25 October 2020  Issue No: 617

The global research community is showing openness, resilience and humanism in the face of COVID-19 and its managers are emphasising well-being over productivity. But inequality, ethical concerns and questions on research impacts have intensified. How can we reimagine and rebuild future global research?

Conspiracy theories multiply in times of crisis, but just presenting the science is not enough to counter them. We need to understand science within its political and socio-economic context. Antipathy towards science is not necessarily caused by illiteracy but by science failing to recognise societal values.

Singapore’s Nanyang Polytechnic, partnering with industry players, is launching a bold and unprecedented approach to course design and delivery by introducing a new Professional Competency Model for students in business intelligence and analytics, structured around gaining workplace competencies rather than a subject-based approach.

On 28 October, University World News, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, will be bringing together experts from new and traditional higher education providers, the tech industry and the World Bank for a webinar on: “What will employability mean in the digital age and how should higher education adapt?”

European ministers have adopted a declaration recognising freedom of scientific research as a ‘universal right and public good’ and pledging to uphold the freedom as a ‘visible common norm’ in all future research collaboration in the European Research Area and with partners beyond it.

Cambodia needs a better higher education system to realise its development vision. COVID-19 could provide the catalyst for reforms that address some of the weaknesses in the system, which has been plagued by corruption and a skills mismatch, which are major and pressing issues.

These are difficult times, but University World News’ readership is expanding rapidly due to our extensive coverage of the impact of COVID-19 on higher education globally. If you value what we do, you can help us build our audience further simply by sharing any of our articles on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Or you can help us secure our future by making a donation – just click on the yellow advertisement below.

In their magisterial book The New Latin America, Fernando Calderon and Manuel Castells undertake an ambitious intellectual task by attempting to portray the main changes that Latin America has gone through during the last few decades. The book combines social theory with impressive empirical data.

Just when you thought court hearings couldn’t get more interesting, in comes a recent Malawi court ruling that sought to include higher education qualifications in divorce settlements. In a recent landmark ruling made by Blantyre High Court Judge Sylvester Kalembera, it was decided that academic qualifications obtained during marriage should be considered as matrimonial property and divided equally in the event of a divorce.