HE News Brief 30.3.10

by Abby ChauCash cows, tuition hikes, and the dramatic increase of research produced by Chinese universities are a few topics we discussed today at our staff meeting. Have a read and tell us what you think.

• International students are not 'cash cows,' says British Council Chief Executive Martin Davidson. Warning against treating international students like an export industry to buffer against the university funding squeeze, Davidson says that doing so may harm UK universities in the long run.Full Story: BBC NewsMore: Telegraph
• A different take on students protesting tuition hikes in the University of California systems. The real costs of additional fees viewed as inconsequential.Full Story: New York TimesMore: Associated Press, Wall Street Journal
• A scathing report regarding the state of Chinese universities, and the research they are producing. This argues that it may be a good thing to close down bureaucratic institutions.Full Story: China Daily
• Alistair Darling promises a one-off payment of £270 million for 2010-11, creating an additional 20,000 STEM student places for next year.Full Story: Times Higher Education,More: Guardian News
• The Economist delves into the debate regarding allowing UK universities to set their own fees. A former Head of BP and Lord Patten, Chancellor of Oxford University, weighs in.Full Story: Economist