The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 4 December 2012.
Global differences in educational expectations
The OECD’s latest PISA in Focus report exposes the extent to which educational expectations differ across the globe. For example, in South Korea, 80% of 15-year-olds said they expected to attend university, compared to just 25% in Latvia. The report, based on data from PISA 2009, concludes by recommending that countries nurture high expectations in young people – but also provide sufficient support both for university attendees and those who choose other options.
Japan: Too many universities, not enough students
Over the past ten years, the number of universities in Japan has increased from 523 to 783 – and there are no longer enough students to fill all the places, reports The Japan Times. The majority of these institutions are private, and in fact the number of state universities has decreased in this period. Of the 577 private universities, 46% were under-enrolled as of last May.
More UK universities allowing students to start in January
According to information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), there has been a 50% increase in the number of UK universities allowing undergraduates to start courses in January. Some have suggested this is due to fewer students starting in fall this year, meaning more unfilled places. Many students who start in January 2013 will have to work extra hard in order to catch up with course-mates, reports The Telegraph.
Russian government criticized over attempts to evaluate humanities
Russia’s Ministry of Education is facing criticism over its use of an assessment system that, some say, fails to account for differences between humanities and other types of subject. This comes after a new national rating system classified two well-known humanities institutions as ‘ineffective’. The government is expected to introduce a new set of criteria for assessing universities specializing in humanities next year, reports The Moscow News.
Australia: Graduate employment up, but not in all roles
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, graduate employment levels have risen over the past few years, but the percentage of graduates in management and professional roles has decreased. Some experts see this as evidence that a degree is becoming more of a standard requirement across a broad spectrum of jobs, rather than a mark of distinction for those seeking top-level positions, The Australian reports.