HE News Brief 27.2.12

• Australia: Australian universities may jeopardise its appeal in the Asian market
• UK: New structures in September causing anxiety
• Asia: Liberal arts education on the rise in Asia
• Rankings: Undergraduate course offerings decreased since 2006

An address by Professor Greg McCarthy, Head of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide, at the Future of Higher Education Conference is causing a furore. In his speech, Professor McCarthy says that Australia must do more to maintain its draw for mobile Asian students. Years of neglect in terms of course offerings for Asian languages and culture courses, Professor McCarthy says, has not positioned the country in a good light. The remarks come after the publication of a report by the Asia Education Foundation which says that students studying a major Asian language in Australia since 2000 has seen a decline.

Full Story: The Conversation

Universities in Hong Kong will be switching from a three-year to four-year degree program structure in September, and school-leavers are due to enter university a year earlier. The new policies is causing some anxiety as fears of overcrowding and competition for places will be at an all time high as the number of leavers vying for universities will increase. According to Katherine Forestier, director of education at the British Council in Hong Kong, applications to the UK have increased by 37% as students are anxious about not receviing a place at a Hong Kong institution of their choice. Applications for places in the US, Canada, and Australia have also seen an increase. China has said that high achievers in Hong Kong will be able to apply for top universiites in China without having to take the national university entrance examinations. Taiwan is also expecting an increase in applicants from Hong Kong.

Full Story: University World News

Universities, in an attempt to boost student employability, is stepping up plans to introduce liberal arts-style education, particularly in Taiwan, and South Korea. In Hong Kong, where recent surveys have shown that employers rate students from abroad higher than domestic students, students will be required to take an aditional year of general education coruses. Policy makers say that such reforms are necessary if Asian countries want to produce more than good test takers. Courses in humanities and the social sciences are meant to boost creative thought and innovation. However the iniative is causing controversy as western-style liberal arts education may not, some say, be compatible with Asian socio-politics.

Full Story: The Chronicle of Higher Education

According to a report released by the University and College Union, there are almost 20,000 fewer undergraduate course offers since 2006 in Britain. Northern Ireland saw a 24% reduction of course offerings, whilst England's decreased by 31%, and Wales and Scotland by 11% and 3% respectively. Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, says that with funding cuts, universities may be tempted to cut courses not deemed as profitable and with tuition fee rises commencing this September, students will have less choices for course offerings but will be expected to pay a substantial amount of fees.

Full Story: Guardian News