Hedda Blog

Venezuela’s President Chavez announced in May a new initiative to increase higher education in his country, "Mission Alma Mater". The first phase of this new program is to contruct 28 national universities in various areas around the country from 2007 to 2012. "There will be 11 new national universities, in addition to 13 regional ones, and 4 new technical institutes," explained Chavez. But the reform doesn't stop at building new universities, Chavez also announced that university staff will receive a pay raise and backpay from the last 15 years and retirement benefits. Additional funds will be allocated to increase scholarships, renovate cafeterias, and to purchase more computers. Furthermore, the university entrance exams will be eliminated and only a highschool diploma will be needed to enter higher education.

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The Fiji government recently approved the formation of the Higher Education Advisory Commission, an independent advisory board for the Minister of Education. The Commission will be responsible for regulating higher education in Fiji through an accreditation and approval process. The Minister of Education, Netani Sukanaivalu said, “The establishment or recognition of a university in Fiji, a non-university post-secondary tertiary education institution, an overseas university, and an overseas post-secondary education tertiary institution, will be done in accordance with the criteria and standards set out and approved by the Higher Education Commission."

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The vice-chancellors (presidents) of eight Australian universities have called for a new commission to reform the country's higher education regulation system. The Group of Eight (Go8), includes the University of Adelaide, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, University of Sydney and the University of Western Australia. The Australian reported that the Go8 is callling for a rewrite of policies, including a "new student loan scheme, more student support, and a market driven system." In addition, the group has demanded that the advisory structure between the government and the university be revamped and has suggested an independent buffer body. On June 6, Go8 released a discussion paper, Seizing the Opportunities, which outlines the details of the suggested reforms.

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Written by: Muhammed Adnan Mughul, HEEM student

The Higher Education sector in Pakistan has undergone a dramatic revival in recent years. The establishment of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on September 11, 2002, repealing the University Grants Commission (UGC), was in recognition of the contribution of higher education to the socio-economical development of Pakistan. The aim of this revival is to reform higher education and transform Pakistan from an agriculture-based economy to a “knowledge-economy”. To improve the state of higher education, HEC has defined a strategy that identifies the core strategic aims for reform as: 1. Faculty development; 2. Higher Education infrastructure development; 3. Focus area support; 4. Industrial linkages; 5. Higher Education Quality Assurance/Assessment; and 6. Higher Education sector reforms. Accordingly, over the past four years, Pakistan’s higher-education budget has increased more than sevenfold, to about US$449million.

Continue reading "Pakistan Part I: Higher Education Reform" »

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Higher Education Reform in Ethiopia.
By: Emnet Tadesse, HEEM student

Ethiopia has a long tradition of recorded history and it has developed its own script over 2000 years ago. For many years, its traditional schools have fostered and enriched the development of literature, music and art. Although the introduction of modern education has made a profound change on this indigenous system there has not been much progress in educational development to date due to multitudes of factors. Since the introduction of modern educational system in Ethiopia, there have been a number of efforts made to improve the quality and access of education. However it is only starting from 2003 that Ethiopia declared formal and well structured higher education policy for the first time. This policy creates a profound foundation for higher education reform in the country. The foundation for major reform has been provided by ratification of a new Higher Education Proclamation by the Parliament in June 2003. The reform embraced all levels of higher education, at system level, institutional level and at the facility level. At the system level, to increase the enrolment rate of students at tertiary level, an aggressive expansion of new universities in all corners of the country become the target of the reform. At the institutional level the reform plan promised to provide substantial level of autonomy to universities. At facility level the reform has introduced new courses and programs that are considered to be vital for the development of the country. Cost sharing as a means of sharing the burden of the cost of higher education has also been introduced.

