HE News Brief 18.5.10

by Abby ChauFrom the new British coalition government to Puerto Rican protests, here are this week's news stories:

• Rwandan university students negotiate a post-genocidal social and ideological minefield, where talk of the 1994 genocide is muffled by government rhetoric based on a stringent reconciliation policy. According to this New York Times article, after high school, students are sent to ingando, isolated camps where students are taught among other things, that the genocide began with the Belgian colonists. How students will walk this very fine line between the freedom to learn and the campaign of imposed silence will be difficult.Full Story: New York Times
• Now that the new British coalition government has the keys to 10 Downing, people are watching to see which pre-election promises will be kept. The Conservatives said that tuition hikes may be a possibility while the Liberal Democrats promised to phase out fees altogether in six years. With Conservative David Willetts overseeing universities and Lib-Dem Vince Cable as Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, this will no doubt prove to be an interesting topic to watch. Full Story: University World NewsMore: The Guardian
• This is an interesting article concerning Big Business and the state of universities in the Philippines. Large companies have been either purchasing 100+ year old universities or purchasing a 60% stake in universities. Some companies own or have a stake in as many as three universities. According to this report, Philippine Investment Management bought an 80% stake of Araullo University for roughly eight million dollars. Some are arguing that the state of higher education in the Philippines has been deteriorating.Full Story: Manila Bulletin
• According to this report, 3,000 students have staged a sit-in at the University of Puerto Rico since April 21st. Protesting what they see as increasing privatisation of universities and budget cuts, students are peacefully demonstrating their cause, gaining the support of people as diverse as musician Ricky Martin and celebrated Uruguayan poet Eduardo Galeano.Full Story: Stabroek News
• Malaysian Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the absorption period, or the time it takes a student to obtain a job after graduation, should be one year. According to Mohamed Khaled, the absorption time in Australia is two years.Full Story: Bernama