figure is 17% in Europe and 15% in the US.
US: Ben Affleck awarded honorary degree from Brown University
Actor Ben Affleck has been awarded an honorary doctor of fine arts degree by Ivy League college Brown University, The Telegraph reports. Affleck has already had an award-winning year, thanks to the success of Argo, which he directed, produced and starred in. In his speech, Affleck joked about outranking fellow actor and long-time friend Matt Damon, who was awarded the 2013 Harvard Arts Medal last month.