Higher Edge: Institutions: Publications: Overseas, Overwhelmed©, Volume 8, Issue 25

Overseas, Overwhelmed^©
A Bulletin for International Education Professionals
Volume 8, Issue 25; July 16, 2009

1) LET’S GO CANADA – Canadian universities fight back against cheaters
2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - All eyes on Ghana
3) OVER THE COUNTER - Growing numbers of Chinese students travel to U.S..
4) GLOBE TIPPING – Green means “GO”

1) LET'S GO CANADA – Canadian universities fight back against cheaters

It’s not just reading material for some students, "Crime and Punishment" is a reality for every student who is caught cheating at British Columbia's Simon Fraser University (SFU).

Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby (just outside Vancouver) has now introduced a new grade, an FD - Failed for Academic Dishonesty.

Although SFU takes a softer approach to cheating than expulsion, measures implemented such as the FD act as a deterrent to new and repeat offenders. The FD stays on the student's records for two years and can affect a student's effort to find work after graduation.

Nearby in Vancouver, the University of British Columbia also employs expulsion as a last resort; however suspension for cheating is still common. Suspensions typically last eight to ten months; long enough to disrupt a student's academic year.

It appears the countermeasures are working as cheating is down and the cases of internet plagiarizing are less common with the development of computer software to screen internet materials.

Source: “Cheaters busted as B.C. universities find ways to outwit students” The Vancouver Sun, 15 July 2009.

2) ABROAD PERSPECTIVE - All eyes on Ghana

U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana has drawn international attention to the African State, a country rapidly emerging as a forerunner in democratic and economic stability in Africa.

The authorities at the Kwame Nkurumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are furthering this cause by encouraging collaborations amongst African Universities in areas of common interests that will benefit the continent as a whole.

The first such partnership has been struck between KNUST and the Ministry of Higher Education of Burundi, overseen by Dr Ir Saidi Kibeya, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Burundi, on his recent visit to Ghana.

It remains to be seen the implications of further such collaborations on the numbers of African students opting to leave the continent in search of further education.

Source: “Universities in Africa should collaborate - Minister,” Modern Ghana, 14 July 2009.

3) OVER THE COUNTER –Growing numbers of Chinese students travel to U.S.

The word on Chinese students going abroad had been "down". The struggling global economy and China's attempts to attract its own to stay home, had been the reality and perception.

Apparently, Chinese students themselves are choosing, increasingly, to pursue their undergraduate studies in the U.S.., with many remaining there after completing their programs.

The total number of Chinese students traveling abroad to study increased from 144,000 in 2007 to 170,000 last year with the figures expected to top 200,000 this year. The U.S. is the most popular destination.

A key factor is China's quicker economic bounce back and its currency's increasing strength against the U.S. dollar. Of course China still has a dearth of places for the demand for quality education at home. The fact remains that many students who can afford it - must leave - if they want quality education.

U.S. universities are beginning to notice the trend and capitalize on it, with the University of San Francisco planning to set up a recruitment office in China in August.

Source: “College abroad becoming a bargain,” China Daily, 13 July 2009.

Source: “Chinese-student patriotism in U.S..,” The Daily Texan, 13 July 2009.

4) GLOBE TIPPING - Green means “GO”

The buzzword on every seasoned traveller's lips is "eco-tourism". In practice, however, being a green tourist is a minefield that needs careful navigation if we don't want to tramp unsightly carbon footprints everywhere we go.

Trekking through the rainforests or rafting down the Nile may be environmentally friendly ways to see the sights but do not actually count as eco-tourism unless there is some direct benefit for the environment and/or local people.

In order to travel green, whether as a student, tourist or business traveler, it is important to do your research first. Links to websites such as http://www.untamedpath.com/Ecotourism/what_is_ecotourism.html help you define what sort of tourist you are (or wish to be) whilst for business travelers, numerous tips abound on how to remain green while making some green.

http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-travel-101/green-business-travel-12-tips-and-tricks/