The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest university news from around the world, on 27 August 2013.
Saudi Arabia: Syrian students to be admitted to Saudi universities
A program has been set up to enroll Syrian students at Saudi universities following the increasing unrest in Syria, reports the Arab News. The students, who have sought shelter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will initially study for one academic year, but that could be extended. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program was set up after members of the Union of Free Syrian Students requested it, with the result that 25 universities have been told to make more seats available. The union will also be helping students with paperwork related to admission to universities and their stay in the country.
Liberia: All candidates fail university entrance exam
There will be no first year students at the University of Liberia this academic year after almost 25,000 candidates failed the entrance exam, reports the BBC. Liberia’s education minister, Etmonia David-Tarpeh, is skeptical of the result, saying: "I know there are a lot of weaknesses in the schools but for a whole group of people to take exams and every single one of them to fail, I have my doubts about that… It's like mass murder." She will be meeting university officials to discuss the result.
Netherlands: Researchers design tiny autopilot to aid rescue attempts
Researchers at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands have designed a thumbnail-size autopilot system for micro air vehicles (MAVs), reports IEEE Spectrum. While autopilot systems already exist, there is none as light as this, according to the researchers. It weighs 1.9 grams. Head of the MAV laboratory at the university, Bart Remes, said: "Our dream is that every firefighter carries an MAV in his breast pocket to use for inspections of collapsed or burning buildings, without having to go inside." However, all it can do at the moment is stabilize flight; it can’t sense the environment or avoid obstacles.
US: First synchronous massive online course
The University of Texas at Austin is launching the world’s first online course to be taken at the same time by all the students, reports Inside Higher Education. Introduction to Psychology is a synchronous massive online course (SMOC) that will be taught by professors who broadcast live with the aid of a production crew to about 1,500 students. Students need to pay US$550 and be available at 6pm central standard time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The concept aims to encourage more student participation as opposed to a static broadcast, with students able to take part in discussions and ask questions.