HE News Brief 9.11.10

by Abby Chau

• Lord Browne's report continues to dominate headlines in England as universities minister David Willetts announced last week that tuition fees should be capped at £9,000. Under the new system, students will not have to pay up front, it is only until they start earning £21,000 that the repayments will commence. Universities who decide to hike fees will have to create a special scholarship programme for underprivileged households. Universities are given a threshold of increasing fees to £6,000 with universities in exceptional cases able to raise it to the maximum. Lib Dems had previously promised in their manifesto that they would oppose the lifting of tuition fees however with the announcement of dramatic budget cuts of 40% in direct state funding for teaching, many in Parliament including Vince Cable, have changed their tune. Critics opposed this proposal decrying the free market method in Higher Education.Full Story: GuardianMore: The Economist
• In order to solidify the Singh-Obama 21st Century Knowledge Initiative, signed last November, the US government and its Indian counterparts have reconfirmed their commitment to collaborate in Higher Education. President Obama's recent trip to India is seen as an important step to this end as they announced the first official HE summit between the two countries will take place next year. There are currently 100,000 Indians studying in the US and with India positioned as a major player in Higher Education in the near future, President Obama and his delegation from Cornell University, Stanford, and UPenn are hoping to extend further ties.Full Story: Hindustan Times