The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 19 August 2013
Canada: Universities reassure foreign applicants as strike action continues
Canadian universities have been contacting prospective foreign students in an effort to reduce damage caused by an ongoing dispute between foreign diplomats and the government, reports The Star. Universities are concerned that the resulting delay in processing visas may deter students from coming, and have sought to reassure them by saying they can delay their start dates, with McGill University agreeing to hold spots in residence for two weeks later than the usual start time. The foreign diplomats’ union is maintaining that its members are underpaid, while the government says that the pay demand is “unreasonable”.
US: Feminist DOCC as alternative to MOOCs
A new online course called “Feminism and Technology” will be offered for credit at 16 colleges worldwide this semester, using some elements of a MOOC (massive open online course) but incorporating distinct differences “to create a distributed open collaborative course or DOCC (pronounced "dock")”, reports Inside Higher Ed. The concept aims to get away from a traditional hierarchical structure of courses, with “one best talking head, the best expert in the world, that couldn't be more patriarchal”, says Anne Balsamo, co-facilitator of the DOCC and dean of the School of Media Studies at the New School in New York. The DOCC will include video presentations of discussions between one or more thinkers on feminism and technology.
Australia: MP calls for more foreign students
Australian MP Christopher Pyne has spoken of the need to rebuild revenue flow through international student enrollments, reports The Herald Sun. Speaking in opposition to the current Labor government, which has been in power since 2007, Pyne said that “the international student market had dropped from A$19.8 billion [US$18.2 bn] in 2008 to about A$14.5 billion [US$13.3 bn] in 2013”. Although he pledged that his own party and its coalition partners could strengthen the sector within 100 days if elected, he also acknowledged the need to “rebuild coffers” before reversing higher education cuts.
Thailand: Professor defends decision to use “blinkers” during exams
Professor Nattadon Rungruangkitkrai from Kasetsart University in Thailand has toured television studios to explain why his class was made to wear paper blinkers during exams, reports The South China Morning Post. Following publication of a picture of his students wearing a type of paper helmet consisting of a headband with two sheets of paper attached to either side, he explained: "It is a trial idea agreed between me and the students - they liked it. They said the blinkers could release stress during the exam and help them concentrate."