13 December 2020  Issue No: 624

More than 1,000 visiting researchers from China have left United States universities since the summer, amid stepped-up investigations of alleged espionage by scientists. It is part of a broader drive to stall China’s advance as a science and technology power. But what impact will it have?

A confluence of three crises – climate change, nuclear proliferation and the deterioration of democracy – has brought the human race to the brink of extinction, but solutions exist and can be implemented through internationalism, solidarity and education, Noam Chomsky told an international research and education awards ceremony.

COVID-19 has shown how interdependent we are and how national approaches don’t work to address global challenges. In higher education, internationalisation is not just about global mobility. It’s a way of thinking that is evident in all aspects of campus life and we need more of it.

On 27 January 2021 University World News, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, will be bringing together experts and practitioners from the International Association of Universities, the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in an online webinar on how universities can improve their social impact.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture has granted the first licence to a foreign university, allowing Australia’s Monash University to set up a branch campus on the outskirts of Jakarta which will open next year.

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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and online learning could democratise quality education and untether access to personalised instruction, functioning not as a replacement for but an aide to lecturers, with AI tutors able to set goals to keep students engaged and switch strategies when they are not.

Casualisation in higher education is good for business: Get over it. Or so we are told. In reality, casualisation in higher education doesn’t make long-term business sense for many reasons, including the impact on teaching and students and that it puts all the risk of higher education disruption and uncertainty onto the weakest members of the system.

Following alarming data released by Pakistan’s anti-narcotics agency on drug addiction among university and college students, and criticism that little is being done to curb drug abuse on campuses, Prime Minister Imran Khan is setting up an inter-ministerial council to address the problem.