Higher Edge: Institutions: Publications: Not-So-Foreign©, Volume 7, Issue 10

Not-So-Foreign^©
A Bulletin for International Education Professionals
Volume 7, Issue 10; March 12, 2008

The PDF version of this week's issue can be found here.

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – U.K. varsities focus on postgraduate students
2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - "Malaysia Education" brand finds many takers
3) OVER THE COUNTER - Kenya: College accreditation scam unearthed
4) GLOBE TIPPING – Indian airports strike

1) THE PLAYING FIELD – U.K. varsities focus on postgraduate students

Competition for graduate students is intensifying as all Western nations report shortage of high end researchers. The United Kingdom is taking aim at the best and the brightest minds.

British universities are keen on attracting more postgraduate students to their campuses. Universities such as Oxford University and Durham University are investing in substantial bursaries and studentships for postgraduate students. Last year, Oxford University recruited more postgraduate than undergraduate students. In October this year, the university will open a new graduate college with room for 500 students as part of its strategy to lure postgraduate applicants. Durham University too saw a 50% increase in its postgraduate intake this year compared to 2006-07.

"There is a sector-wide move towards growing postgraduate studies. This is a very important trend because there are underlying structural issues that need to be addressed, such as affordability for graduate students, international competition for the best students and the importance of postgraduate work as a form of academic apprenticeship," says Dr Colin Bundy, warden of Green College and a former director of the School of Oriental and African Studies, who will be principal of Oxford's new Green Templeton College for graduate students.

Source: "Wanted: academics of the future,"
The Guardian, March 11, 2008

2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - "Malaysia Education" brand finds many takers

Malaysia's efforts to market higher education to foreign students seems is paying off. The country has registered an increase of more than 30 per cent in the number of foreign students in peninsular Malaysia. If this upward trend continues, Malaysia may soon become a regional hub of educational excellence.

A total of 65,000 foreign students enrolled in international schools and both private and public institutions of higher education last year, compared with 48,000 in 2006. Quoting figures released by the Immigration Department, Higher Education Ministry Marketing and International Education Division director Dr Mohamed Nasser Mohamed Noor said the increase could be attributed to the ministry's developing the "Malaysia Education" brand abroad.

Source: "Branding Malaysia,"
The Star, March 9, 2008

3) OVER THE COUNTER - Kenya: College accreditation scam unearthed

Kenya's Commission for Higher Education (CHE) has revealed to Business Daily newspaper that only 18 out of 60 colleges, which have applied for accreditation to collaborate with either local or foreign universities over two years, have been accredited by the government. Self-sponsored students, guardians and parents in Kenya could be losing millions of shillings in fees and other charges in the belief that they would get certificates from colleges purporting to be offering degrees on behalf of foreign universities.

The CHE plans to publish a list of all accredited colleges operating in Kenya by the end of this month, exposing all bogus institutions.

Source: "Kenya: College Accreditation Scam Unearthed,"
Business Daily, March 9, 2008

4) GLOBE TIPPING - Indian airports strike

Passengers at airports across India could face delays from this week as thousands of airport employees plan to go ahead with an indefinite strike after talks with the government broke down. The strike will affect 127 airports across the country run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The workers are demanding that the government continue to run old airports in places where new ones are being built.

Modern new airports, badly needed in India, are currently being built and will open under privatized management - threatening jobs for tens of thousands of employees previously employed as public servants.