11 April 2021  Issue No: 638

China’s recent imposition of sanctions on European academics dramatically illustrates how procedures for protecting academic freedom are no longer fit for purpose. Universities must include their academics who are involved in internationalisation in discussions about how best to manage future academic freedom risks.

With the COVID-19 pandemic battering the Indonesian economy, private universities have experienced a sharp downturn in enrolments – an estimated half of private universities have seen numbers halved – and steeply rising dropouts. Experts fear the crisis will cause mass closures or mergers of institutions.

With increasing global and regional competition for doctoral students to fuel expansion in technology-based industries, even top universities in Asia are beginning to worry about a continued pipeline of well-qualified students as countries expand research in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, genetics, nanotechnology and robotics.

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An assessment of the impact of the Internationalization Strategies Advisory Service of the International Association of Universities shows the process is a valuable instrument for universities wishing to develop, advance or review their internationalisation policies and could influence future institutional policy decisions.

Involving students in driving up the quality of higher education, particularly at a time when higher education is changing and given that students are often more clued up about how digital learning might work best, is a win-win situation for everyone.

Access to education remains a significant challenge for people with disabilities. Ange Theonastine Ashimwe experienced this first hand throughout her years in primary and secondary school. Fortunately, for her, she has found a caring university where she can pursue a degree.