Universities agree PhD reform principles

By Brendan O’Malley and Cayley Dobie, University World News

Higher education institutions must develop a critical mass and diversity of research to offer high-quality doctoral education. University structures dedicated to doctoral education should be developing ways that strengthen the research environment rather than simply creating more taught courses for doctoral candidates, the European Association of Universities (EUA) has warned this week (42).

Internationalisation should be used as a tool to enhance the quality of doctoral education and develop institutional research capacity, the EUA also urged. This can be achieved through collaborative doctoral programmes, international joint doctoral programmes, or joint integrated curricula, joint committees and juries and joint degrees, but mobility should be an integrated part of the candidate’s research project.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

Success in doctoral education

EUA-CDE prepares new recommendations on reform – Five years after the Salzburg Principles were launched as the foundation for the reform of doctoral education in Europe, the EUA Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE) has been gathering information about the experiences of Europe’s universities in establishing doctoral schools and structured programmes.
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Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

Internationalisation of higher education: past, present, future

A global survey by the International Association of Universities (IAU) has concluded that future developments and reforms of higher education will give a central place to the internationalisation process, write its co-authors EVA EGRON-POLAK and ROSS HUDSON. But the global economic crisis will most likely slow down – or impose some limits on – certain internationalisation activities.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

ASIA’s Universities’ rise beginning to eclipse US

By Yojana Sharma, University World News.
Asia’s higher education institutions are emerging from the shadow of top universities in the US, Britain and continental Europe and may be on the way to overtaking them, a close analysis of major international rankings tables has shown.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

International business schools and the search for quality

From EFMD’s Global Focus Magazine – “Credit where it´s due” – Gordon Shenton provides a guide to the AACSB and EQUIS accreditation systems and their similarities and differences.

This article (published by Emerald) looks at quality in business schools from a range of viewpoints. It explores what is meant by quality and its related terms: quality assurance, quality enhancement and quality management, and looks at approaches to quality in higher education institutions, including accreditation…

Check: EFMD – AACSB

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

European Commission sets out its priorities for 2011

The European Commission has published its 2011 annual work programme, the document in which the European executive’s priorities are set by policy area.

For higher education, planned initiatives include the revision of the so-called Modernisation Agenda.

A communication on this topic should be released next autumn. The document should help take stock of the progress achieved in the past five years and highlight new challenges and examples of best practice. Other initiatives in the field will include a communication on a New Competences Initiative (for vocational training, adult learning and higher education), looking especially at assessment and validation questions and the development of a common language on competences between the worlds of education/training and of work.

The Commission also plans to act for the promotion and validation of informal and non-formal learning.

In terms of research, the Commission’s work will include Communications on issues such as partnerships in research and innovation and access to scientific information.

Check: http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/programmes/docs/cwp2011_annex_en.pdf

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

Drive to boost study abroad for Danish students

By Jan Petter Myklebust, University World News
The Danish Ministry for Science, Technology and Education has launched a campaign to substantially increase the number of Danish students studying abroad. Charlotte Sahl-Madsen, Minister for Science, Technology and Development, said she wants studying abroad to become the rule rather than the exception.

Check: Full report on the University World News site

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

EUA Annual Conference: University leaders map paths for future success

Following a decade of change and multiple reforms in European higher education, research and governance and, more recently, sharp cuts in public funding, universities across Europe are responding by developing and “sharpening” their own distinctive university profiles.

This was one of the clear messages from the EUA Annual conference on how institutions are reacting to the profound changes that have been taking place in higher education across Europe, and which have been driven also by the continuing ‘massification’ of higher education and demographic change.

During the three-day event, university leaders focused on the challenges they need to overcome in order to consolidate their mission/profile through tailored research strategies, clear staff profiles and increased student diversity, and highlighted examples of good practice in each of these areas. Specific solutions include looking to diversify funding sources (to complement public funding), developing and sustaining effective research partnerships with a wide range of partners and providing incentives and development opportunities for staff.

Universities are also looking to develop ‘multicultural learning environments’ and developing ways to respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse student population.

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Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

Too many graduates for too few jobs in Korea

Well-educated graduates are struggling to find decent jobs amid concerns of a mismatch between industry and academia, reports Korea’s JoongAng Daily. According to an OECD report this month, Korea has one of the lowest employment rates for college-educated people out of its 33 member countries, with only 77.1% of college graduates in 2008 gaining employment. Korea was the second lowest after Turkey

Check: More on the University World News site

Check: Below IMD-findings and comments

Povl Tiedemann

November 2010

Education: is it enough? – questioned by the IMD World Competitiveness Center

By Stephane Garelli, IMD World Competitiveness Center:
In the aftermath of the recession, the link between employment, competitiveness and education has resurfaced. Several countries, such as the US, the UK, Germany, Austria, France, etc. have embarked on deep reforms of their educational systems. Obviously, the more that people are educated the less chance that they’ll find themselves on the dole. But is this true?

It probably is for an older workforce. But the issue today is the younger generation, which is finding it tough to get a job. The youth unemployment rate has reached a staggering 20.7 % in Europe and 18.5% in the US. It is more than 42% in Spain! Just as disquieting, the average for the OECD countries shows that 23 % of graduates aged 25 to 29 are working beneath their skill level – more than 40% of them in Spain and Ireland! Thus, the criterion of the month assesses if the educational system is meeting the needs of a competitive economy.

Check: Image to view pdf

It is interesting to note Korea on position 31 – despite the fact that it is well known that this country is extremely active when it comes to education.

Compared with the classic European top-end nations with Denmark on position 8, it could be relevant to analyze the challenges of the Korean efforts, which by the end of the day are less prepared for meeting the needs of a competitive economy.

Is the key to be found in the difference between the occidental Humboldt / Grundtvig versus the oriental classic traditions?

Povl Tiedemann

October 2010