Have Elite Universities Become Too Student-Centered?
An article in Forbes, entitled “The Reckoning with Campus Culture After Hamas,” articulates an argument that is being voiced, in hushed tones, by many administrators at elite colleges and universities: that these institutions have been too tolerant and too accepting of the actions and priorities of student activists that are at odds with these schools’ core purposes and values.
Yet there is a sense that something changed over the past decade at the nation’s most selective and well-resourced institutions, which goes beyond speakers being shouted down or vocal demands for divestment from companies engaged in fossil fuel production or doing business with Israel. These campuses, many fear, are becoming more fragmented and fractured, more politicized and polarized, more activist and less academic and accepting—and less open-minded and forbearing.
To learn more: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/11/03/have-elite-universities-become-too-student-centered
Biden’s AI executive order underlines need for student technology councils
At long last, the US is getting back into the AI regulation game. The new AI Executive Order, unveiled on 30 October, shows that policymakers are taking seriously the many risks that AI systems can pose, from wrongful arrests to biased fraud detection and large-scale misinformation.
Importantly, the order highlights the need to support educators deploying AI tools in the classroom. Absent, however, are key constituents in education: students.
Young people have always been early adopters of technology, and the arrival of generative AI (such as ChatGPT) has shown that students often hold the knowledge and lived experience that decision-makers lack but which is crucial for deploying technology to its maximum potential.
To learn more: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/bidens-ai-executive-order-underlines-need-student-technology-councils
NTU Singapore offers new SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree Programme in Computing
From August 2024, working professionals looking to pivot to the information and communication technology (ICT) sector or deepen their skills in this area can enrol in a new part-time SkillsFuture Work-Study Degree Programme in Computing at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).
This Work-Study Degree Programme is the first in Singapore to be offered on a part-time basis. NTU Singapore’s School of Computer Science and Engineering co-developed the new program with industry leaders in the ICT sector. Accenture, Singtel subsidiary NCS and ST Engineering are the first industry partners to come on board to help design and develop the program.
To learn more: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1006887
Singapore to be an ‘end-to-end’ manufacturing hub for healthcare solutions – EDB
A new partnership between Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will see JLABS, J&J’s incubator arm, help early-stage biotech startups with a base in Singapore to build up talent development and commercialization capacities.
Notably, JLABS works on a “no strings attached” model, which means that it does not take shareholdings in the companies it supports. It has a wealth of experience in larger markets such as the US and Europe.
Of the eight companies first to receive JLABS’ support, five are Singapore-based, with the remaining coming from the United Kingdom, China, and Korea.
To learn more: https://govinsider.asia/intl-en/article/singapore-to-be-an-end-to-end-manufacturing-hub-for-healthcare-solutions-edb
OSU students awarded $10k in scholarships during annual Pitch and Poster competition
The Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship recently hosted its annual Pitch and Poster competition on the main Oklahoma State University campus and presented students with $10,000 in total scholarships.
Pitch and Poster competitions are open to any and all students at OSU regardless of major or classification, and provide those students an opportunity to receive constructive feedback on new business ideas or products and win scholarships.
The competition is broken down into three categories: social enterprise, big city/high tech business and main street lifestyle business. The top three finalists are chosen in each category, as well as an overall competition winner and a people’s choice award winner.
This month, 200,000 high school seniors will get automatic college acceptance letters — before even applying
This month, more than 200,000 first-generation American and low- and middle-income high school seniors will receive something unexpected: proactive college acceptance letters.
As part of a strategy aimed at expanding college access, roughly 1 in 8 first-year students with a Common App account will get at least one offer of admission before they even apply.
From Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles to the New York Institute of Technology, 70 colleges in 28 states are participating in the Common App’s newly launched direct admissions program, which has the widest reach in the country.
To learn more: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/02/200000-students-accepted-to-college-under-direct-admissions-program.html
Common App expands direct admissions, including partnering with Connecticut
The Common Application said Thursday it is broadening its work in direct admissions, the burgeoning practice of proactively admitting students to a college before they even apply.
The organization unveiled two programs. In the first, the Common App will help with Connecticut’s existing direct admissions initiative that automatically admits students to one of nine participating public and private colleges in the state. The second is more generalized — the Common App will work with 70 other U.S. colleges to send automatic admission offers this month to some 200,000 students.
Common App representatives said Thursday the ventures are part of its goals to improve college access and close equity gaps for low- and moderate-income students.
To learn more: https://www.highereddive.com/news/common-app-expands-direct-admissions-including-partnering-with-connecticut/698644/
Hong Kong aiming for more overseas students with increased quotas and work rights
The government of Hong Kong has announced ambitions to become an international hub for post-secondary education with measures including an increased quota for international undergraduates at public universities, more scholarships and work rights for postgraduate students.
In the 2023 annual policy address, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John KC Lee, said, “We will develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education. This would bring benefits to our local students and help widen their international perspectives. This would also inject professional vibrancy and growth impetus to our post-secondary education, enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international city and taking our post-secondary education to a higher level.”
To learn more: https://studytravel.network/magazine/news/0/30201
India and UAE pen MoU to foster education connect between two countries
Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Education Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi in Abu Dhabi.
The Ministers signed an MoU to strengthen existing educational cooperation facilitating student and faculty mobility and various other initiatives. The MoU aims to strengthen the existing cooperation in the field of educational institutions in both countries, by facilitating student and faculty mobility, joint research programs, designing courses, organizing and participation in conferences, lectures, symposia, courses, scientific and educational exhibitions in areas of mutual interest held in both countries.
To learn more: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-and-uae-pen-mou-to-foster-education-connect-between-two-countries/article67485311.ece
Carnegie Is Changing How It Classifies R1 Institutions. Will Your University Make the Cut?
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is making changes to its most closely watched college labels.
The American Council on Education, which helps manage the classifications, is making several revisions, effective in 2025. The one that will capture the most attention is its drastic simplification of the criteria that determine what caliber of research university an institution is. Carnegie Classification analysts have long used a complex formula, involving 10 factors and calculations that compare universities, to decide which ones will get the coveted “doctoral universities — very high research activity,” or “R1,” label. Now, just two factors distinguish that designation from the R2 level (“high research activity”): how much money an institution spends on research, and how many doctorates it awards in a year.
To learn more: https://www.chronicle.com/article/carnegie-is-changing-how-it-classifies-r1-institutions-will-your-university-make-the-cut
Canada will require colleges and universities to verify international admissions offers
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced Canadian colleges and universities will be required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC as of 1 December 2023
In fall 2024, a new framework will reward institutions “recognised” for providing excellent services and outcomes to international students with priority visa processing.
The government will also be reviewing the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program in the coming months to ensure it aligns with the needs of the Canadian labour market.
To learn more: https://monitor.icef.com/2023/11/canada-will-require-colleges-and-universities-to-verify-international-admissions-offers/
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