After the global financial crisis, confidence levels in the United States and other Western economies plunged. Western hostility towards China’s economic and political power is rising, based on a lot of unanswered questions. A Tsinghua University professor writes from China’s perspective.

There are various concerns about China: Will China become another Japan? Is China working on social stability while achieving economic development? Will there be a Chinese Arab Spring? Will China dominate the world?

Only when China dispels these doubts and convinces the West that the 21st century will belong to China as much as any other country that works collaboratively for a stable global economy, will China develop a new pattern of modernisation and evolve into a powerful player on the world stage.

Check:

http://knowledge.insead.edu/INSEAD-knowledge-how-China-is-managing-western-hostility-120117.cfm?utm_source=INSEAD+List&utm_campaign=0dd2484b26-Knowledge_2012_January_Newsletter1_19_2012&utm_medium=email

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

The recession and the monetary turmoil of the past months have delayed the convergence of the world economy. More global and more unified before the crisis, the world’s economies are now increasingly desynchronized. Some nations are experiencing overheating (China, Turkey, Argentina) others recession (Greece, Portugal). Some are combating inflation (India, Russia) others deflation (Japan, Switzerland). Some are enjoying a trade surplus (Germany) while others are struggling with trade deficits (Spain, Italy), and so forth. The world economy is fragmenting and the fragments are moving in different directions at varying speeds.

To face up to this challenge, businesses need to develop the ability to manage multiple business models in parallel. No single strategy fits all or can cope with the ever increasing diversity of local economic situations. Flexibility and diversity are the names of the game. Competitive countries will thrive by diversifying their economy.

The criterion of the month shows which nations have succeeded in spreading risk in such a fragmented world competitiveness landscape.

Check:

http://www.imd.org/uupload/dm/files/WCC/Criterion_Jan12.pdf?MRK_CMPG_SOURCE=wcc_1512001&utm_source=DM&utm_medium=em&utm_campaign=WCC_12_DME_1512001

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

The American model of higher education is being used for Europe, says ATLE NYHAGEN. But policy-makers are paying little attention to the different historical paths the two regions have followed and application of the US model threatens to undermine the central values of most of the nation states of Europe.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

We are in an era of flourishing international partnerships, say SUSAN BUCK SUTTON and DANIEL OBST. Yes, there may be challenges, but such partnerships enhance and even transform the institutions that engage in them.

“This is a dynamic moment for international academic partnerships, a time of renewed vitality and broadened scope. For many colleges and universities, such partnerships are no longer simply one tactic of internationalisation among many, but rather a core, driving philosophy.

Institutions are rethinking their reasons for pursuing international partnerships and the processes by which they form them. The result is a fascinating, constantly changing landscape of new partnership forms, policies and procedures.”

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

Will the success of university reforms in Scandinavia depend on how thoroughly university presidents adopt the role of fundraiser, like their   counterparts in the United States?

University reforms in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have made mergers of institutions an instrument for greater autonomy, and   diversification of the resource base by attracting more private funding has been encouraged to underpin reform strategies.

Check:

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20120108085803443

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

European Commission proposes significant amendments to the Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.

Directive 2005/36/EC, which regulates the recognition of professional qualifications in the EU’s internal market, is currently under review. The lengthy consultation process has ended and the Commission has published draft legislation in the form of detailed amendments to the existing text.

It has three particular policy objectives in mind:

• to increase cross-border professional mobility in sectors where demographic change puts pressure on existing labour supply, notably healthcare;
• to combat professional protectionism;
• to raise the level of cross-border service provision.

The Commission regards its re-launch of the Single Market as a key precondition of economic recovery. The revision of the Directive thus has high priority.

Many of the proposals are relevant to higher education institutions and rectors’ conferences, as well as to policy makers and quality assurance agencies.

In particular, they concern the agreed minimum training specifications in medicine, general care nursing, dentistry, veterinary surgery, midwifery, pharmacy and architecture, as well as the apparatus and procedures which allow Member States to assess qualifications in other fields where recognition is not automatic. For the first time, they envisage the use of ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

EUA has long maintained that the Directive is insufficiently compatible with the Bologna Process and with the structural features of the European Higher Education Area. The Commission’s proposals open the door to significant re-alignment. The details are complex and a full factual briefing note is available on the EUA.

Check the EUA website for further info.

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

Check:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/mitx-education-initiative-1219.html

Povl Tiedemann

January 2012

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4.300 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

At least one in five higher education students should spend three months studying or training abroad by 2020, European Union member governments have agreed. Education ministers from the 27 member states last month adopted conclusions on the modernisation of higher education with a special emphasis on mobility.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

December 2011

Universities and colleges are increasingly looking beyond their own campuses to keep pace with a rapidly globalizing world, according to a new study from the Institute for International Education. More and more institutions are launching joint and dual degree programmes in an effort to internationalize their campuses, increase global visibility and foster greater collaboration with partner institutions.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

December 2011