28 February 2021  Issue No: 632

While we marvel at the speed at which COVID-19 vaccines have been produced, concerns are growing over the emergence of vaccine nationalism, with future debate likely to be focused on two questions: who profited from the pandemic and at what global public expense?

As a new university semester begins this month in many parts of East and Southeast Asia, still affected by second and third waves of COVID-19, online courses are still common and blocks or restrictions on foreign students returning are widespread.

There is no more powerful way to prepare young people for the rigours of real democratic leadership than by involving them in the organisational governance of their own institution. It can raise expectations and results but break down barriers between students, faculty and administrators.

India is set to give the go-ahead for dual and joint degrees awarded by Indian universities with international partners, and leading institutions in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States had already started to explore such opportunities to diversify from overreliance on China.

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The provision of more flexible and modular learning opportunities in the European area has been accelerated by policies supporting the implementation of micro-credentials. Recognition will be essential for their success, but this requires new approaches and the application of existing tools to work.

Rights groups and civil society organisations have called for the release of a former Delhi University professor currently serving a prison term in India, who recently tested COVID-19 positive, which could be life-threatening given his existing conditions and lack of adequate medical care.

Some higher education institutions in Europe, such as Norway’s University of Oslo – especially its faculty of humanities – are outperforming expectations in the stiff competition for Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships funded by the European Commission. University World News unpicks the success factors behind their bids.