International initiatives
OECD:
- What is the state of education in 2020? The OECD has released their Education at a Glance 2020 report on the performance of education systems across member countries and partner economies.
- The OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) has released the policy brief ’Remote online exams in higher education during the COVID-19 crisis’. This policy brief explores the following questions: What are the challenges and solutions to designing and conducting end-of-term examinations on line following campus closures? What new forms of examinations could replace or supplement the mainstream methods in the future?
Regional initiatives
Africa
- The 22 member states of the Arab League, which includes 12 Northern African countries, have adopted an education development framework aimed at establishing high-quality Arab education systems that are at the forefront of higher education and scientific research and new information and communication technologies
European Commission
- On 30 September 2020, the European Commission updated its vision of the European Education Area (EEA) setting out a vision of the European Education Area to be achieved by 2025 and presented the Updated Digital Education Action Plan (DEAP). The vision for the European Education Area is constructed on a strong emphasis on improving quality and inclusiveness, encouraging digital skills and sustainable development and enabling students to move easily between education systems.
Bilateral initiatives
Germany- Africa: New DAAD programme launched for African students. The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD has launched a grant initiative focusing on African countries with large numbers of refugees. ‘Leadership for Africa’ offers talented young Africans an opportunity to attend masters degree programmes.
Israel – UAE: The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in the United Arab Emirates and Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see the two institutes work together
Morocco – Tunisia have unveiled a US$2.16 million plan to set up joint laboratories, enhance networking between universities in the two countries, mutually recognise degrees aimed at enhancing student and academic mobility and encourage doctoral theses emanating from joint supervision by the partner institutions, reports Wagdy Sawahel.
Poland- China: Poland to strengthen cooperation with China: new initiatives in higher education. The ministers of higher education from 17 countries and rectors of Polish and Chinese universities participated in an education summit organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
Vietnam – Germany: New agreement to boost Vietnamese-German higher Education cooperation has been signed
National initiatives
Australia
Research and international education
The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) and NAFSA have jointly produced a Guide to Practitioner Research in International Education. The guide is intended for anyone working in international education who is interested in conducting research and/or systematically reflecting on practice and sharing the insights to benefit others.
Budget: Universities welcome $1 billion research bailout package: The federal budget contained a AU$1 billion research bailout package to help plug the hole caused by the collapse of the international student market.
Argentina
The Minister of Education, Nicolás Trotta, held an international cooperation videoconference with his peers in France and Costa Rica and with representatives of the educational portfolios of Mexico and Colombia to exchange experiences on the measures implemented during the pandemic and the results being achieved in each country with the gradual return to schools. Pablo Gentili, Secretary for Educational Cooperation and Priority Actions, also participated in the meeting
Canada
Covid 19 – new measures in universities – Quebec
The Quebec Ministry of Education and Higher Education put in place new regulations in October to reinforce health measures against the pandemic. In higher education institutions, distance education wherever possible is recommended by the Ministry.
China
Postgraduate reforms
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has issued the document Opinions on Accelerating Postgraduate Education Reforms in the New Era laying out the overarching goal of building China into a postgraduate education powerhouse by 2035. It specifies the guiding principles, strategic objectives and major measures of the postgraduate education reforms with measures proposed in the field of: assessment, discipline adjustment and development, innovation, admission, basic research funding and key and core technologies.
Denmark
Denmark’s Minister of Higher Education and Science Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen is coming under increasing pressure from opposition parties to reduce the number of European Union citizens being awarded student financing (SU).
Finland
OECD indicators: Vocational education and training is popular in Finland and attracts a wide range of people of different ages to study. In Finland, 72% of all secondary school students (ISCED 3) are enrolled in vocational education and training, whereas in OECD countries the corresponding figure is 42%.
France
European Universities project
The French Rectors Association (Conférence des Présidents d’universités – CPU) has published the results of the second stage of the ‘European Universities’ project. The project was initiated in November 2019.
Sustainable universities agreement
On 29 September, the French Rectors Association – CPU and the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles – CGE – signed an agreement to promote “Sustainable Campuses in Sustainable Cities”. The organisations committed to joint actions to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, has requested the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resume visa application procedures for students from third countries, subsequent to the closure of German Embassies and visa centres.
Italy
In September, the Italian Rectors’ Association (Conferenza dei Rettori) appointed a new Secretary-General, Francesco Adornato.
India
India’s National Education Policy’s research ambitions for the country have drawn a lot of comment on the systems and policies that are required to transform research output
Japan
MEXT has published a brochure providing an overview of its initiatives against the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of education.
Poland
Learn about the latest programmes (scholarships, opportunities for foreign students and researchers) in Poland
Portugal
Universities increase the number of students. In this atypical year, almost 51,000 students have entered into the first phase of the National Competition for Access to Higher Education, which represents an increase of 15% compared to the last year, according to the results of the Directorate General of University Education (DGES).
Singapore
International graduates in Singapore are struggling to find jobs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and fear they may need to repay up to S$100,000 (£56,830) to the government to break their post-graduation work agreement.
Spain
National Scholarship System and Study Grants Reform in Spain. The budget for scholarships and grants increased by 22% for the current academic year 2020-2021, being the most significant rise in the last ten years. The aim of this measure is to democratize the right to education by substantially increase the number of students who enter universities based on a criterion of socioeconomic status. The total investment amounts to 1.900 million euros, which will benefit 625.514 students this year.
Sweden
International student numbers up 13% despite COVID-19: Data from the Swedish Council of Higher Education shows that there has been a 13% increase in international student admissions to Swedish universities. The number of international admissions has risen to 27,329 in 2020-21, up from 24,099 in 2019-20.
United Kingdom
Universities body calls on government to reassure EU/EAA students
Universities UK has called on the UK government to give prospective students from the EU assurances that they will be given “every opportunity to study” after the introduction of a new points-based immigration system. The new system is expected to result in a significant decline in the number of students from European countries learning in the UK.
Universities look to offer discounts for EU citizens
At least one United Kingdom institution is offering hopeful applicants from the European Union an ‘automatic fee reduction’ to bring costs in line with charges for UK nationals. But lawyers have questioned whether such an offer is legal, and whether it could breach discrimination laws.
Lifelong learning
The Prime Minister has announced that all adults will be provided with a fully-funded level 3 course and a lifelong learning entitlement for four years of post-18 education.