The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 28 June 2013.
US: Georgia State philosophy course sets 20% target for female philosophers
Graduate students teaching introductory philosophy courses at Georgia State University are to experiment with a syllabus in which at least 20% of philosophers studied are women. This is at least twice the percentage typical of most philosophy courses currently taught at the university, Inside Higher Ed reports. The initiative has been driven by research into students’ experience of philosophy, which found that female students were less likely to say the course was enjoyable, interesting and relevant – and that female students were more likely to stop studying philosophy.
Canada: Independent committee should oversee Quebec’s universities, report says
A new report on the future of Quebec’s universities calls for the reinstatement of a Conseil national des universités (CNU) – an independent committee appointed by the government to oversee the province’s 18 universities. A similar committee did previously exist, until 1993. At February’s summit on higher education, there was widespread agreement among university stakeholders – including students – that it should be brought back. The report, written by former UQAM rector Claude Corbo, is being submitted to the government, The Gazette reports.
UK: Welsh graduates earn less than English, Scottish, Northern Irish
Figures from the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that graduates of universities in Wales typically earn less than those of universities in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The mean salaries of recent graduates were found to be £19,500 in Wales, £20,000 in Northern Ireland, £22,000 in England and £22,000 in Scotland, Wales Online reports. Graduates of Welsh universities were also least likely to be employed in roles classed as ‘professional’.
Japan: Introducing ‘Abeducation’ – a new strategy for internationalization
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unveiled his government’s new plan for the internationalization of Japan’s higher education system, University World News reports. Dubbed ‘abeducation’ (along the same lines as ‘abeconomics’), the plan includes reforms for university governance, expansion of online study programs, and greater collaboration between academia and industry. Prime Minister Abe says he aims to get at least 10 Japanese universities ranked within the world’s top 100.