Continue reading "An Ethiopian's Reflection on Reform Back Home..." »

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Reported by: Aliandra Barlete, HEEM graduate student

Around 150 students invaded the Administration building of the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil, May 3rd. The crisis started when they were not allowed to get in the building to hand in a document containing 14 requests to Vice-Rector Franco Lajolo, then rector in charge. Those requests included: improvement in the student accommodation conditions, reform in the institution’s buildings, teacher’s appointments, as well as an official position from the Rector about the recent policy reforms brought by São Paulo State Governor José Serra. Revolted, they broke down the main doors to get in, destroyed furniture, and sent away the nearly 1,000 administrative staff who were working in the building.

Continue reading "Students Invade São Paulo Administration Building" »

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All around the globe, governments are seeking ways to supplement the increasing cost of higher education. In Israel, the Shochat Committee, established in October, is responsible for reforming higher education by specifically looking at tuition policy, in addition to merit-based pay for lecturers and "brain drain" of researchers. The committee will release recommendations in late April.

Israeli students are already anticipating tuition increases and have coordinated a nation-wide strike this week. The strike, composed of more than 250,000 students, is also coordinated with the lecturers association. Before this strike, there have been various negotiations between student leaders and the Shochat Committee on tuition issues, as four student leaders serve on the committee.

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The World Bank provides financial and technical support to developing countries through low-interest loans and interest-free credit programs. Tertiary education has become one of the areas the world bank supports, since 1963 various projects have been approved. Below, are a few recent projects focusing on higher education:

*JUST ANNOUNCED* Nepal- February 2007-US $80 million
Goals: Improve quality and relevance of higher education and research by funding infrastructure and under-privileged students.

Afghanistan- May 2005-June 2010- US $40 million
Goals: Restore and reform the basic functions at a few core Universities.

West Bank & Gaza- April 2005 -December 2009- US $10 million
Goals: Strengthen regulatory role of Ministry, build efficiency and quality improvement into the system, and further develop the student aid program.

Ethiopia- September 2004-2009- US $40 million
Goals: Improve undergraduate and postgraduate education by deepening and expanding the current reforms, and provide developmental grants for capital infrastructure and various organizations associated with quality and training.

What do you think about the World Bank helping developing countries in the quest to improve higher education? Where does higher education stand on the priority list for funding when there are other, more pressing domestic issues?

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“I like this picture because it encourages us to go over the bridge even though we don’t know what is on the other side.”-Timo

Early in his career, Timo dreamed of working at a university during the academic year and working on his farm during the summer months. However, that vision still remains a dream. During the summer months, he advises HEEM students on their thesis until July and the rest of the summer months he serves as a Scientific Rector of the Summer University in Lahti.

In the fall of 2006, he was a visiting professor in the Center for National Finance and Management in Tokyo. During his 3 month visit in Japan, in addition to practicing the Japanese language, he took part in research, gave lectures about the Finnish higher education system and wrote two articles. Japan and Finland are both undergoing reform. Japan is in the implementation phase of reform and Timo was lucky enough to take part in some of the reform discussions during his visit.

Even though Timo enjoys his travels, he always comes back to his roots in Finland, “I’m no international boy, I am a country boy.”

Continue reading "Faculty Spotlight: Timo Aarrevaara" »

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As an effort to modernize Universities in Greece, the government has proposed university reforms. Harsh criticism and resistance to the proposed reforms have resulted in sit-ins and demonstrations since last summer. This week, starting February 5, the Greek university faculty will begin a week-long strike which will shut down universities throughout Greece and displace the February exam period.

Below, are some of the reforms that are especially contentious:
1.) Amend the constitution to recognize private institutions. Currently, the constitution excludes private institutions, as it states that all Greek higher education institutions must be free and open to the public. Some believe that by allowing private institutions to function in the Greek system money will drain from the poorly-funded public universities and the value of public education will diminish.
2.) Limit the number of times students can "re-take" exams, as well as limit the number of years students can complete their degree. The Greek system is known for the "eternal student", a student who lingers in the system reaping full student benefits.
3.) More government oversight of universities to ensure financial accountability and evaluation.
4.) Change professorial appointments by adding at least one external member, of another department, to the appointments panel. Currently, there is no external member and only faculty members, within the specified department, can vote on candidates.
5.) Decrease the politics within the governance structure, specifically the student governance.

