The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 5 February 2013.
World’s ‘greenest’ supercomputer deployed by Italian universities
A collective of Italian universities has deployed what is thought to be the world’s most energy-efficient supercomputer, reports The Register. The machine, called Eurora, is owned by the university-led Cineca group, and will be used by scientists for research in fields including astrophysics, life sciences and Earth sciences. It has 64 nodes, each around the size of a laptop, which each contain 30 times more power than a desktop PC while being 15 times more energy-efficient.
More US students choosing China for non-credit programs
A growing number of US students are spending time studying in China, many of them on programs that do not earn them academic credits, reports University World News. According to a report from the Institute of International Education, more than 26,000 US students spent time in China during 2011, but less than half gained credits towards their degree. The rest participated in experiences such as study tours, language courses, internships and volunteering. An additional 2,200 US students were completing full degree programs in China.
Universities in Wales ‘could go bust’
A senior manager at a Welsh university has warned there is a chance some of the country’s higher education institutions could face bankruptcy if student numbers continue to fall. Most universities in Wales had reduced intakes this year – some by as much as 20%, Wales Online reports. The manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said even larger institutions were vulnerable – though pointed out that universities were likely to undergo mergers rather than simply collapsing.
A$50m donation to establish scholarship fund at Australian university
Billionaire Graham Tuckwell has donated A$50 million to Australian National University, to provide scholarships worth up to A$100,000, reports The Canberra Times. Each year, 25 Tuckwell Scholars will be selected to study programs at ANU that combine academic excellence and good citizenship. They will each receive A$20,000 per year for up to five years of undergraduate study. Graham Tuckwell, who graduated from ANU in 1978, is thought to have around A$30 billion in assets.
University’s online ‘alien-hunting’ course proves popular worldwide
Some 40,000 people around the world have signed up to take Edinburgh University’s free online course in ‘Astrobiology and the search for extra-terrestrial life’ reports Deadline. Professor Charles Cockell, a former NASA researcher and the course leader, said he’s been “astonished” by the popularity of the program in so many different regions. The program is one of six Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) currently offered by the university, which was the first UK institution to join the Coursera platform. Cockell added that feedback has been positive – though no one has spotted an alien yet.