BELGIUM
GREATER POST-STUDY WORK RIGHTS IN THE PIPELINE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN BELGIUM
Belgium may soon have greater post-study work rights for international students as the Council of Ministers recently approved a proposition by Sammy Mahdi, the secretary of state for Asylum and Migration. The proposition pertains to allowing non-EU students to find a job or start a company here within 12 months after the end of their course.
IRELAND
EXTENSION IN POST-STUDY RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN IRELAND
The Irish government has given international students a pandemic-related concession, allowing them to avail graduate work opportunities here, even after studying remotely in the second semester. The non-EEA graduates can remain in the country after the completion of studies and apply for employment opportunities under the Third Level Graduate Programme.
UK
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE UK SEEK TUITION FEE COMPENSATION
International students in the UK have set up a petition seeking compensation for tuition fees from the government. They claim that the national restrictions due to the pandemic had a massive impact on the student experience and quality of teaching, which calls for the step. While universities may not be able to refund fees, students state that the government should intervene.
UNSPENT ERASMUS FUNDS TO AID UK MOBILITY SCHEME
British universities would use their outstanding Erasmus+ funds or apply for Turing funding to pay for UK students on exchange programmes. The step comes after the British government decided to pull the UK out of the Erasmus+ programme, which is funded by the EU. While Erasmus+ grants can be for two years, some were extended to 2023 due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions.
FINLAND & RUSSIA
ARCTIC YOUTH ARE A PART OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
The 3-year international project called ‘Live? Work? Or Leave? Youth well-being and viability of (post) mining Arctic industrial cities in Russia and Finland’ will be completed in 2021. The project is backed by the Finnish Academy of Sciences and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR). The target group studied during the project included Arctic youth aged 15-29 years from both countries.
AUSTRALIA
OPERATING SURPLUS OF $8 M FOR UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE IN 2020
A recent financial report released by the University of Melbourne stated that it made an operating surplus of $8 million during 2020. It is quite an achievement, considering that the Australian universities’ revenue has witnessed a massive drop of $1.8 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic.
STRANDED STUDENTS GET MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT FROM STUDYADELAIDE PROGRAMME
The “Summer in Adelaide” programme StudyAdelaide offered much-needed support to 30,000 international students stranded here since the pandemic struck early last year. The state government and institutions provided a sum of $50 million throughout the year to help the international students in South Australia.
INDIA
MAMMA POD GARMENT CREATED BY WORLD UNIVERSITY OF DESIGN IN COLLABORATION WITH IIT NEW DELHI AND AIIMS
Mamma Pod, an Assistive Garment for providing Kangaroo Mothercare, has been selected by the Government of India for “Biotech Product and Process Development and Commercialization Awards 2020”. The innovative garment meant for sustaining the lives of low-birth newborns has been created by specialists at the World University of Design in collaboration with IIT New Delhi and AIIMS.
CHINA
NEW ZEALAND-CHINA FORTIFY MUTUAL EDUCATION LINKS
New Zealand and China took a step forward towards strengthening mutual education links. The countries have signed a fresh agreement on information sharing and qualification recognition during the ninth Joint Working Group on Education and Training. The meeting was held virtually for the first time and had representatives from New Zealand Qualification Authority and Universities New Zealand.
ISRAEL
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS RECEIVE VACCINATIONS IN ISRAEL
Israel has been acclaimed for its exemplary approach to Covid-19 vaccination programmes. It has gone a step ahead by including international students and researchers in its inoculation initiatives. Hebrew University in Jerusalem has administered vaccines to more than 500 students and researchers from other countries, while several more universities plan to follow suit.
USA
ENROLMENT FOR FIRST-TIME INDIAN GRADUATES IN US UNIVERSITIES WITNESSES A 66% DECLINE
According to the latest data by the Council of Graduate Schools, US universities have witnessed a sharp dip in the enrolment of first-time Indian graduates. Apart from India, the numbers from China also have dropped significantly. Incidentally, these two countries happen to be the biggest markets for the international education segment in the US.
2021 GLOBAL CHALLENGES LAUNCHED BY MIT SOLVE
MIT Solve recently announced its 2021 Global Challenges, with a prize funding of over $1.5 million to innovators across the globe. The initiative looks for technology-based solutions from global social entrepreneurs from anywhere. The solutions must address five challenges and the deadline for the application is June 16.
2020 STRATUS AWARD FOR CLOUD COMPUTING FOR LINCOLN LABORATORY
MIT Lincoln Laboratory has been awarded the 2020 Stratus Award for Cloud Computing. The awards, which recognize leaders in cloud-based technology, have been presented to 38 companies, executives, and services. Lincoln Laboratory won for creating TRACER software that curbs remote cyberattacks on Windows applications.