Continue reading "Greek Reforms Meet Resistance, Universities Shut-Down for Week" »

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Sponsored by the German federal and state government, a new project, known as the "excellence initiative" aims to increase the international competitiveness of German universities and improve research innovation. This new initiative will inject 1.9 billion Euros into select universities, with hopes of propelling some German universities into the top-echelon of global ranking, where there has been a noticeable absence of German universities.

There are three categories of awards: creation of graduate schools to promote young researchers, creation of research clusters to promote world-class research, and finally, the highest award goes to the university who implements strategies to promote top-level university research (only universities who qualify for the first 2 categories are elgible for this third award.)

Last year, October 2006, the three winners were: the University of Karlsruhe, the Technical University of Munich, and the elite award went to Ludwig Maximilians University. 2007 winners will be announced in October and in the meantime, universities will be eliminated from the qualifying rounds and only the best will survive.

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A report from the Knowledge Commission recommends that India needs to increase the number of universities from 350 to 1,500 by 2015. Currently, only 7% of the 19-24 year old Indian population enters higher education and the Commission wants to raise that number to 15%. As an advisory board to the Prime Minister, the Knowledge Commission's main objective is to transform India into a knowledge society. The report outlines many reform recommendations including; the creation of 50 National Universities, improving existing universities, increasing public spending and diversifying funding, and ensuring access to all deserving students.

Continue reading "India Calls for Major Reform of Higher Education" »

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In the past few days, we have highlighted a University level reform, a national level call for reform and today we look at a regional area reform that transcends nation state borders. Welcome to the Bologna process!

In 1999, the Bologna Declaration was signed by 29 European countries, the Declaration comprised of a number of reforms to make the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) more competitive and attractive. The goals of the Declaration is, "To create a European space for higher education in order to enhance the employability and mobility of citizens and to increase the international competitiveness of European higher education." Since 1999, a total of 45 European countries have signed onto the Declaration and these ministers have met continuously to converge policies and create a European space for higher education by 2010.

Prague 2001
Berlin 2003
Bergen 2005
Next Ministerial Summit: London May, 2007

Continue reading "Reform: European Higher Education Area" »

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Today, we look at a call for reform at the national level, the United States.

To help keep American higher education competitive, Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, formed a 19 member commission comprising of higher education experts from around the United States in the summer of 2006. In August 2006, the U.S. Department of Education Commission on the Future of Higher Education released a final report outlining the need to reform the U.S. higher education system. In this report, the commission presents findings along with recommendations to improve the higher education system. The topics that are covered in the report include; the value of higher education, access, cost and affordability, financial aid, learning, transparency and accountability and innovation.

Insidehighered.com posed a few provocative questions in an article posted on June 26, 2006, "Does the United States have the best postsecondary education system in the world, but one that is facing some significant problems that need addressing? Or is it a once-great system that is under such stress that it needs a major overhaul to keep up with the rest of the world?" WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Continue reading "Reform: United States" »

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Around the globe, systems of higher education are being challenged by the increase of knowledge, students and the effects of globalization. This week, we will take a look at many reforms taking shape around the world. Today, we will highlight the University of Tokyo.

In 2005, 3 year action plan was presented to make the University, "...a place that attracts the most talented youth on earth and fosters their abilities, a place where researchers generate new knowledge through friendly competition and promote its beneficial use throughout society as the common property of mankind." The action plan is a detailed account of initiatives aimed at different levels in the institution; research, education, international activities, organizational administration, finances, campus environment, information dissemination and linkages with society. Everything from creating a safe and sustainable campus to supporting research strategies to enhancing the alumni program is included in this action plan to reform the University of Tokyo. The university president, Hiroshi Komiyama, states, "Let us put into practice the bold claim that we offer the 'best education and research in the world.' Our mission is to educate the next generation of talent that shares in our collective ideal to remain sensitive to others while courageously taking the lead."

Continue reading "Reform: University of Tokyo" »

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