NEWS Updates


EUROPE: ERC supports the EU 2020 strategy
Jan Petter Myklebust
The scientific council of the European Research Council has put a submission to the European Commission’s 2020 strategic planning regarding the Framework 8 research programme 2014-2020. The document is well-argued and simply-presented, recommending specialisation and concentration of research between the commission and member states.
NEWS: Our correspondents worldwide report

GLOBAL: Education under increasing attack
Around the world, schools and universities have faced brutal military and political attacks in an increasing number of countries over the past three years, according to a new report published by Unesco. The report, Education under Attack 2010, was written by University World News correspondent Brendan O’Malley and he says the sheer volume of incidents demonstrates that attacks on education are “by no means limited to supporters of the Taliban fighting in the hills of Afghanistan”. Education and those involved have been subject to attacks in at least 31 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.

UK: Crackdown on student visas
Diane Spencer
The Home Office has introduced stringent new rules for overseas students seeking to study in the UK. Alan Johnson, Labour’s Home Secretary, announced last Sunday that applicants would have to speak passable English and those on short courses would not be allowed to bring in dependants. Those on non-degree courses would be allowed to work 10 hours a week instead of 20. Visas for non-degree courses would be granted to institutions that are on a new register, The Highly Trusted Sponsors List.


US: Tighter visa restrictions but students still enrol
Sarah King Head

In spite of tightened security and controls governing the issuing of student visas, no significant change has occurred in the percentage of foreign students enrolled at US colleges and universities since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Indeed, the proportion – as a percentage of total US higher education enrolment figures – remained steady at around 3.5% between 2002 and 2009, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

THE NETHERLANDS: Students protest against grant cuts
Jan Petter Myklebust
Education Minister Ronald Plasterk has proposed substituting the monthly student grant of €266 (US$367) with a loan system. More than 1,000 students protested at the move, occupying lecture halls and university buildings in Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Utrecht and Rotterdam.